We left Arkansas and headed west on I-40 again. We were on this section of I-40 on our first trip west, and it hasn't improved with time. The highway is cement, and so bumpy things kept sliding off the dash! Thankfully, the bumps finally ended without our losing our teeth!
We stopped at the Oklahoma Welcome Center to empty our waste tanks and get our water refilled. We try to look ahead of where we are and find dump stations that are affordable and easy to use. For that we use the internet. There are web sites that list dump stations and their costs.
The Oklahoma Welcome Center was clean and modern, with a very accessible dump station. The picnic area had teepee forms over the tables. In summer they are covered with canvas, but they are removed for the winter.
We left I-40 on RT. 82 headed for Tahlequah, the capitol of the Cherokee Nation. We went over the Illinois River which was very low. Later, we noticed that most of the creeks that we crossed were dry, or had only a slight trickle of water.
Rt. 82 is the craziest, crookedest road ever! The map depicts this state road as scenic-but only for the passengers. This is not the road for a new driver's test. Some of our impressions of the road are: names of places such as Tenkiller, Snake Creek, Chicken Creek, Black Gum Mountain, 888 Road, and The Roasted Goat Restuarant. The road had no shoulders, no guard rails, and steep declines even at the worse curves.
The town of Vien had a quiet Main Street with wonderful murals painted on some of them. Further on we saw acres of green houses. It has to be the largest nursery in the country. There is a great disparity in the homes in this area. Either they were extremely large homes, with acres of mowed grass, and long, winding driveways. Or, they were small, probably 4 rooms, with litter in the yards and falling down out buildings. You may find both types of home anywhere in America, but what was so noticable was it was either one type or the other. Very few modest, well-kept homes.
As we approached the town of Tahlequah, there were signs indicating thea we were entering the capitol of the Cherokee Indian Nation. There is a Heritage Center, Museum, and Chamber of Commerace. Some vehicles have "Cherokee Nation" license plates and emergency vehicles are from the Cherokee Nation. We stopped for coffee at McDonald's, and the woman taking orders told us she was a Cherokee Indian. Her name was Florinda Ridge, and she is decended Major Ridge, aka Pathkiller, a Cherokee leader who signed the Treaty of New Echota of 1835 with Chief John Ross.
When Florinda found out we were from the East, she said we had to have the sausage, gravy and biscuits for breakfast, which is a regional favorite. As we have traveled, we sometimes find that McDonalds's has items on the menu that are related to that region. Florinda also told us we should visit the Prison & Museum in town--which we did.
At the musem, the women told us that there was a Christmas Parade that night. We joined the local citizens on Musgokee Street, and waited for the parade. The temperature was in the high 70's and hardly seemed like Christmas. The parade was well organized and there were over 50 floats decorated with lights playing Christmas music. It seemed strange to think of Christmas with such warm weather!
In the several years that we have traveled and parked overnight in Walmart parking lots, we have always been left alone. Most of the Walmarts have a security vehicle that travels around the lot with flashing yellow lights. While we were in Tahlequah, we were approached twice by 'pan handlers' asking for money. the first said he had a car breakdown, and the second one for gas money. Both were told that we carry no cash, only credit cards. For safety this is common state for us. They left, going there own way. We wondered if the presence of security would have eliminated their begging.
While in Tahlequah, we were fortunate to locate James' long lost niece, whom he hadn't seen since she was a toddler. We had a wonderful visit, and they were able to reminisce about their family. She is a talented artist who hasn't had any formal training, and has not maximized her abilities.
After doing our laundry, filling up with fuel and proprane, we left Tahlequah and the Cherokee Nation, traveling through the Oklahoma countryside and the Creek and Chactaw Nations. We were headed south to Texas and our next planned stop was Temple, TX to visit Joan's great-nephew Logan and his mother Kristie.
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