Friday, September 29, 2006

Day 6 -- From WaKeeney KS to Clarksville AR

A wild ride...

Marilyn sez:

Thursday we traveled through part of Kansas and Oklahoma into Arkansas – five hundred and sixty-four miles – keeping one step ahead of a tornado. The winds in Oklahoma were so strong it was hard to stand. Between Oklahoma and Arkansas we saw an incredible lightening show, but the rain did not hit until we were safe in our dumpy little hotel in the Arkansas Ozarks.

Tom adds:

Dumpy, yes, but it had wireless Internet!

It was time to do some laundry, and I was elected. Actually, as you may guess, only one vote counted! The washer and dryer were outside in a covered breeze-way, and while the load washed, I enjoyed watching the lightning and counting the seconds until I heard the thunder -- Sound travels around a mile in 5 seconds and the closest strike was less than half a mile away. Pretty intense!


Back to the day's drive, the winds were extremely heavy, and from the side much of the day. Even Roxy was a bit unsettled as she took us in and out of the calms in the lee-sides of the semi's we passed. As night fell, the lightning ahead illuminated the clouds from the insides, an effect that was magical and eerie at the same time. Only a few pictures today, and they were of strange shelters in an Oklahoma rest stop. I couldn't figure out whether they were teepees, UFOs, or UFOs captured in teepees. Whatever, they were interesting.

The change in landscape was most noticeable today. We left the corn and wheat fields of Kansas where trees were scattered, planted mostly around houses for windbreaks or following gullies or along streams where they could find water. Gradually crossing Oklahoma in a Southeasterly direction, following the toll roads and then I-40, we saw more and more trees until finally in the Ozarks of Arkansas the plains were no more. Folded hills and then rocky outcrops, with heavily wooded valleys became rugged mountains with panoramic views. I'd like to spend some more time in the Ozarks -- they are prettier than I had thought they would be.

Since there isn't much else to say about the day's adventures, let me mention what has become our favorite restaurant chain -- Applebee's. They have a Caesar Salad that you can get plain, or with either steak or salmon, and both the steak and salmon have been consistently excellent. Plus, they serve wine so my co-pilot can get a little mellow and get her back to relax before we "shake some dust".

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sadly, Applebee's Caesar with either steak or salmon is no longer of this world.