Friday, April 22, 2022

Temperature 79 Degrees, Overcast, Winds 25 to 35, Gusting to 40 mph

Smoky Hill RV Park, Junction City, KS

Today was a travel day. We were leaving Oklahoma and moving north to the state of Kansas. Since it would be a 5 hour drive we decided to break it up by stopping for fuel half way.

The weather forecast was not the best. Though no rain was in the forecast the wind was supposed to be in the 25 to 35 mph range with higher gusts. However, since the winds were coming from the south and we were moving due north I figured we shouldn’t have much of an issue. And for the most part this proved correct. We only had one part of the trip were we had an issue and that is when we took a jog to the North East. Then off and on it was white knuckle driving for about an hour. Overall, though, not a bad trip at all.

So where are we now?

We are at Smoky Hill RV Park which welcomed its first RV’ers back in 2020. It’s a nice park that gives evidence of being well taken care of and well maintained. The entrance is well marked and easy to find. The entrance road is paved and wide and the roads in the park are gravel, adequate width, and easy to navigate.

This is our new home until Monday. Our site has a gravel base, it is of adequate width, and dead level. There is more than enough space between sites. We also have a concrete patio and a brand new picnic table. Remember the wind I mentioned earlier? It is absolutely fierce here in the park. Though we put up our satellite antenna we were soon forced to bring it down because of the wind. I mean to get out of Elvira you literally have to hold the door with two hands or it will be ripped right out of your hands. Our jacks are down but we are still rocking and rolling. It’s going to be an interesting night.

So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after we’re going to see the wizard. That’s why we are here. But for now, you’ll have to excuse me it has been a long day and I’m ready for some shut eye. Good night, and God bless.

April 21, 2022

Temperature 83 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine, Windy

Science Museum Oklahoma

I was going solo today. Ms. Barbara had decided that she really wasn’t up to another museum. In addition, she had several projects she wanted to complete in Elvira. The number one project being putting the kitchen back together after we had disposed of our unwelcome visitor. That visitor being a mouse. In almost four years of full timing this is the first time we’ve ever had a rodent problem. But no more. The little critter has been disposed of.

The picture at the beginning of the blog shows my destination. Again, this is one of those wonderful museums that I just sort of stumbled upon. I was going to pass it up but I am oh so glad I didn’t. Their literature claims that it covers 390,000 square feet which makes it one of the largest science museums in the nation. It is literally filled to the rafters with fun things to see and do. I spent a delightful three hours wanderings its exhibits.

My first discovery before I even entered the museum.

This is an overview of part of the first floor from the second floor balcony.

If you look closely you will see children here, there, and everywhere. I learned only after I began my tour that today was field trip day for many of the local schools. And what better place to bring them, this museum is chock full of interactive hands-on displays that invite kids to learn by doing.

Remember I’ve often said, Any day I learn something new is a good day? Well, today was a good day. Let me share with you a few of things I learned today.

Still on the subject of oil and well drilling.

Do you know the various grades of oil? I didn’t but I learned.

Here are some interesting facts about oil.

Really?

Moving along, our next stop is the Planetarium.

There was a captivating, twenty minute presentation on the make up of our galaxy.

Outside the actual Planetarium were some plaques on the wall with some facts I never knew but do now. Such as,

Turning our now to

The hottest place on earth – 136 degrees Fahrenheit! Way too hot for me.

Did you catch that about the coldest place? -129 Degrees Fahrenheit! I don’t think my heat pump would handle that.

Well, I’ve just touched on some of the exhibits. There was a separate section for planes, for trains, and for space exploration. Among many other exhibits.

Oh, less I forget

Suffice to say this was a most intriguing place and I’m glad I had the opportunity to spend some time here. If in the area some day I highly recommend a visit to this most captivating museum.

Thanks again for stopping by today  It’s always great to be able to share our story with others. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish each day that God gives you and live it to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

April 20, 2022

Temperature 91 Degrees, Abundant Sunshine

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

Talk about climate change and crazy weather. Yesterday the temperature was 63 degrees and today it is 91 degrees! That’s quite a shift in just one day. It will remain like this up to and including the day we leave which is Friday. Then we move further north and the temperatures go back down once again.

One of the wonderful joys of traveling around this great country of ours is the opportunity we have to visit some magnificent museums that we never knew existed. Such is the museum we visited the other day.

I discovered this museum by accident while surfing the web one day. I then spent some time looking at its web site and decided well why not. I literally had no idea what we were in for nor what to expect. But boy oh boy am I ever glad we decided to put it on our list of places to visit.

First of all this museum is huge. Like I mean enormous. According to their literature the museum has more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art works and artifacts. I believe it. And that’s not counting the numerous outside exhibits. They recommend 2 to 4 hours for a visit. Well, we spent 3 hours and finally had to call it a day and we still had not viewed all the exhibits. We really should have taken a two day pass.

Second, this is a museum that deserves a visit from one and all. Per their web page:

MISSION STATEMENT
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum preserves and interprets the evolving history and cultures of the American West for the education and enrichment of its diverse audiences of adults and children

They also state that over 10 million visitors from around the world have already visited the museum since it opened in 1995.

Let me now try and highlight some of the exhibits that were on display. Truthfully, I know I’m not going to do it justice but I do hope I wet your appetite enough for you to put it on your bucket list.

Entitled The End of the Trail this sculpture was meant to reflect Native Americans as part of a vanishing race with no place in the twentieth century. It portrays an Indian warrior defeated and bound for oblivion – frozen in time. Yet far from going quietly into the night the Native American population from a low of only 250,000 in 1890 now numbers slightly over two million.

Throughout the year they rotate display exhibits. This is one of the current exhibits.

No air bags on this baby. Not even a leaf spring or two.

I wonder if they had CAT Scales back then? Or worried about four corner weight distribution? The one thing that stood out to me was the fact that the wagon was usually so loaded there was no room inside for the family. Rather, they had to walk alongside the wagon from start to finish.

Should I ever get to complaining about rough roads, high winds, and rainy weather while traveling all I need to do is refer back to this. Then I’ll truly know how good I have it.

Another current exhibit.

A sampling of some of the exhibits both inside and outside.

I can’t imagine climbing the ladder every night to go to bed. And what about a potty break in the middle of the night!

The above is just a sampling of what the museum has to offer. Other exhibits that we saw just a bit of dealt with Western Performers, the Rodeo, native American dwellings, and an early western town. The interesting thing is I knew of the West, but didn’t really know all that much about Western culture. I came away with a new understanding and new insights into a way of life that was far removed from the culture I grew up in. And any day that I can learn something new I consider it a good day.

Yup, back to collecting T-shirts again.

Life on The Road of Retirement is ever so good. One more day of sightseeing – this time I’ll go solo – and then Friday we’re back on the road. Stick with us, we have miles to go and so many more more interesting places to share with you in the future.

April 19, 2022

Temperature 63 Degrees, Sunny, Windy

An April Morning in Oklahoma City 27 Years Ago

We’re going back to the site of the Oklahoma bombing 25 years ago today. We’ll finish up our visit there with a tour of the outdoor Memorial and other exhibits around the museum.

The Survivor Tree. This is a near century old American Elm that stands as a symbol of strength and resilience.

This field of empty chairs is located where the Federal Building once stood. The chairs are arranged in nine rows reflecting the floor on which someone was killed. Each chair is etched with the name of a person killed. There are also 19 smaller chairs for each of the children killed. At night the chairs light up as individual beacons of light.

The reflecting pool is the site of what was once Fifth Avenue which ran in front of the Federal building. There is a gate at either end of the pool. One is visible above.

This is the other gate. They are called the Gates of Time. On one is etched the time 9:01 representing we learned the innocence before the attack. The other gate has the time of 9:03 which we also learned marks the moment when healing began.

And I’ll conclude with this.

We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have had the time to visit the Museum and Memorial. It left both of us with a lot to think about. Even today, a day later, so many thoughts about that day are still swirling around in my mind. Again, let me encourage you if you have not had the opportunity to visit both do take some time in the future to do so.

Thanks again for stopping by today  It’s always great to be able to share our story with others. Comments? Feel free to share them with me. And always remember, cherish each day that God gives you and live it to the fullest.

Our continuing mission remains the same: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before