Author: mchazen

The morning was slightly overcast with a cool breeze blowing.  No more excuses — back to the workout routine.  The weights and Pilates went o.k., but after a week layoff the run was harder than usual.  I decided to head for the water tower and found out water towers are usually placed on the highest point of the surrounding area.  Duh!  Most problems in life are self inflicted.  Jeanne ran a similar route and came to the same conclusion.  After cleaning up, the rest of the day was spent updating this triplog and reading.  Bottom line, we did absolutely nothing.

Campsite at Lake Texhoma on the Oklahoma side of the lake. A very quiet location on a sunny day.

View of a very, very small part of Lake Texhoma.

Jeanne enjoying her morning cup of coffee at Lake Texhoma, Oklahoma.

For dinner, we got into one of the meat packages Ron gave us.  Guessing it was venison steaks, Jeanne marinated the meat before it went on the grill.  It was delicious.  There was more than we thought and the leftovers were saved for tomorrow night.

Before going to bed, we went outside to see the full moon.  It was light enough to read by.

All in all, it was a great day.

We woke early and got on with the task of preparing the coach for the road.  Last on the list is hooking up the Jeep and testing the brake lights.  The dielectric grease did the trick — we had a good connection between the coach and Jeep and the lights worked to design specification.  After a fuel stop, we hopped on the interstate and headed south towards Lake Texhoma.

The drive was along good highways with light traffic and we arrived at the lake in the early afternoon.

Lake Texhoma runs along the boarder between Texas and Oklahoma and covers about 89,000 acres.  The state park we pulled into is a huge facility that is lightly used this time of year.  It will be a good place to hide out for the next ten days.  The roads through the park are mostly paved and flat — perfect for running.

After setting up, we went to town to pick up our mail posted as general delivery to Kingston, Oklahoma.  Included in the package was the 2005 license tag for the Jeep, which arrived with only three days to spare.  The rest of the mail package was the usual assortment of statements, magazines and junk.

For the first time in a long time we are able to get satellite TV.  After grilling a steak for dinner, we settled in to watch TV and catch up on the news.  We read a little before falling asleep.

We got up late and decided to skip the workouts for the rest of our stay in Oklahoma City.  No particular reason for the decision, we just needed to be lazy for a while.

We need to get some shopping done before hitting the road tomorrow morning.  After a quick breakfast, we headed out to update the computers and find a Walmart Supercenter.  We also need to find an auto parts store.

Recently, the problem with the connection between the coach and Jeep resurfaced.  It seems the electrical connection is interrupted due to corrosion.  I thought WD40 would solve the problem, but after it dries out the problem reappears.  Some sort of conductive lubricant is needed and the guy at the auto parts store recommended a small package of dielectric grease.  I had no idea anything like this even existed, let alone become part of my life.  My how things have changed this past year!  Anyway, for $1.06 it was worth a try.  Tomorrow I’ll find out when we hook up the Jeep.

Electrical cable that connects Jeep to coach during towing.

Notice corrosion on cable end and dielectric grease that took care of the problem.

Connector on front of the Jeep. Notice the perfect location to collect moisture and dirt.

In the late afternoon we returned to the coach and took the opportunity to call some of our Florida friends to see if they were o.k. from hurricane Jeanne.  Aside from the usual cleanup, there were no injuries or property damage.  We were glad to hear all was o.k. and wished them well with the cleanup.

In the evening, Ron and Mary hosted us to a Honeybaked Ham dinner with a potato salad side dish based on an old family recipe.  There were no leftovers.  After dinner, we were just getting into a football game when the neighbor called to report her dog cornered a snake.  In a flash, off we went armed with a shovel Ron sharpened for such an event.  The snake was a copperhead with a mean disposition and coiled to strike.  With a single blow, the snake was history.  Ron stowed the shovel in its specially designed camouflage bag and we returned to the football game.

We would be leaving in the morning, so we said our goodbyes.  We very much enjoyed our visit and appreciate the hospitality Ron and Mary extended.  We also appreciate the meat Ron gave us before we left.  Jeanne and I are the beneficiaries of Ron’s hunting skill and now have an ample supply of buffalo, venison and elk quietly resting in our freezer.  We look forward to preparing these treats.

Returning to the coach, we immediately got to bed in anticipation of the long day ahead of us.

Today, Ron and I attended an ATA (Amateur Trapshooters Association) shoot.  The trap range is on the other side of town so we had to leave early.  Jeanne wanted to go, but I couldn’t get her out of bed.  No sense in provoking Godzilla; I slowly backed out of the room making as little noise as possible.  After stopping by Ron’s house, we were on our way.

The terrain on the west side of Oklahoma City is mostly flat farmland.  The trap range is way outside of town in the middle of nowhere; surrounded by huge fields of grain and hay.  Although we were two miles away from the interstate, you could easily see the trucks moving in the distance.  Ominously, the wind was gusting and there was nothing to break it up.

After signing up for 200 singles and 100 handicap, we shot a practice round.  For me it was a warning; I couldn’t hit a damn thing.

Around 9:00, the events started.  Lack of practice, swirling wind, three types of ammo and too much one-eyed shooting the previous day all conspired against me.  My scores were embarrassingly low.  Ron also struggled a little; probably from watching me.  Scores aside, the day was a lot of fun.  It had been a long time since I shot some trap and it was certainly better than going to work.  So much for the clean shotgun.

Returning to the coach, I reported my scores to Jeanne and hung my head in shame.  She listened patiently as I went down the list of excuses.

That evening we all went to a Cajun restaurant.  We all shared an alligator appetizer that was surprisingly good.  There is no doubt this particular gator was farm raised.  However, Florida residents can hunt gators with special permits.  Why someone would intentionally go looking for these at night (gators are active at night) is a mystery to me.  The appetizer is as close as I every want to get.  Anyway, Jeanne had blackened prime rib and I had blackened catfish.  It was a great meal and there were no leftovers.  

We returned to the coach and read a little before falling asleep.

When we woke, it was raining lightly and my knee was bothering me — no workout today either.  It looks like we’ll be taking a few days off from our exercise routine.

A campground is not a good venue to clean a firearm and our shotguns hadn’t been cleaned in months.  Finding this out, Ron arranged for a shotgun cleaning jamboree at his house.  It was a good thing.  Not only did mine need a through cleaning but the two that Ron cleaned were also long overdue.  At the end of the session, there were four shotguns that looked brand new.

With the shotguns clean and secure, we headed for the rifle range.  The club Ron belongs to is a great facility with several specialized ranges; the longest is 700 yards.  After setting up the sandbags, we started punching holes in paper targets out to 200 yards.  Four hours later, we were hot, tired and almost out of ammo.  A check of the targets showed good groups at all distances.  The prairie dog target at 200 yards was riddled with holes.  Fortunately for the prairie dogs, these were paper targets.  Satisfied, we headed home.

About a year ago Ron bagged a buffalo, most of which is still quietly resting in his freezer.  For dinner, Ron and Mary prepared a meal around a buffalo steak entrée.  It was delicious.  We never ate buffalo before and it was a real treat.  The meat was somewhat darker than beef but was tender and flavorful.  We had expected a wild, gamy flavor but the meat was mild.  On this trip, the meat we buy has been hit-n-miss.  At times, our running shoes would have been easier to chew than some of the beef or chicken we grilled.  Without a doubt, the buffalo was one of the best cuts of meat we’ve had in a long time.

After talking late into the night, we returned to the coach and slept well.

It was raining when we woke and decided to bag the workout.

The plan for the day was to visit with Ron and Mary, who are friends from Los Angeles.  The faithful reader of this triplog may remember they had met us on the road in Lake Mohave and Fort Lauderdale.  Due to a job transfer, Ron and Mary are living just outside of Oklahoma City in a house that overlooks a small lake and park.  It is clear they have many friends here and have become part of the community.  Their home is just right for their retired lifestyle.

Late in the morning we went to their house and spent the rest of the day catching up on old times.

Ron had purchased a tree stand of a rather unique design and let us borrow a DVD produced by the manufacturer.  Returning to the coach, we watched the DVD and it was hilarious.  The plot was Grandma and Grandpa deer hunting on Moonshine Island, a deserted island deep in the Louisiana swamps surrounded by snakes and gators.  Of course, the trip demonstrates the many uses of the tree stand.  The acting was marginal and the production was amateurish, but we thoroughly enjoyed the DVD.  I especially enjoyed one of Grandma’s lines “I don’t shoot bullets.  I shoot tombstones!”  She was an expert shot.

We woke early and went through the “we’re leaving this place” routine.  Jeanne secured the inside of the coach while I took care of the outside.  With the coach aired up, the slides in and the Jeep hitched, we were on our way.

The drive took longer than anticipated.  From the campground, it took 45 minutes to reach I-540 and we spent another frustrating 45 minutes at a fuel stop in Fayetteville.  The Pilot in Fayetteville is about two blocks off the interstate and is too small to accommodate the truck traffic through it.  In addition, there is no easy way in or out.  To exit, you have to cross a busy highway without a signal.  The final insult was paying $1.95 per gallon for diesel.  If you are traveling through this area, do NOT stop at this Pilot.

Back on the interstate, we headed south to Fort Smith before turning west on I-40.  The countryside through Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma was mostly rolling hills, ranches and woods and eastern Oklahoma was surprisingly hilly and scenic.  Eventually we reached our destination, the KOA in Choctaw, which is just east of Oklahoma City.

For some reason, we were very tired and setting up was an effort.  We grilled a ham steak for dinner and got to bed early.

The morning air was cool and dry; perfect for our last workout in Northwest Arkansas.  For the last time during our stay, we ran along the hilly roads startling squirrels and spooking deer.  Running the hills this past month, Jeanne noticeably improved her strength and stamina and looks forward to continued progress.  My achievement here was successfully running a 5K.  We enjoyed our workouts here and will miss this place when we move on tomorrow morning.

The balance of the morning was spent cleaning up and preparing the coach for travel.

In the early afternoon, we went to town to fuel the Jeep and update the computers.

The evening was spent with Faye and Don at their house.  After dinner we said our goodbyes and headed for the coach.  We really had a great time visiting with Faye and Don and are grateful for their hospitality and entertaining moments.  They are dear friends and good people.

At the campground, we also said goodbye to Hoss and Robin and wished them well.  They have been living in their motorhome since leaving Kansas and both are working hard to make a new life for themselves in Northwest Arkansas.  We have no doubt they will make it.  On a future visit, we hope to visit them and hear a story of hard work, persistence and success.

So, tomorrow we move on and we are sad about leaving.  On our trip, this was the first time we stayed in a place to seriously evaluate it for settlement.  To be sure, we spent a lot of time with Faye and Don, but the main focus was learning about the area.  The community certainly offers a lot and we feel comfortable here.  The weather is relatively mild, there are plenty of outdoor activities and friends are already living close by.  We feel a connection and it could work, but there are plenty of other places we need to see before making a decision.  For now, Northwest Arkansas is on the A list.

It is Monday morning and we could safely assume businesses are open; we headed for town early to get chores out of the way.  We filled the propane bottle, updated the computers and picked up a very few things at Walmart.

For years we carried an ATT calling card.  On this trip, we use the ATT calling card for pay-phones when cell-phone service was not available.  The calling card is billed monthly and is usually some nominal amount.  Recently, we received a letter from ATT communicating a new policy that directs calling card charges to a home phone number.  In addition, calling card rates would increase.  Well, we don’t have a home phone number — the cell phone is our only phone.  After a 30 minute conversation with the helpful folks at ATT it was obvious the calling card was history.  What to do?  Once again, Walmart to the rescue!  For $8.88, we got a 120 minute prepaid Walmart phone card, which is way cheaper than the ATT calling card.  Hopefully, this will solve the problem.

After dropping off the groceries at the coach, the morning was still cool and we decided to go for a hike.  On the way to town, we frequently passed a turnout for the Shaddox Hollow Trail — we decided to investigate.  The trail turned out to be a loop-path through a densely wooded area.  The trail followed a ridgeline before dropping into a secluded hollow.  Along the way were caves, wildlife, trees and quiet.  A occasional gentle breeze kept us cool.  Having run in this hilly terrain for over a month, we found the walk was easy and perfect for a non-workout day.  We very much enjoyed the experience.

Marker for Shaddox Hollow Trail

Jeanne signing in at trailhead.

Jeanne in front of cave entrance. We did not go inside.

Typical scene along trail.

In the late afternoon, we went to Faye and Don’s to visit and confirm the old adage: “Most problems in life are self-inflicted”.

Eventually, everyone got hungry and I suggested the Chinese Buffet.  It was a big mistake.  The six of us (including Don’s two aging cousins from Florida) piled into Don’s Cadillac and headed for town.  Once again, dinner turned into a Twilight Zone experience.  This episode was titled Dinner in the Catskills with Cranky Old People.  True to the script, each dish had something to complain about: the ribs were cold, the Jell-O was warm, the soup was too hot, and on and on.  Don was about to blow when I pointed out the humor of it all.  Some of the locals sitting close by were enjoying the show.  Eventually, Rod Serling came by with the check and we left.

Returning to the coach, we opened our weekly mail package before going to bed.

The day started with good intentions. . .

Before leaving, I had a quick breakfast — sort of.  In the 5K goodie bag were two free coupons for a new Total cereal fortified with protein.  Jeanne picked up two boxes at Walmart.  I like Total and Total fortified with protein would be better, right?  Wrong!  The stuff was inedible.  It was like chewing a mouth full of spit wads.  There was no way to get your teeth through it.  After gagging on this stuff for ten minutes, I drank off the milk and sent the uneaten cereal to the Rogers, Arkansas landfill.  I normally don’t waste food, but this could hardly be classified as a food product.  The unopened box will be scattered for the local critters to eat.

The goodie bag also had a free one-day pass to a local health club.  The plan was to go to the gym for my workout and update the computers before meeting Jeanne at Fay and Don’s house.  I did chores around the coach while Jeanne did her workout.  Afterwards I dropped her off at Faye and Don’s before heading for town.

Still picking that nasty cereal out of my teeth, I arrived at the health club to find they were conducting Sunday services in the middle of the gym.  Somehow the venue seemed strange to me; I immediately headed for the exit.  On the way to the internet cafe I speculated about the sermon-in-the-gym.  Did it have some sort of fitness theme to it?  Was it about carrying a heavy burden?  Or loosing a heavy burden?  Maybe I should have stuck around to find out; it may have done me some good.

Updating the computers was just as hopeless since the internet cafe was closed on Sunday.

By this time I was getting hungry and stopped at a convenience store for a sandwich.  The sandwiches were sold out, of course, and there are no Sunday deliveries.  Strike three — I headed for Fay and Don’s.

I learned something about Sunday morning in the Bible Belt; don’t expect to get anything done.

We all piled into Don’s boat and spent the afternoon on the lake.  The weather was perfect and lake traffic was extremely light.  Jeanne and Fay had picked up fried chicken at Walmart that morning, which we ate after anchoring in a quiet cove.  I used the opportunity to go for a swim in the refreshing water.  In the late afternoon we headed back to the house.

After watching a Northwest Arkansas sunset, we returned to the coach and got to bed early.