Nathan posted on June 29, 2009 17:08
Monday, June 29, 2009
You will be pleased to know that we escaped being burned to a crisp in our bed this morning--we woke up at 7:00 and were long gone by the time the farmers in whose field we camped last night arrived to burn it.
Beginning our trip so early had at least one decided advantage: it was deliciously cool for the first three hours of our drive. Instead of proceeding on through the fifth circle of hell, we found ourselves driving amongst grassy green fields, dotted with trees and backed by red dirt cliffs. Everything looked lovely, almost magical.
We passed a raccoon going for a morning swim under the bushes in a quiet pond. We passed a funny corner-shaped house jutting out from within a hillside, like some place where a hobbit should live.
We found ourselves driving in perfect little rolling hills, with roads that curved and rose and swerved and fell so swiftly that NH thought he was in driving heaven. The terrain was subtle--no high hills. Just cunning swells, green and inviting, with soft dark trees hidden in the hollows.
And then, as fast as we had entered it, we emerged from the magical hidden Oklahoma fairy tale back to straight roads between wheat and corn crops.
As the sun was beginning to be uncomfortably hot, and we were beginning to think about lunch, the roll chart directed us to stop at the ranch through which we were driving and say hi to the owner. We did.
Mrs. Mayo owns the Maple Ranch somewhere near Forgin, Oklahoma, and she came out to greet us. We found Mrs. Mayo to be a gracious and generous hostess, and her ranch to be fascinating, full of both history and innovation. Mrs. Mayo showed us pictures of the original ranch owner, her late husband's grandfather. Mr. Maple rode to Oklahoma from Illinois on a horse, married a local lady, and started the Maple ranch. His house was a pre-cut house from the Montgomery Ward catalog, something I hadn't known even existed. I'm pretty sure you can't order a beautiful large house like that one from a catalog anymore, or else I would be very tempted.
After showing us the house and filling us with chocolate cake, Mrs. Mayo drove us around the ranch. She explained to us the new and efficient way in which they pasture their cattle, showed us some herds and the place where they work the cattle, and drove fast and smooth enough on the dirt roads to leave NH favorably impressed--I suppose he needs to rethink his notion that ladies don't usually drive well.
We left Maple Ranch and for an hour or so, I thought the heat might just get the better of me. Naturally, we didn't consider turning on the air conditioning. Fortunately, a cloud cover arose and sheltered us into Boise City.
Just as we were entering the town, the Jeep began to vapor lock, and we coasted into a gas station in neutral after the engine died. We purchased some coolant to top off the evaporating liquid, but NH also discovered that the transmission fluid is leaking. Unfortunately, everything closes down at 5:00 in this town, so we'll have to go in tomorrow morning.
We are camping at a very small RV park. I don't think it has a name: it's located in back of an ancient dairy-freeze-type drive-thru. There was a brief rain storm, and now a pleasantly cool breeze is blowing through our tent. I think we're in for a good night's sleep.
Posted from parking lot of Townsman Motel, Boise City, OK
Posted by EHenson at 1:05 PM