2018 10 15 - 10 23 Fort Dodge RV Park, Oklahoma Memorial, AT&T Stadium and the Alamo

Fort Dodge RV Park, Dodge City, Kansas - 15 October 2018

Even is southern Kansas we cannot shake off the weird weather and woke up to a dusting of snow on the truck. 

Dakota at the Dog Park at the camp site.

Oklahoma City Memorial, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - 17 October 2018

The footprint of the Murray Building now holds the 168 chairs, etched with the name of those who perished and are arranged to indicate the floor where each victim was located. Even at night, the chairs clear bases glow with internal lights.

Originally installed to enclose the crime scene, it quickly became a place for people to express their sorrow by leaving tokens to the victims, individually and collectively. Periodically these items are removed and preserved in the Museum Archives.

The Reflecting Pool was once NW Fifth Street where the vehicle housing the bomb was left in front of the Murray Federal Building. At each end of the Pool is the Gates of Time. The 9:01 East Gate depicts the innocence before the attack while at the opposite end the 9:03 West Gate (above) marks when healing began. The Reflecting Pool is gently flowing waters designed to help soothe and inspire calm. 

Again, at night, the etched times of innocence and healing glow. 

The victims' chairs face the Museum which houses two floors of interactive exhibits, video recordings or survivors and family members, crimes scene photos, evidence and trial outcomes. This building, the former Journal Record Building, left in its damaged state, shows the impact of the blast. 

The Memorial Overlook frames the Memorial and the city.

The Survivor Tree is encircled by the Promontory Wall with a message of resolve, "The Spirit of this City and this Nation will not be Defeated; Our Deeply Rooted Faith Sustains Us." This near-century-old American Elm stands at the highest point of the Memorial as a symbol of strength and resilience. There are photos from the 1920s of this very tree in the yard of a city residence. At the time of the blast, this tree was centered in a parking lot across NW 5th street from the Murray Building and was surrounded by burning cars. Many of its branches and all its leaves were blown off. The main trunks were scorched. The rebirth of this tree is an endearing symbol of American community, strength, resilience and hope. It is a place of comfort, peace and serenity. 

We were very moved by the Memorial and somewhat surprised by the number of visitors to a site in middle America for an event which occurred over 23 years ago. We even met a mother and daughter who are Oklahoma City residents touring for the first time. 

The Survivor Tree is professionally managed by a certified arborist who monitors its health. 

As the tree grows the brass plate at its base is cut out to accommodate its trunk size. This platform is raised above the ground level of the tree to prevent any damage to its root system. 

Looking back at the 9:03 West Gate. 

The victims' chairs include 19 smaller chairs representing the children who were visiting the building or had been left at the Day Care Center. There are also at least five chairs of folks who were outside the building. One chair is for a nurse who had run into the building to assist the injured and a section of the building fell on her head. When she exited the building, she collapsed in the arms of another woman outside and died of her injuries. 

The Plaza is a surviving original area behind the Murray Building which now offers a breathtaking view of the Memorial and Museum grounds. 

Water feature from the top level to the ground level of the Murray Building Plaza. 

Treetops RV Resort, Arlington, Texas - Thursday, 18 October 2018

A brief couple of days stopover with a lovely garden just outside our door.

It included a running fountain and several statues, benches and paths.

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, home of Dallas Cowboys - 19 October 2018

The 80,00+ seat capacity, formerly Cowboys Stadium, has a retractable roof was completed after 3 years of construction on May 2009. The standing room capacity in around 100,000. The "Jumbotron" board is 70 feet tall and hangs from the 20-yard line to the 20-yard line (that's 180 feet). The stadium also accommodates basketball, boxing, wrestling, concerts, rodeos, college and high school football, soccer and motocross.

Each end-zone section behind the seats are standing-room only areas. There are 380 suites that seat over 12,000 fans per event. 

There are commissioned contemporary art created for site-specific areas in the stadium. It features paintings, sculptures and installations by 18 artists. 

Also home of the Cotton Bowl Classic, most recently on 29 December 2017 the Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the USC Trojans by a score of 24-7. The replay the game behind the trophy with the helmets of each team. 

Inside the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders locker room (I had no control over where the tour went) and for some reason the tour guide asked some of the guys to stand in front of the ladies lockers and strike a pose like the cheerleader they stood under. 

Next stop was the Dallas Cowboys team locker room with #21 Ezekiel Elliott. Nothing is ever left here, the players do not practice at this stadium, once the game is over, the players leave and the entire room is "fumigated" so it does not smell like a locker room. Thank goodness. Super Bowl XLV was played in February 2011 and the "Home Team" Green Bay Packers is the only other team to have ever used this locker room.  

From the locker room through the reception room and out onto the field. 

In the End Zone.   

Bob takes a knee on the 50 yard line. 

On our way off the field through the visitor's tunnel from the 50 yard line. 

River Ranch RV Resort, New , Texas - 20 October 2018

No real amenities here other than a Dog Park but it is close to the RV dealer we have to take our house to so they can check out our failed microwave. 

Two highways, one to the north and one to the south. And the Guadalupe River running fast and strong from  days of rain. 

A crawdad escaped the rushing waters in search of calmer hunting grounds. 

2018 10 09 - 10 13 Oakley Kansas-Monument Rocks, Dodge City Kansas

High Plains Camping, Oakley, Kansas - Tuesday, 9 October 2018

 Dakota is getting bored as it continues to rain outside. Since we left Missouri the rain has been our constant companion. The low hard freeze temperatures are very early and quite unexpected. We are, nevertheless, not getting the worst of it. Central Kansas has higher tempts but massive flooding and no end in sight of the rain. 

What is it and what is the problem? This is the control panel in the microwave. Some short in the wiring caused the fuse to burn out which we replaced. Then it worked for awhile before shorting out again. We have decided that unplugging it and going "old school" before microwaves is the safest thing to do. We have been in contact with Keystone for them to decide if this is a manufacturer's defect. When we saw sparks fly just by opening the door (nothing was running) we did not want to run the risk of a fire (bad thing in an RV). 

What is it and what is in it? Due to the aforementioned cold weather, it became apparent that using the heat pump was not going to cut it. When we set the thermostat for furnace the blower would come on, run for about 30 seconds and turn off. No heat and did not hear the pilot light kick on. Bob (poor Bob, thank you, Hon) had to go outside to disassemble the furnace. This is a mud-dauber wasp nest inside our furnace. Pesky little buggers. A couple dormant, half-frozen wasps inside gave him no problems when they were summarily dislodged and removed. Did this solve our heat issues? Uh, no. Still no heat. The manufacturers really want to discourage owners from doing their own repairs so he couldn't get inside the furnace. The cold air return was essentially clean, a couple clumps and dust. Repair technician managed to get into it and found a small clump of dog hairs blocking a metal tab(sail switch) from making contact which completed the circuit for the pilot light ignition. Problem solved.
  

Monument Rocks, outside Oakley, Kansas - 10 October 2018

Approaching the Monument Rocks. It's such an odd sight (site). We were driving for about 50 minutes with nothing but Kansas prairie in sight, turning off the main 2-lane highway on to the muddy dirt road between one field of seriously overripe corn and sorghum plants. Rounding the corner and passing a few low mounds of graze land the view become dominated by this massive ancient chalk monoliths. The chalk was deposited curing the Cretaceous period when the central interior of the U.S. was covered with a sea, about 80 million years ago. Today the chalk beds give up fossils of fish, turtles, sharks, swimming reptiles and invertebrates like giant clams.

Finally some lovely Kansas blue skies. Standard admonishments of NO littering, camping, climbing, fossil hunting and my personal favorite, NO honking at the cattle. They get agitated and neither they nor the ranchers think it's funny.  

A classic view looking through the "window" towards the southeastern group of monoliths. Bob is just under 6 feet tall so this give a good perspective of the height. 

And this gives you a different perspective. We were very glad to have our truck for this trip. We were following a converted van with a raised roof that was sliding all over the muddy road. They finally gave up and let us pass so they could turn around. Other than collecting a lot of the local mud we had a very easy drive.  

From the other  group looking back at first group. 

Does this count as climbing on the rocks, a forbidden activity? Tori and Dakota agreed when I said I didn't think so.

The window. 

Bob liked this one.

The erosion in the slate creates interesting patterns. 

Bob loves to use the panoramic option of his phone.
 

High Plains Camping, Oakley, Kansas - 11 October 2018

Sunrise with beautiful color and clouds. If any one is interested, I did not see this myself. I don't do sunrises. They happen too early in the morning when I prefer to be sleeping. I am a sunset person. 

Dodge City, Kansas - Thursday, 11 October 2018

A very good depiction of how the town of Dodge City made it's mark. Cowboys. 

Boot Hill, Dodge City, Kansas - Friday, 12 October 2018

Another good depiction of Dodge City. Boot Hill is the name of the cemetery to the left and up the hill where the gamblers, "fallen doves", gunfighters, horse thieves and other unfavorable townsfolk were interred after their untimely demise. The only problem with this information is the unofficial nature of how it was established. People with money were buried outside of town, at nearby Fort Dodge. It wasn't until the first victim without money or friends was killed and lay in the street that townsfolk knew they had a problem. The hill behind the main street was an ideal burial spot.  

Bob has the winning hand but it looks like "Doc" Holiday is going to dispute that as he is reaching for is gun. Careful, Bob! Gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.  

Outside the Visitor's Center is this scale statue of Marshal Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke). At 6 feet, 7 seven inches tall, James Arness always got his man. BOB! Are you trying to steal the Marshal's gun?

Anheuser Busch began brewing in St. Louis in 1852, was the first brewer to use pasteurization and refrigeration, so I suppose it's possible Dodge City patrons could have imbibed at the dozens of saloons in town. 

If there was too much consumption of intoxicants the Fort Dodge Jail began accepting patrons in 1865. Prior to that date, drunks were lowered into a dry well to "sleep it off". When they were able to climb out of the well, their debt to society was considered paid in full. (I can't say if that is accurate but it is what I read in the museum.)

One of the two cells inside the jail. Cold in the winter, hot in the summer. "Mind your Ps & Qs, gentlemen." (An old saying meaning keep your attention on your own pints and quarts.) 

Allegedly, many of those poor folks buried here died with their boots on, hence, Boot Hill Cemetery.

On top of the hill.

One whole room completely devoted to the TV show "Gunsmoke". 

I have a drying rack that looks very much like this one. What's old is new again.

Darn, heading for the Long Branch Saloon and I forgot to put my boots on. 

Most of the store fronts have been recreated as the town's main street burned several time and was relocated here on Boot Hill.

Bob took to the stage in the Long Branch only after getting Miss Kitty's approval. Obviously, men don't typically have a dance routine. And if you have ever been around when there was dancing going on, you will also know that Bob doesn't either. Sorry.

Prime on the Nine Restaurant, Dodge City, Kansas - Saturday, 13 October 2018

When in Dodge City, a steak dinner is practically mandatory. In our case, an early dinner to avoid the crowds. Bob had the 14 ounce Dodge City Strip steak while I ordered the 10 ounce Sirloin steak, cooked to perfection. So excited to try them we forgot to take any pictures. The double chocolate brownie sundae was just enough to fill up the corners for Bob while I had the cheesecake with seasonal fruit compote.