The best things in life are free…

Wednesday, September 1, 2021 Starting Day 4

One of my goals on this trip was to see some of the inspirations for the vehicles in "Cars"—Here we have the inspiration for Mater.

Today was one of the most interesting days so far. All the days have been interesting for various reasons so maybe I was just more receptive to traveling at relatively slow speed through rural America seeing so much of what is often called “Americana.” As defined by that bastion of intellect, Wikipedia, “Americana is any collection of materials and things concerning or characteristic of the United States or of the American people, and is representative or even stereotypical of American culture as a whole.” You can read more here.

We traveled from Springfield, MO, to Tulsa, OK, through a very small corner of KS. We saw lots of abandoned buildings, movie artifacts, beautiful (if HOT—over 100 degrees) scenery, and were the recipients of the generosity of average Americans. We stopped for a Coke and iced tea—and a chocolate chip cookie for Randy!—"to go" at a small café. As we checked out, the cashier told us our bill had been paid for. By whom? We have no idea. So we paid it forward.

This has been abandoned so long that full grown trees have grown up inside the building!

Not abandoned, but pretty.

One serendipitous side trip was on the “Ribbon Road.” It is a 6.5 mile road that the state didn’t really have funding for back in the early ‘20s, before even Route 66 existed. Because they didn’t have enough money, they cut the width in half, to nine feet. The road still exists, albeit in terrible condition. So there we were, sort of lost—uh, temporarily disoriented—on a gravel road that eventually morphed into what we recognized as the Ribbon Road. We survived and the Corvette survived. Although it was a bumpy—understatement!—ride.

The Ribbon Road. It's much, MUCH rougher than it looks!

We have survived three states in one day and 200 miles thanks to a paper map, our Delorme GPS, and my phone. At one point today we actually needed all three of those! Paper maps never lose their signal!

All the same semi-abandoned Sinclair station that has lots of old vehicles around it.

 

Some rustic but beautiful bridges on Route 66.

The Crap-Duster

Another view of the Crap-Duster. On our way to Red Oak II

 

Red Oak II is a collection of old houses, artifacts, art, and just general junk-by-any-other-name. You can read more about it here.

My favorite of all the displays.

Although this is a close second. Note the tractor in the background.

Close-up of the tractor.

Everything is being gusssied up for a festival the weekend of Sept. 11.

Bees are being well cared for!

Just HAD to get a photo of this one!

And Randy had to get this photo.

 All the art work and restoration is basically the work of one man and he will not accept donations!

The largest totem pole! Made of concrete, not wood.

Detail of the bottom of the totem pole.

Randy and the Catoosa Whale

You used to be able to swim in the lagoon and slide down the slide. Sadly, no more! (It was 99 when we were here!

And my favorite bridge, on a very short detour off the main part of Route 66. “The Rainbow Bridge Loop is a historic, unique bridge, in a lush setting at Brush Creek. It is the last of three Marsh Arch bridges (named for their designer) that once graced U.S. 66 in Kansas.”

We’re going to spend an additional night in Tulsa to recharge our batteries! Touring the way we are is much more tiring than we thought it would be. Next long layover will probably be ABQ (airline-speak for Albuquerque).