Leaving Texas and heading for Tennessee

These cows were out in front of the Eastern Oklahoma State College.  They, once again, look real.  There was a book that I read years ago about a cattle drive in present time titled "The Last Cattle Drive", by Robert Day.  It was about all the problems that the cattle drive encountered along the way.  Roads, cars, fences among a few things.  If you would like a good laugh give this book a try.  It is still in publication. The story begins in Kansas, if I remember right.

Going through some of these small towns is like stepping back in time.  The old movie theaters are still on the main street showing current movies.  It is refreshing to look out and see shops that are open and not shuttered as I have seen in other towns.  Riding down the street, is like being in the movie "Back to the Future".  Is all you would need is Michael J. Fox driving down the street in a DeLorean like a madman, to make the feeling of "time" complete.

The old buildings that have all the designs on them are still standing from years ago.  I think this is now the Chamber of Commerce building that was once the court house in Vinita, OK.  The reader board tells us that the "Half Fry T-Shirts are available.  I wonder what a "Half Fry" is?  I guess they don't do "Whole Fry's".

When I saw this sign, it made me wonder.  Does this pertain to the convenience stores or the fridge at home?  Most of the  stores I have  been in the beer is in the same cooler as the milk.  The sign does make you stop and think about where you keep your beer, that is if you are a beer drinker with kids.

This old truck was hauling what looked like to be produce from the farm as it was passing this old building.  The smaller white building in the background is a grocery store.  I can picture, as the residents of the town walk in, the grocer greets them by name.  I think that here is where you would come to find out what is going on in town. Information Central.  The sign on the store says it has been in business since 1922.  I hope that it remains in business for many more years to come.

As we traveled towards Afton, Oklahoma, we crossed Horse Creek.  From the name of it, one would assume that this where they watered their horses during the cowboy's travels.  I have seen some strang names for creeks, and wouldn't dare ask as to how they received their names.  Too much information.

On the outskirts of Afton, Oklahoma there is a buffalo ranch.  You can stop and watch the bison roam in the pasture.  We were there when there were little ones there and they were so cute.  The daddy was fierce looking and when he headed our way, we thought it would be prudent to step back from the fence.

These animals are so ugly that they are pretty.  Thousands of them roamed the plains, and now they are surrounded by fences.  I know of only one free roaming buffalo herd and that is located in Southern Utah.  There maybe others, but I do not know of them.  Some ranchers have cross bred them with cows and they say the meat is less fatty and lower in cholesterol.  I haven't tried it, so I can't say if it is good or not.

 When we went through the Wyandotte Reservation, most of the signs had mention of turtles.  I guess the turtle is the mascot of this tribe.  Many of the reservations have travel plazas, that you can get gas and in some cases part a few trucks for the night.

And they think that the turtle is lucky.  Every Indian Reservation I have been to has at least one casino.  Many of the larger ones have headline entertainment on the weekends.  Many of the big Country and Western groups appear at them.

 Following the road into Missouri, we drove down the main road in Joplin, Missouri only to be faced with a small portion of the destructive tornadoes that hit the city.  There were blocks with buildings, just gone.  Poof. It is hard to imagine the power of wind, until you are faced with the destruction that it can do.  The sad thing is that not only once, but had to come back the next day for a repeat.  I can't imagine living through something so devastating.  I think, that when ever I would hear the wind pick up in speed, anytime,  I would go into panic mode.

 The businesses did not stay down for long.  As you can see Home Depot is now housed in a huge tent in the parking lot of where the building use to stand. 

What amazed me is that huge buildings, like the Home Depot store was just taken off the face of the earth and the small convenience store and gas station, the building was still standing.  There were a few buildings that still had the roof on, and appeared as if nothing had ever happened.

 Whole parts of buildings, just torn away from the foundations. Metal and wood bent by the winds wrath. Wires and ducts just hanging down waving in the breeze.

 Blocks, on both sides of the street were disaster zones with heavy equipment working to remove the rubble by the truck load.  I've made this photo a little bit bigger, for there was a sign on the light post/traffic signal that said, " God loves you and so does relief ..."  The lady in the orange is collecting relief goods.  Anything that the people could use, to help replace what they lost or just to keep them going for a time.  The rebuilding is going to take time, but people are resiliant, and draw together when bad times hit.  The people of Joplin are an example of what people can do when they pull together and work towards a common goal.

Positive signs were on every corner, light pole and building.  All were attesting to the rebuilding of the city and overcoming hardship.

 This is the shell for the new Wal-Mart.  What I find interesting is that the building behind the new building is standing and appears as if the wind didn't even come near it.  It makes me ask the question, "Why"?

Even the local radio station was supportive of the efforts and had a sign out for those who would need a uplifting thought.  It was truely amazing and touching to see the careing for each other,  that the people had, here.

 I will leave off here, on the journey.  Until the next time, I'll see you On the Other Side.