My original plan for the day was to go find Oral Roberts University to capture it on film but I get lost too easily in Tulsa so I found my way to the highway and headed out of town. I like Tulsa but I just can't find my way around.
I went on to Oklahoma City. I would easily pay $5.00 to drive to St. Louis if the highway was as good as the turnpikes are in Oklahoma...but I digress. I managed t
o find Bricktown, which is the renovated warehouse district in Oklahoma City. I found the Bricktown ballpark, home of the Red Hawks (AAA-Pacific League). I needed to walk so i walked around the ballpark and managed to sneak in with a maintenance crew. They are getting the field in order for opening day. I didn't know that there were so many ball players associated with Oklahoma City. They have large statues of Warren Spahn, Johnny Bench and Mickey Mantle at the various entrances to the park and busts of a bunch of other players. This is very impressive for a minor league park.
I wanted to see a little of old Highway 66 so I got off the interstate at Hydro and found Lucille's Service Station. This is a relic of the old "Mother Road" days and the place has been placed on the national register of historic places. That doesn't mean that it will last much longer, however. 
I followed Old 66 for a while and was surprised to come up in
a "Wind Farm". There were wind turbines stretching for as far as you could see to the north and south. These things are huge...easily 200 feet tall and each blade is about 60 feet long. They move fairly slowly which is probably a good thing for the birds. It wasn't especially windy today. I don't know what they would do on a windy day.
I got back on I-40 and into the Texas panhandle. This is really the
plains. Oklahoma had scattered trees or even small forests but the panhandle is barren unless there is a small water source or a pocket where rainwater collects. I stopped at a rest area and walked around a little. They have nice picnic shelters and a small vi
sitor's center. Of course, the bar-b-que pits are in the shape of Texas. What is with these people? I've seen pancakes and waffles shaped like Texas. If they could they'd probably poop in the shape of Texas....but I digress.
Another highlight along the highway in Texas was the largest cross in the western hemisphere. They have all of the rest of North and South America beat. The thing looks like it is made od stainless steel and is maybe 300 feet tall. You can see it for several miles. I don't think you can go up in it. The picture doesn't do it justice. I guess this is the biggest cross this side of Greenland. (Who needs Oral Roberts University?)I pulled into Amarillo arou nd 5 PM and got to my motel and then went out to look for Palo Duro Canyon. This is reported to be the 2nd largest canyon in the US. I think that can be debated (Black Canyon of the Gunnison?) but it is huge and very colorful. It is about 25 miles south of Amarillo and I got there as the sun was starting to set. The canyon doesn't get many visitors but has lots of picnic and camping areas plus hiking and horseback riding trails.
Well...thats it for one day. I'm going to bed. More pictures posted below.
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