Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Riding through the Wichita Mountains

Today was a perfect day for riding and we decided to do it with some fellow biker folks...:-).  Meet Forrest and April who have been married forever and enjoy riding together....:-).  Forrest purchased a Victory Vision 1750cc that (to me) is the size of a car! ha


Here is the "spaceship"! haha



So after a few oooo's and ahhhh's.....and checking out "Ms Vickey" and "Maj", we decided to head out.  Forrest promised to show us a lot more "nothing"....haha

 

 First stop; Indiahoma, Oklahoma about 24 miles (38km's) outside of Lawton.  And THIS is just about all that was there.  This is their school....


this is the gas station complete with ONE working pump......


and their convenience store......I didn't go inside...



And then we went further into the prairie after discussing the route.......


We took a short break so that we could get a few pics and rest my "tender parts"....:-).  After all, I was the youngest rider....AND this was my first "ride" with other riders on my own bike.....Yay for me!...:-)


It had been a year since I had been riding through the plains and what made it interesting was that I had never been this particular route before.  So, I was excited about how much "flatness" I would see. ha


Now, if you live in an area that is very mountainous, this would seem like "foot hills" rather than mountains.  Ms Vickey was impressed since this was her first time seeing them...:-).



During one of our three rest spots we stopped at Prairie Dog Town and saw these little guys.......:-)



Scootard seemed to want to make a friend out of one of them......uh...they will bite if you get too close!


That road is the direction that we had traveled from so far......


More "foot hills"........:-)  This whole area used to belong to the Comanche Indian Nation before the goverment stole the land from them....:-(


I think Forrest and Scootard are having too much fun! haha


It was so quiet out there, you could probably hear a rubber band hit the ground if one fell..


it was time to keep moving to our next desitination.......


It was nice to see Lake Latonka after such a long time...It looked beautiful from a distance and very inviting as it was rather warm.  But no time for that today.....:-).  We have a lunch date with a historical restaurant!


But first......we have to cross this rickedy old plank bridge......:-(.  sheesh......! I don't think I have the guts for this one...haha.  Thank you, Scootard for taking Ms Vickey across for me.....:-).  I'll just take the pictures of what I would have missed going over it! 



This is the restaurant on the water where we planned to eat lunch.  But alas! It was not to be....:-(.  They were closed!  WHAT!?  Didn't they know I was coming! ha....


I snapped these pictures as I started my "foot journey" across the old rickedy bridge.......


People swim here a lot and back in the 20's and 30's a lot of famous people came through here to vacation (or run from the law) such as Jessie James, Bonnie and Clyde, etc.  It used to be a very active resort (and Brothel) area.



and this is the town where it all happened.....Medicine Park, Ok.  Yep, this is it; main street....ha 

So, we went a block down the road to another historical place called The Old Plantation hotel and Restaurant.  This is where the Brothel was run and the travelers and vacationers came to swim and rent rooms.  Almost all of the houses in Medicine Park are made of Adobe brick and have been here for many, many years......


Better lock things up.  As small as this place is, it does have it's own Police department!

  
Ms Vickey was ready for a rest.......And she didn't want me to have "monkey butt" either!


I have never been in that water although I have been here many times through the years of living just 15 or so miles away from it.  I keep thinking about all of the goose poop that would end up in my hair! haha.... I'll pass!



Time to eat, Ya'll!  Now, I took pictures of  lunch. April had a steak salad...... 



I had some chicken quesadillas and some coconut shrimp with a soda.....



Scootard had Pork Tacos which were actually bar-b-qued pulled pork on a taco shell with cheese and stuff.........




and I have no idea why Forrest's burger didn't get it's day in lights, but his looked pretty good too if you like burgers....:-) 

After lunch, Forrest and April continued on with their day and Scootard and I decided to double back and grab some pics that we didn't get on the way there.......But there was one problem.........



So, my patient husband took Ms Vickey over the dredded bridge for me....again......



The Wichita's are full of interesting rock formations.......


We got over the bridge and started back the way we had come.  We came upon what used to be my favorite place to come to and think and pray when I lived in Lawton.....It was nice to be here at Lake Elmer Thomas again.....:-)



It is usually quite active on the weekends, but since this was the middle of the day on a week day, it was quite peaceful and beautiful .........:-).

    A lot of fishing goes on here although I have never done any....at least not out here.    

See that bench facing the front....that's my seat; even in the dead of winter I would come here and sit for a long time.......:-)


"Maj" seemed to be enjoying some non-riding time too.....:-)  She looks good with those blue skies over her.....:-).

Well, it was time to start heading home.  We wanted to get some pics of the Bison that we saw coming in......


this used to be a "land mark" here.  I was never really sure of exactly what it was, but a few years ago it became a victim of arson......:-(.

But the Great Plains have endured all kinds of weather and harshness and always seems to come through with the wild life and wild flowers.... time after time.



 and the roads always seem to go on forever........


the Bison were out and near the roads.  This big fellow was sun bathing when we came by.  Having spent the last 18 years in Oklahoma, I knew not to get too close to him.


Scootard, on the other hand decided he wanted to stop RIGHT IN FRONT of the things and take a picture......  WHAT!?........



and then suddenly, this over 3 ton beast rose to his feet and started stamping his back foot!  Scootard was not more than 20-30 paces away from this thing.  I, of course was down the road screaming at the top of my lungs and waving my hands for him to get out of there in a hurry!!!  



Needless to say, we fast tracked it out of there and I was glad that I made it through the day without becoming a widow!......ugh! 


All I wanted to do at this point was get out of plains, get some gas and get back to the house where there was no possiblity of getting stompled to death!   We did see these "tar snakes" on the side of the road, but they were relatively harmless.....:-).


It was nice to be out here again, but nice to be leaving too.....haha


I wondered what was behind those rocks, but didn't want to know enough to go and see....hahaha.....Might have been that Bison's cousin!


Ok, I'm starting to feel a little better since we are headed toward the exit of the mountains.....


Whooo hoooo!  Now, just a few miles from home.........well, maybe a few more than "just" a few, but at least I was pointed in the right direction without any danger ahead except for cagers.....


and boy or boy was I happy about that!


We made it home in one piece with the only other challenge for me was the wind pushing me almost sideways as it swept across the plains and onto the highway.  I was clipping along at 100km's and was glad to see my front door again.  Now, to do something about this 'monkey butt" and to make dinner......Well, not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture.......:-).

See ya next time!

11 comments:

Pastor Chris said...

A lovely day with a lovely girl....my Scooterchick rides with me to forever. I among all men am indeed blessed.

Tripping Sister! said...

Thank you, Honey....

Now, don't do that Buffalo thing again!....then we can both STAY blessed!

Trobairitz said...

A couple that rides together stays together.

What a fabulous day of riding. Such cool pictures too. Glad that bison didn't get Scootard.

Thank you so much for blogging your adventures. Your zest for life comes through and it makes me smile along with you.

Anonymous said...

Another great adventure, no matter how far or near, or how long....what a great picture of the prairie dog (I have only seen them at the National Zoo in Washington), the bison, and the one of you on the road, zipping along....
Deb

Tripping Sister! said...

You are welcome.....:-). It's fun having you guys come along with us too! I am equally glad that Scootard didn't get speared by that beast. I was still fussing at him when we got home trying to explain to him that people get killed here every year doing exactly what he did.

I have never seen bison in British Columbia, so perhaps they don't have them there. But they do have bears! And he got "us" to close to one of those just coming out and hybernation and was looking at me like I was the meal he had waited for all his life! Another close call....ha. Good heavens!

Tripping Sister! said...

Hi Deb,

Thanks! You know that situation with the bridge reminded me of when I tried to go across a hill filled with gravel and knew it was beyond my skill/comfort level. Experience taught me to let him take it over. I know I would have gotten half way (if that) and gotten thrown off because of the ruts. My bike is small and not as stable as a 400cc (Maj) or a 1750cc Victory. I'll get better at these kinds of challenges one day. But I'm not sure I could ever handle something bigger than what I have now. Maybe a 300cc, but that would be it, I'm sure.....:-).

Jim said...

Jim in KS Howdy kids, I love to read your blogs and travel with you I too am an avid coffee fan and am always looking for a great roaster. I use a bodum heater and grinder but prefer the Aeropress less grittys and easier to travel?

Have you made it thru Arkansas yet? This is probably the best time of year to trek thru try Hwy's 23, and 21 hard to beat seeing eagles and Elk in Boxley valley or picking up a pig trail pin at the turner bend store and why not take hwy 215 over to Oark for lunch then 103 south to lone pine to Mt zion to 21 North and stay in Eureka Springs overnight. then check out the museum in Golden MO. on Hwy 86 and ride up thru Branson? Lots of great roads in the Ozarks, and during the week hardly a vehicle on the roads. perfect! Jim

Unknown said...

PatnChris:

I'm envious of your sunny warm weather in the Flatlands. Looks like a lot of fun exploring with little traffic. I've seen Bison somewhere but can't remember where right now. He must have been angry to get up like that.

thank you for showing us your part of the world. I don't know if I will ever get to see it with my own eyes

as for that bridge, you have to try it sometime. It doesn't look that bad in your photos. After you have ridden over it a few times it will be a piece of cake

bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube

Tripping Sister! said...

Howdy Jim!

Thanks for going with us.....:-). It's nice to have others along from all over the place...

Wow, that is some route you gave us! haha. You do know that I have only done ONE trip on my bike like this right?...haha.

That sounds like one of those "iron butt" journeys! Chris is looking it up on the map now. No, we have not been through Arkansas. When we return to Canada, we will be going through TX, New Mexico, AZ, CA, OR, WA and then over the border to British Columbia Canada.

Tripping Sister! said...

Hey Bob,

You are welcome.....:-). Its funny how every part of the world holds its own beauty in some form or another. I know some people could not stand to live in BC as they come from the plains and would feel like the mountains were going to fall on them. Others couldn't live in the vast expanse of the Great Plains as it would bring them to a place of indescribeable "aloneness". I couldn't live in the tropics because I hate misquitos! hahaha.....

About that bridge......:-(. Yeah, I know I should....sigh.... I won't overcome if I don't. So, we will probably go back before we leave so that I can give it a try....I WILL be wearing ALL my gear! ha

buildingstoat said...

What a wonderful set of pictures! Just the thing to brighten up a damp, grey, English autumn day. Great to see a part of the world that is so different to my little corner and I'm ashamed to say a place I know nothing about)

Don't worry about the bridge, just take aim and let go, it'll be fine.