We left Albuquerque on Tuesday morning, arriving home mid-afternoon Friday. Again it was an Interstate drive, with the heavy truck volume getting worse the further east we travelled. I'm not certain how much longer passenger cars and transport trucks can continue to share the road, but it can't be too much longer. On Tuesday we drove to Oklahoma City, driving 536 miles. We stopped in Amarillo for lunch, and in Shamrock, TX for coffee. Oklahoma City is a mess of construction, with traffic jams to give one nightmares for a long time. With Navigator Deb using live Google maps, we were able to sneak into our hotel using alternate routes without encountering any backups. We had to resort to a toll road at one point, which cost us 45 cents. It was worth the unplanned expense.
On Wednesday our drive was considerably shorter, at 401 miles. We paid a visit to the Gilcrease Museum of Western Art in Tulsa. It had been many years since our last visit. We next stopped in Joplin, MO for a visit to a nearby waterfalls, and then went into the city for afternoon coffee. Joplin Ave. Coffee Company was a pretty cool place, with fantastic coffee. The city had been devastated in 2011 by an F5 tornado, with winds exceeding 200 mph. There were 158 deaths, over 1100 injuries, and it turned out to be the costliest tornado in US history. Driving in along the main street, there is suddenly brand new housing stretching for miles, and no mature trees at all. Very eerie. The main downtown area seemed okay, which is where the cafe was located. The Wiki article makes for chilling reading. That night we stayed in Rolla, MO, enjoying a break at Public House Brewing Co.
Entering the Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa.
Painting by Thomas Moran.
Gilcrease gallery.
Downstairs at the Gilcrease is the collection of prehistoric art. In addition to the displays, thousands of objects are accessible in drawers, which include jewellery, sculptures, weapons, bead work, clothing, and other artifacts.
Painting of a ceremony at Taos, NM. Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa
View of downtown Tulsa, from the Gilcrease Museum.
Waterfall near Joplin, MO.
Waterfall near Joplin, MO
Public House Brewery, Rolla, MO. the food was also good!
On Thursday we drove 394 miles, staying in Anderson, IN, just north of Indianapolis. We cruised into town just before rush hour, stopping at the north end Whole Foods store for dinner. Between rush hour traffic and construction, we barely managed to get to our hotel with some sanity remaining. Just as we pulled off at our exit for the hotel, traffic came to an absolute standstill. We had escaped by the skin of our teeth.
Friday found us only 260 miles form home. My third bookstore awaited, and I came out of Hyde Brothers Books well stocked, especially with books by Michael Moorcock. I made it home with nearly 70 used books. The shipping alone on those books, if ordered on-line, would have amounted to more than I actually spent on all the books. We stopped in Waterville, Ohio for a vegan lunch at a downtown Mexican restaurant, then headed for home. We were home by 3:30 pm! Trip #38 was in the bag, and it was a great one!
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mapman Mike
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