Summer Trip VIII

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Looking back down US 54 towards Dalhart TX. I was struck by the ruler straight line  of phone poles along the road.

      Dalhart TX to Enid OK. A good part of the day would be on TX 15 into Oklahoma where it turns into OK 15, to Woodward OK. Then on to US 412 to Enid OK. Sounds easy enough. I left Dalhart on US 54 to Stratford TX where I pick up TX 15. This area is all Texas panhandle. Long, straight roads. Agricultural fields, farming wheat or whatever and grazing land for cattle, stretch out endlessly on each side of the road. I have traveling land like this for days, western Missouri, across Kansas, eastern Colorado, then down the Texas. Enormous expanses of land with few trees, unless there is a house, or a town. If there are a fair amount of trees coming up it probably is a fair size town, maybe 500 or 1,000 people. If there is a very large group of trees on the horizon it is probably a big town, maybe even 9,000 people. Just a small clump of trees means a house and the outbuildings of a farm.

I found this fellow along US 54 almot to Stratford TX. Look at what it says on his belt buckle. Big surprise!

     Once off of US 54 and onto TX 15 there is little traffic. Every 30 or 40 miles or so there is a town, many of which have a small gas station with a convenience store. The road is generally in good shape, but since it doesn't get much traffic it doesn't get a whole lot of maintenance either. I stop for my morning break in Gruver TX. Once again I am the only person in the town park.The swimming pool, the tennis courts and basketball courts are empty. I sit in the shade for over an hour and use my MacBook Pro and iPad to catch up on my blog. Beautiful day but warm.

The park in Gruver TX. Beautiful facility but nobody but me using any part of it. 

     Back on the road I go through the town of Perryton (pop. 9,900) and decide to wait until I am in Oklahoma to have lunch. To the east of Booker TX there are two small towns to the border. Once again I am "in the middle of nowhere." Now OK 15 joins US 283 10 miles or so above the town of Shattuck OK, where I decide to get lunch and gas. The gas was easy, but it was difficult to find a local restaurant to have lunch. Just south of town, where OK 15 turns east I see a small restaurant with some cars and pickup trucks parked in front. Lets give it a try.

Ed's Cafe Shattuck OK.

     Ed's Cafe, whose sign proclaims "Shattuck Strong" is the place where the locals eat. They have a lunch buffet every day, but I get a "small" cheeseburger and fries. Needles to say I couldn't finish it all! Back on the road I follow OK 15 to Woodward where it ends. I pick up US 412, and that takes me all of the way to Enid OK.

Notice the amount of "greenery" along the base of this bute. VERY  different from the  Texas panhandle.

     This day has been one of transition. I woke up in the Texas panhandle which was flat and dry, and then as I rode into Oklahoma everything turned greener. There were more clouds in the sky, and it definitely felt more humid. As I rode towards Enid on US 412 I noticed dark clouds up ahead. The road seemed to be heading right for stormy weather. I slowed down. The closer I got to Enid, the darker the sky seemed. I slowed down some more. In the end I was able to get to my motel in Enid without riding in the rain. I checked into the Ramada Inn there around 3:30. I got settled in my room and  relaxed for a while. I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I knew I heard thunder and the sound of rain hitting the window. Now that's my idea of dealing with the rain, lounging in my motel room while it storms outside. A pleasant end to a pleasant day.

My lunch at Ed's. Too many fries, but they were great! (no Kate I  NOT  eat all the French  fries.)