Day 5: April 17, 2010

We're in Oh-k-la-home-a, Ok! Tulsa, to be exact. The motel is cheap, but has an awesome vintage neon sign out front. The place dates from the 1950's. '58 I think. The room is shabby and they are stingy with the pillows and towels. Did I mention it's cheap? It's okay, we're getting up early again tomorrow so we won't be here long. We don't really like to drive in the dark since we can't see anything so the earlier we get up, the better.

We started out in Springfield and drove through to Tulsa today. Missouri is weird. All of the county roads are letters instead of numbers. This has caused conversation like, “you want to turn left on AT” “what the heck is AT? You mean A-T?” or, “look for county road V up here” B, as in Beeyaya or V, as in vulgar?”

In the odd category saw a female turkey crossing the road on a particularly rural stretch of the Mother Road. We were slowing down to get a picture of this gas station and she saw us and hopped across the road and into the woods. I had no idea turkeys hop. The things you learn on a road trip.

My fellow wackadoodle roadie and I have taken to “shake and bake” fist bumping a la Ricky Bobby and Cal Naughton, Jr in Talladaga Nights. If you have not been introduced to the awesomeness of this piece of cinematic gold, I have included the following clip for your viewing pleasure. You’re welcome. Shake and Bake

I just got Oklahoma and Iowa. Woot! Katie did not congratulation me. Hmmphh! We are also playing punch buggy and Katie must have built in radar to locate the little buggers. She usually punches me first and then I punch in retaliation since she punched so hard. We’re both going to be black and blue by the end of the trip.

We got off 66 in Carthage to track down the George Washington Carver National Monument. GWC was born into slavery in Diamond, MO and became a preeminent agricultural scientist and all around awesome human being. The park ranger was chatting up everyone who came in the door and asked us where we were from. When we replied Delaware he made a face. “Yup,” we said, “Delaware is the only state in the union without a National Park” He replied immediately “Oh, I know. We all know.” Take heed people of The Big D, our little slice of heaven has quite the reputation among the National Park service.

That got me wondering, is Delaware planning for a National Park? If you have been waiting with baited breath for the answer, than allow me to satisfy your curiosity with Senator Carper’s Delaware National Park plan. Holla, Blue Hens!

We leave the judgmental ranger and head into a large theater to watch a movie of Carter’s life that looks like it was produced in 1972. Dr. Carter was an amazing man who made tremendous contributions to agriculture as well as being a deeply spiritual man. The movie however, focused almost exclusively on his spiritual life to the detriment of his scientific contributions. Thinking back on our time in Missouri, I really shouldn't be surprised. There were churches, signs for churches, pro life signs etc... EVERYWHERE. I'm not judging here, I am merely reporting that like George Washington Carver, Missouri is very spiritual. By the way, did you know people pronounce it Missouruh? The guy narrating the movie was almost unintelligible so thick was his accent. I'm glad there were subtitles.

We're in tornado country!

Kansas and OK in part 2 tomorrow!

Later, Alligators!

Music: Elton John, Hole, Dixie Chicks, radio