Tuesday, September 15

TOP HATS AND WIND GENERATORS...

Greetings, dear reader!

As we continue our tour of Route 66, I would like to remind you to please keep your arms and legs inside the tour bus at all times. Thank you...

As you recall from my last post, we were in Foyil, OK at the Totem Pole Park. As we leave the area, we pass by this quaint little cafe...I just LOVE the "General Store" look of the place! Isn't the Coca Cola Cooler to die for? We'll stop here for a bite to eat and then continue our bus journey.



Our next stop is at a little "wide spot in the road" called Seaba, OK, home of the Seaba Station and Gift Shop. Imagine our surprise as we realize the place is not open for business...in fact, construction is not even completed yet!






The Route 66 Tour Manual mentions the station as though it is up and running...but alas, we found instead a halted construction site...without anything that resembled the promise of a Grand Opening. Boo. Bummer. Of course, inquiring minds (including the mind of the tour guide) want to know, "What happened?" Run out of money? Time? Both? Is the area economically devastated? Did the town lose a major industry and employer? Questions. Questions. And no one available to answer them. We must draw our own conclusions and move on...but this will bug me until I can do some online research...

Our next stop is a rather odd one (for me anyway), The Farm and Ranch Museum. "WHY OH WHY", you ask, "would you go to a farm and ranch museum?" Well, because it's on the route. AND because I have some kind of abnormal attraction to big red barns set against a shock of blue sky...I have taken a jillion pictures of such barns, which offers no real asthetic value except that they are a) red and b) old. I like both.



Imagine my joy, my bliss when I saw THIS:





I just LOVE the old wind/water generators...they are such an iconic expression of the old western plains...my mind goes back to dust bowls, farming during the Great Depression, and important places in our history. I spent our entire trip trying to catch "THE" iconic photograph of a generator in a field with cattle. Did I manage to capture the moment? You'll have to stay tuned to find out! lol



Much to our glee, dear traveler, after spending time perusing the farm implements and generators, we walk across a replica of a rickety old bridge and we discover...



An entire farming community! THIS was part of the museum! Join me and be transported back to the old west...















Each little shop window was filled with furniture appropriate to the era, and all other kinds of merchandise and goodies...the Trading Post was a restaurant as well as a gift shop...truly a piece of Americana.

Tomorrow you'll board the bus and be taken to:



in Oklahoma City...however, there WILL of course be several stops along the way! See you on the bus bright and early tomorrow morning!

Hugs and kisses,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Tour Guide,
Paula Clare

5 comments:

vivian said...

Hi Paula Clare! Elizabeth posted your sweet garland on her blog, and i decided I needed to pop over to see you! LOVE the garland you made her, its perfect there.
looks like you had a fantastic trip down route 66! I'm off to work, but and adding you to blogs I read.. so I shall be back another day!
happy tuesday!
vivian

barncat (Lisa) said...

Another wonderful tour, I'm loving your route 66 trip! Maybe I'll get to do it myself someday!

Unknown said...

Dear Tour Guide, Lovely blue day, love red barns myself. Can just picture the other tourist wondering, "Why is she taking picture after picture of wind generators!" They just don't understand the passengers on this tour! Love your new header - you are so talented at that type of art! By the way! I have your ATC cards ready to go - instruct this clueless Swap Bot person what I need to do next! I remain, hopelessly far from Route 66! Elizabeth

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Hello! I have become acquainted with you through Elizabeth's blog. It is a pleasure to meet you! We live close to route 66 that runs through SW MO. The sights you've been seeing are great! Enjoy your day. Twyla

Becca said...

I am so happy I found your blog. My hubby and I will be taking our own Route 66 trip next month. I am so excited. We are starting in Joliet Il(the beginning of the route) and just going until we run out of time.Your pictures are great. Thanks for sharing.