Pictured this morning disembodied foot seen floating in shower cubicle.
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Our trip today was from Weatherford, Oklahoma to Amarillo, Texas. A four hour drive on the I-40 so doing Route 66 would be a challenge as this tends to add a couple more hours.
We arose to severe weather warnings of serious storms and tornado risks across Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle (I’ll explain where that is in a second). We opted to travel a teeny bit of Route 66 and then cover distance on the I-40.
We were doing ok, cloudy skies but no dodgy weather. I had read that there was a great Route 66 museum in Elk City on Route 66 so we headed there. The museum looked ok but was not geared to crutches – too many buildings and walkways between them so we looked in the main building and that was enough for my one leg and arms to cope with.
On then to find lunch in Elk City. Hmm, no chance, dump springs to mind. As we were checking out a possible coffee shop (crap) the owner advised us that the severe weather warning was active and due to hit at 3pm. It was about 1.30 so we hit the I-40 hard to try to get out of the way.
We diverted to McLean on old Route 66, to the fab Barbed Wire museum. Ah Billy you were wrong, it was not boring at all, lovely lady there and just a bit quirky, so right up our street.
By this time we noted the skies darkening and cloud swirling (see the picture). Setting off again we went right for the I-40 with no plans to stop.
Then the weather hit. Incredible dark skies, howling side winds and then large hailstones, immense gusts of wind, spray. Cars were stopping under bridges to shelter but there was no room for any more so us and others had to continue on. Fork lightening struck either side of the road, rain and wind lashed us while trucks carried on barrelling along.
We went carefully with other cars, saw at least two overturned huge trucks just two cars ahead of us and still the thunder and lightening crashed. I was on tornado watch (thank goodness nothing) as we slowly passed out from the blackness into lighter skies. Phew.
On then towards Amarillo and a touch of sunshine. Texas itself is flat, flat, flat. The upper part where Route 66 runs sits sandwiched between Oklahoma and New Mexico and is called the Texas Panhandle. It looks nothing like a panhandle but does reflect a much thinner slot of land like a handle holding onto Texas.
Texas is also dusty and full of cows. So, what to do in Texas?? Eat steak of course.
Back to the weather then….severe storm warnings are still in place for Oklahoma and stretching into the Texas panhandle. We are not worried. We are checked into a very posh hotel, modern build with great staff. So far the skies look wonderfully clear, it’s just windy but looking at the open land, my guess is that it is windy all the time here.
Another long drive tomorrow to a place called Sherlock Holmes’ arch enemy. Elementary my dears!
I WANT MEAT screamed Mrs Fogg! Having seen Hulk Lady kick a 380kg bike off her leg, who am I to argue.
Off we popped to the Salt Grass Steak House, where everyone was tripping over themselves to help Bigfoot. A little appetiser each and a salad each as part of the main meal, followed by a 9oz Sirloin with Coconut Shrimp and asparagus, ah slight problem Mrs Fogg’s came with onion even though she asked for none. Rather than taking it away and simply removing the onion, they took it back and re-cooked it from scratch. I was almost finished mine when the senior waiter came over, saw Mrs Fogg still waiting and then steamed into the kitchen to sort it out.
Out popped the steak, under cooked, off he barrels again to get it killed.
Mrs Fogg eventually got her grub with profuse apologies and a discount.
Meanwhile, we were (for a change) being very British, no fuss, no rush. It’s not like we are in a hurry to go sightseeing with Gimpy here.
Name the Song
And the Singer
Minus the House
And here we crossed from Oklahoma to Texas and one of the first stops was the Barbed Wire Museum in McLean, which is interesting if you like Barbed Wire.
As we headed out through town the skies got much much blacker as storms hit hard on the I-40 between McLean and Amarillo. We were pelted with 50p sized hailstones as we had to slow to get round over turned semis on the Interstate.
So tonight a chill and the only thing you can eat in Texas, steer with fries.
A piggyback??? No way!!
S
Well the weather forecast over us for the next day until we hit Texas looks a little grim. All rehearsed and ready, ruby slippers (check), close your eyes (check), wish you were home (check), now place your left hand on the purple circle and right foot on the blue square.
Quiz time, in the many repeated version of the movie Twister, name the first animal to be heard in Surround Sound in the movie and for a bonus point what was the name of the weather device?
Incidentally we saw our latest lookalike today at Ollie’s Station in Redfork, complete with clothing and hair style, direct from RoadHouse. So pop movie quiz, name the actor, name his character and for an extra brownie point what is the tenuous connection between this character and Mrs Fogg?
I have to admit country doesn’t do it for me at all, straw hats, cowboy boots, check shorts and warbling bout lovin to a banjo, just don’t float my boat at all.
As we came through Oklahoma all of the roads are named Garth Brooks this and that and then when we checked into the hotel there be a good ole boy in dungarees and a straw hat, now what was I think, oh yes Yee Haa.
The pics are of some of the original Route66 concrete slabs from the1930s and the bridge had 38 “pony” trusses. So tonight we are stopping next to Lucilles Road House, where Mrs Fogg will no doubt partake of something healthy
We wanted to ask Tony but could not find him.
Driving through Oklahoma we were reading the usual bout of big billboards that line US roads.
Mixed in between the usual Pro Life, Jesus saves, God is great, burn your cashin our casino, Pay Day Loans and other such messages was a rather informative sign saying Did You Know that the Shopping Cart was invented in Oklahoma State?
Well now you know. So the next time you go shopping do spare a thought for the Oki’s that allowed you to stick all your goods into a metal box with wonky wheels.
