Reset search
The Road 'Mates'The Road 'Mates'
SatelliteEdit route
Retired Read more Mountain Top, PA, United States
  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 114

    Sallisaw, OK - Sallisaw/Fort Smith W KOA

    June 7, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Here we are in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, a medium size town of 8,500 in eastern Oklahoma. Just our size! Small enough for peace and quiet, and minimal traffic.

    As we head eastward the scenery has changed from arid desert landscape with colorful mountains to rolling tree covered hills. Wildlife has changed from lizards, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and an occasional pronghorn to miles and miles of cattle; the calf's are cute, staying close to mom. Yes, we are getting closer to our trips end.

    However, there are still new things to see and experience as we pass through different states and towns. With different places and people there is always something eye catching and perhaps noteworthy. Each town has its own story to tell.

    As for Sallisaw, OK we have a town that sits within the Cherokee Nation boundaries. The Cherokee Nation is just one of many Native American lands that we have passed through in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was originally the US Indian Territory which explains the large Native American presence. Sallisaw started out a cotton farming community, turning to lumber along with coal, natural gas, and related petroleum products. Today, agriculture in many forms supports the economy. It appears that not much has changed here over a century, except the Super Walmart down the street. Another nice town to live, work, and raise a family.

    Although Sallisaw may not be known for any facts of existence, the are two well known items tied to it's name. One, the gangster Pretty Boy Floyd is from the area, and two, Sallisaw was mentioned in John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" novel as the home town from which the fictional family migrated westward. Even nondescript towns along our journey have a story to tell. This is what makes our trip more interesting than just the usual touristy stops.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 111

    Choctaw, Oklahoma - Oklahoma City E KOA

    June 4, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    As the KOA campground name indicates, we are near Oklahoma City. We're just east of the City, in Choctaw, OK. No trip through Oklahoma would complete without seeing Tornado Alley Central, OKC.

    Our drive took us right by the city and since we've outgrown our big city awe, we gave Oklahoma City only a cursory look. However, what we have seen and learned about OKC suggests the city is unique and has much to offer. Unforturnately, many people know OKC only for the tragic domestic terrorism act of the Federal Building bombing.

    OKC lies on the Great Plains surrounded by agriculture of all types especially cattle ranches. This source of cattle has made OKC one of the largest livestock markets in the world. There are 1.5 million people living in metropolitan OKC. Approximately half are living in the city itself. These city dwellers have the benefit of living in what appears to be a progressive environment and one that is citizen oriented. OKC is a city of business districts and neighborhoods. Many are affluent historic neighborhoods that adjoin up and coming districts. OKC has all the usual city amenities, theatre, museums, restaurants, parks, and sports, including the recent arrival of their own NBA team. The outlets for OKC citizens are many and varied.

    Oklahoma City appears to be a big city looking out for the people which makes it worth a look by anyone seeking a good place to live, work, and play. For anyone coming, there are 3 interstates that intersect here so it won't be hard to find or to get here.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 110

    Foss, Oklahoma - Elk City/Clinton KOA

    June 3, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Have arrived in Oklahoma. This is our first time camping in the Sooner State. Only a couple more states to go and we will have done all the lower 48 states.

    This stop in Foss, OK (100 miles west of Oklahoma City) is just an overnight stop. And a stop is all it can be. We are between here and there. As the campground name suggests, we're between Elk City, OK and Clinton, OK, two good size towns. However, more accurately, we're really between Canute, OK and Foss. OK. Two towns of not good size. You wouldn't even have to blink to miss Canute or Foss. Someone forgot to tell the last person leaving to turn off the lights.

    Canute is a small, small town of 500 residents. On the other hand, Foss is a very,very, small town of 150. Here's another size perspective. The Canute high school averages 30 per grade.

    Back in the day industry consisted of a broom factory, and a wagon and buggy carriage works. The towns were up and coming. But then companies closed and the towns slowly withered away.

    The land on which Canute and Foss now sit was once given to the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians after they were forced off their native lands. The land gift didn't last. The US took it back so that Oklahoma could be settled by westward moving pioneers. Once the pioneers moved in, the railroad showed up; then Route 66 came through making the towns popular stopping places; and then Interstate 40 bypassed the towns and they were no longer popular stops; and finally the death blow came when the local Air Force Base closed. Once again the towns slowly shriveled up. Unfortunately, this scenario of small town decline has played out all over the country. The folks must either leave for greener pastures or hold on to the homestead in hopes of turning things around. A few hundred people opted to stay in Canute and Foss, OK. This land had seen one life changing episode after another. Today these 2 small towns could use a break and some luck.

    Despite the troubles of Canute and Foss, the KOA campground is very nice. It has a small restaurant which other KOA's have. But this one also has a bar. This is a first!    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 108

    Amarillo, Texas - Amarillo KOA

    June 1, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    What day is it and where are we? Not a complaint, only a trip benefit.

    Beautiful and interesting scenery goes by and another restful stop to enjoy! On our way to Amarillo we passed through rolling plains for as far as one could see. Farms with newly plowed fields and ranches with wandering cattle. We are definitely in cowboy country. We're in the Texas panhandle. If you stop and look closely you can feel the lure of the old West and imagine life back in the pioneer days.

    A new crop has sprouted up on the northern Texas plains. A large white spinning crop has emerged. As far as the eye can see, there is mile after mile of thousands (no exaggeration) of windmills. The wind over the plains is being put to good use.

    Amarillo is situated in the grasslands of northern Texas surrounded by dense prairie and large ranches. It retains the culture of a hard nosed cattle town. One quarter of US beef is processed here. Meat packing is a major employer. Today's cityscape is filled with cactus, cowboys, steak, and oil. Urbanization has taken hold and caused downtown economic deterioration that is seen in many cities.

    Downtown aside, there's much interesting scenery to enjoy. So, saddle up buckeroo!    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 107

    Tucumcari, New Mexico - Tucumcari KOA

    May 31, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Where and what is Tucumcari? It's a town of 5,000 people approximately halfway between Albuquerque, NM and Amarillo, TX; and in the Northeast corner of New Mexico, not far from the Texas panhandle. It is located on Interstate 40 which follows old, now Historic Route 66. Old Route 66 runs through the center of town. This location pretty much keeps the town alive. The usual chain restaurants and hotels have clustered around an interstate exit, which provide all the town fun. However, Tucumcari does provide a quiet restful campsite for the night.

    How did Tucumcari get to this point? As with many western towns the railroad gets the founding credit. First, in 1901 there was a railroad construction camp, Ragtown. So much good times were had in Ragtown that it became known as Six Shooter Siding. Tucumcari, named after a nearby mountain, came along in 1905 and grew to become a junction for transcontinental train service. Route 66 added more westward travelers up until the interstate highway was built in the 1950's. Then traffic sped by with no need to stop in a small town. The population boom stopped abruptly in the 50's with the demise of both the railroad and automobile traffic. The exodus continues to this day.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 106

    Albuquerque, NM - Albuquerque KOA

    May 30, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today we crossed the Continental Divide at 7,500 feet which means our trip is all downhill from here. We have stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This stop is just that, only a stop for the night. We have already spent considerable tourist time here during previous trips. Albuquerque is worth a look!

    As cities go, Albuquerque is one of the more inviting ones we have visited. It has much history and culture to absorb. It's big, 190 square miles, with a metropolitan population of 916,000. It is an old town, founded in 1706 by the Spanish. The "Old Town" still thrives today with businesses, restaurants, and a church surrounding a central plaza. The "New Town" was founded when the railroad came to town, but not to the Old Town. Since then the city has been steadily growing and at times by leaps and bounds. Today the urban sprawl continues as the city expands westward and culturally it remains the crossroad of New Mexico.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 104

    Gallup, New Mexico - USA RV Park

    May 28, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We're gathering travel momentum heading homeward. Gallup, NM, "The Heart Of Indian Country", is a halfway stop between Flagstaff, AZ and Albuquerque, NM. While we've been here before, this stop has a specific purpose. The trip's Navigation Goddess needs some retail therapy in the form of a authentic Native American jewelry purchase. The Zuni Pueblo borders Gallup and is a target rich shopping environment.

    Gallup, NM is another town founded with the arrival of the railroad, and it's still here with a very large railyard. Trains are tooting pass the campground regularly. Famous Route 66 still passes directly through Gallup. The railroad and highway brought commerce and travelers leading to 20th century prosperity. Mid century brought Hollywood and the filming of many western movies. Unfortunately, the Hollywood notoriety faded and was replaced by a rise in crime . In 2014 Gallup had the highest violent crime rate in the state of New Mexico. ThIs problem has been compounded with the county being the poorest in the state.

    The town borders the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni tribal nations. As a result a substantial portion of Gallup's population is Native Amierican. Unfortunately, Native American poverty, violence, alcoholism, homelessness, and unnatural deaths have added to area's problems. The extent of these problems is not readily apparent to the the casual visitor. On the plus side, Gallup appears to be a growing town showing signs of meeting its challenges.

    As for our retail therapy adventure, seeking Native American jewelry, we were not successful. The availability of items depends on what the artists make, so finding what you want is hit and miss. However, all was not lost. We had a great lunch at the Village Bistro. Despite its somewhat modern name, the restauriant is Native American owned by a Zuni tribe member and features traditional Zuni dishes. The Green Chile Stew was excellent, and yes it was very spicy.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 99

    Holbrook,AZ- Holbrook Petrified Frst KOA

    May 23, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    We have traveled east only 80 miles from Flagstaff, AZ, but weather has improved dramatically. No snow, with temperature in the 70's. Our elevation has dropped 2000 feet and we're back to typical arid Arizona climate. What a difference!

    Holbrook, AZ began as a town of railroaders, cattlemen, outlaws, and rugged lawmen. It was a true Wild West cow town with range wars. It was known as the "Town Too Tough For Women And Churches". In 1914 Holbrook was the only county seat the the US without a church.

    The Holbrook of today is steeped in Native American culture, Hispanic roots, and pioneer spirit. There is at least one reminder of the wild days. There is a town street named "Bucket Of Blood Street". Sometimes it's hard to escape your past.

    On a gentler note, Holbrook is now known as the gateway to the Petrified Forest National Park, which includes the Painted Desert. This area of Arizona was a lush rainforest in prehistoric times. Millions of years ago the region experienced climate change and the land became buried in layers of sediment. Since then wind and water eroded and sculpted the layers to expose petrified wood, and plant and animal fossils. Today the Petrified Forest National Park, with its Painted Desert is a geologist and paleontologist dream.

    While other National Parks may get more attention, the Petrified Forest National Park should also be a must see National Park. The Painted Desert portion of the Park provides a landscape filled with rolling hills and mountains striated with vibrant colors. Add to this pieces of petrified trees of all sizes and shapes strewn about and you get a landscape not to be missed.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 98

    Flagstaff, Arizona - Flagstaff KOA

    May 22, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 6 °C

    Leaving the desert Southwest, but still in Arizona. Now in the far northern part of the state, the High Desert, home to the city of Flagstaff. For Flagstaff "desert" means an annual average of 277 days without precipitation. Never fear, it does precipitate. How about an average annual snowfall of 100 inches? The record snowfall for one day is 36 inches! There are 66,000 people living in Flagstaff that appear not to mind the weather.

    Flagstaff was founded based upon the railroad, lumber, and ranching. All still here, but now the city is known for its astronomical pressence. The city is the world's first International Dark Sky City which explains why the famous Lowell Observatory (discovered Pluto & helped with the Apollo moon landings) is here; and the US Naval Observatory also. Flagstaff being at a 7000 foot elevation only adds to the city's heavenly attributes.

    Today the city's attraction is its natural environment and all the four season outside activities. Flagstaff is on a mountain and is surrounded by ancient volcanoes in the heart of the Coconino National Forest. It sits next to the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America. A lot of natural beauty here to enjoy.

    Trivia 101 - how did Flagstaff get its name? In 1876, a very tall flag pole was made from a perderosa pine tree and used to celebrate the nation's centennial. That's it! Believe it or not!
    .
    This is our next to last Arizona stop. From here we turn east to begin our trek homeward. There's more to see and enjoy over the next 2000 miles.

    PS. Woke up in the morning to snow, in Arizona, on May 23 - thanks to Flagstaff's 7000 foot elevation. We crossed the Arizona Divide at 7334 feet in a light snowfall. The snowy landscape was beautiful with snow clinging to the pine trees.    Read more

  • TravelerWest 2019
    Day 94

    Clarkdale, AZ - Rain Spirit RV Resort

    May 18, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Clarkdale, AZ! Why here? Answer is, we just need a place to stop with possible exploration opportunities. Plus, the campground that we are staying in was calling to us. It's new, relatively small, has all the amenities, and offers some spectacular views of some gorgeous scenery. And it has a nice name, Rain Spirit.

    This area consists of 3 closely situated towns - Cottonwood, Clarkdale, and Jerome. Of the three, Cottonwood is by far the largest. It provides the majority of the commercial, retail, and service needs of the area. Cottonwood also provides a unique shopping area called "Old Town" consisting of several blocks of retail therapy opportunities within historic buildings. Cottonwood came to be as a result of residents seeking freedom from the "company town" regulations found in Clarkdale and Jerome.

    The 3 towns are situated in the Verde Valley, which is the geographic center of Arizona. The Verde River runs through it and 80% of the Valley is National Forest. This provides for natural beauty that is augmented by red rocks, hills, and mountains. Sedona and its Red Rock beauty is a short drive away.

    The real story here lies with the towns of Jerome and Clarkdale. Early in the 20th century, these towns were the epicenter of the copper mining industry. Jerome was a roaring boom town and home to one of the largest copper mines in the world. Back in the day Jerome was the 3rd largest town in Arizona. Today mining is gone and the town exists on tourism and a cement mill. Clarkdale was created after the copper smelter in Jerome had to be moved when high grade copper ore was found beneath it. A new smelter and town, Clarkdale, were built. Clarkdale, named after the mine owner, was a true company town. It was one of the most technological advanced towns of its time, having luxurious amenities of telephone, electricity, sewer, an water systems. A true planned community. Today Clarkdale is known as a "Former Company Town".    Read more

Join us:

FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android

  • 2024© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Blog
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Support
  • Legal notice
  • English