Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
Christine was feeling too sick to meet up this morning, so after leaving the hotel at 9:15 I headed downtown to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, which I took in despite the rain. I will mention that I became emotional while going through the museum (specifically, the portion about the kids in the daycare) and had to high-tail it out of there in order to keep it together. The museum is very well done, but can elicit an unpleasant reaction because of the subject matter.
After leaving there I took I-44 toward St. Louis, stopping for lunch at Pei Wei in Tulsa and gas in Springfield, MO. I made it home at 7:50pm, having put 3,969 miles on my car during the entire trip.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Seattle -> StL - Day 11 (3/10/2017) - Hanging with Christine in OKC
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
Christine picked me up at the hotel at 10:15. Our first stop was breakfast at Jimmy's Egg. After that we went to the fascinating Museum of Osteology for a look around. Next we headed to the University of Oklahoma library, where Eric (who works there) showed us around for a bit. After a little exploring and a little resting we met up with the same crew as the night before for an early dinner at Pepe Delgado's. Christine started to feel very tired (did I mention that she was on her last round of chemotherapy?) around 6:30 so we said our goodbyes and Stacy drove me back to the hotel.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
Christine picked me up at the hotel at 10:15. Our first stop was breakfast at Jimmy's Egg. After that we went to the fascinating Museum of Osteology for a look around. Next we headed to the University of Oklahoma library, where Eric (who works there) showed us around for a bit. After a little exploring and a little resting we met up with the same crew as the night before for an early dinner at Pepe Delgado's. Christine started to feel very tired (did I mention that she was on her last round of chemotherapy?) around 6:30 so we said our goodbyes and Stacy drove me back to the hotel.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Seattle -> StL - Day 10 (3/9/2017) - To OKC
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
I left the hotel at 9:20am. I stopped for gas and lunch (Silver Moon Cafe) in Santa Rosa, NM. I made it to Norman, OK sometime around 7pm, stopping briefly to check in at the Best Western Plus before meeting up with Christine, Eric, Stacy, Barry, and Sarah at HeyDay for trivia and dinner.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
I left the hotel at 9:20am. I stopped for gas and lunch (Silver Moon Cafe) in Santa Rosa, NM. I made it to Norman, OK sometime around 7pm, stopping briefly to check in at the Best Western Plus before meeting up with Christine, Eric, Stacy, Barry, and Sarah at HeyDay for trivia and dinner.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Seattle -> StL - Day 9 (3/8/2017) - To Albuquerque
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
Before grabbing breakfast in the hotel restaurant I went out back to scope out the view of Lake Mead. After breakfast I departed around 9:45 on US-93 South to I-40 East.
I made an impromptu stop at Meteor Crater, and then another impromptu swing by the Painted Desert Visitor Center of Petrified Forest National Park - I forgot that both of these two things were along the route. I didn't have time to check out Petrified Forest, though, especially after "losing" an hour by crossing time zones.
I made my way to Albuquerque, where I stopped at An Hy Quan Vegetarian Restaurant for dinner before finding the Ramada Albuquerque East.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
Before grabbing breakfast in the hotel restaurant I went out back to scope out the view of Lake Mead. After breakfast I departed around 9:45 on US-93 South to I-40 East.
I made an impromptu stop at Meteor Crater, and then another impromptu swing by the Painted Desert Visitor Center of Petrified Forest National Park - I forgot that both of these two things were along the route. I didn't have time to check out Petrified Forest, though, especially after "losing" an hour by crossing time zones.
I made my way to Albuquerque, where I stopped at An Hy Quan Vegetarian Restaurant for dinner before finding the Ramada Albuquerque East.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Seattle -> StL - Day 8 (3/7/2017) - Death Valley
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
I had a quick breakfast at the inn restaurant and then left around 10am for Death Valley National Park. My first intended destination was Dante's View, which is supposedly better earlier in the day than later, but I was somewhat low on gas so (not wanting to chance it) I stopped in Furnace Creek (which was surprisingly lush for the desert surroundings) to fill up. I then headed to Dante's View, which I found to be quite spectacular. Next I backtracked a bit to Zabriskie Point before heading to the Devil's Golf Course (which involved about a mile each way on a gravel road).
The next stop was Badwater Basin, where I walked about 1.5 miles (just a guess) out into the soggy salt flats. From there I hit up the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and then drove up another gravel road (inclined this time) to Mosaic Canyon, where I quit early on the trail due to fear of waning daylight.
After leaving the park via the northeast exit, I stopped in Beatty, NV for gas and dinner at KC's Outpost Eatery & Saloon. I then took US-95 through Las Vegas, switching to US-93 to find my way to the Hoover Dam Lodge.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
I had a quick breakfast at the inn restaurant and then left around 10am for Death Valley National Park. My first intended destination was Dante's View, which is supposedly better earlier in the day than later, but I was somewhat low on gas so (not wanting to chance it) I stopped in Furnace Creek (which was surprisingly lush for the desert surroundings) to fill up. I then headed to Dante's View, which I found to be quite spectacular. Next I backtracked a bit to Zabriskie Point before heading to the Devil's Golf Course (which involved about a mile each way on a gravel road).
The next stop was Badwater Basin, where I walked about 1.5 miles (just a guess) out into the soggy salt flats. From there I hit up the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and then drove up another gravel road (inclined this time) to Mosaic Canyon, where I quit early on the trail due to fear of waning daylight.
After leaving the park via the northeast exit, I stopped in Beatty, NV for gas and dinner at KC's Outpost Eatery & Saloon. I then took US-95 through Las Vegas, switching to US-93 to find my way to the Hoover Dam Lodge.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Seattle -> StL - Day 7 (3/6/2017) - Joshua Trees
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
I checked out of the Best Western at 8:30am and headed to Palm Springs. There I took the 11am ride up the Palm Springs Arial Tramway after a thankfully very short wait. After that I filled up the gas tank and grabbed lunch at Del Taco before heading into Joshua Tree National Park.
My first two stops in the park were Cholla Cactus Garden and Arch Rock. As I began running short on time, I made quick stops at Skull Rock and the Hall of Horrors before heading to Keys View to take in the spectacular view.
Due to poor planning, I then had a night drive to Longstreet Inn & Casino on the Nevada side of Death Valley. I was surprised to find a few patches of T-Mobile LTE coverage along the way. I had an unfortunate incident where I ran over what looked like a rabbit, which briefly shook me up. I arrived at the establishment just before the restaurant kitchen closed at 10pm, and was able to grab a quick takeaway order to eat in my room.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
I checked out of the Best Western at 8:30am and headed to Palm Springs. There I took the 11am ride up the Palm Springs Arial Tramway after a thankfully very short wait. After that I filled up the gas tank and grabbed lunch at Del Taco before heading into Joshua Tree National Park.
My first two stops in the park were Cholla Cactus Garden and Arch Rock. As I began running short on time, I made quick stops at Skull Rock and the Hall of Horrors before heading to Keys View to take in the spectacular view.
Due to poor planning, I then had a night drive to Longstreet Inn & Casino on the Nevada side of Death Valley. I was surprised to find a few patches of T-Mobile LTE coverage along the way. I had an unfortunate incident where I ran over what looked like a rabbit, which briefly shook me up. I arrived at the establishment just before the restaurant kitchen closed at 10pm, and was able to grab a quick takeaway order to eat in my room.
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Seattle -> StL - Day 6 (3/5/2017) - Exploring LA
Considering that this entry is about 2.5 months late, this won't be my best travelogue. I did a decent job of writing during the first 3 days of the trip, but then I completely neglected the travelogue (except for some notes) until now. So this nonsense is all you get...
--
I departed the hotel at 10:45am, with Watts Towers as my first destination. After that I headed downtown to check out Walt Disney Concert Hall. Unfortunately, there were no remaining tours that day due to an afternoon performance. I considered going to The Broad next door, but the general admission line (which is free) was way too long.
I headed up to the Griffith Observatory as a light rain began to fall. By the time I dealt with the insane parking situation and made my way up to the observatory the rain had picked up. I took shelter inside along with all the other visitors, and then explored a bit outside after the bulk of the rain had passed.
Afterward I had a very late lunch at Thai Vegan in Santa Monica, then went for a walk along Venice Beach. When I returned to my car I found that I had received a parking ticket for expired license plate registration - something I had completely forgotten about while I was in Seattle (it later turned out that the state had never sent me a renewal notice).
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
--
I departed the hotel at 10:45am, with Watts Towers as my first destination. After that I headed downtown to check out Walt Disney Concert Hall. Unfortunately, there were no remaining tours that day due to an afternoon performance. I considered going to The Broad next door, but the general admission line (which is free) was way too long.
I headed up to the Griffith Observatory as a light rain began to fall. By the time I dealt with the insane parking situation and made my way up to the observatory the rain had picked up. I took shelter inside along with all the other visitors, and then explored a bit outside after the bulk of the rain had passed.
Afterward I had a very late lunch at Thai Vegan in Santa Monica, then went for a walk along Venice Beach. When I returned to my car I found that I had received a parking ticket for expired license plate registration - something I had completely forgotten about while I was in Seattle (it later turned out that the state had never sent me a renewal notice).
--
Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/zLKCNQoHytDDxSUB6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
