October 10, 2010. Pratt, Kansas. Scenery.

Cross the Red River and the land is flat in all directions. But not for long. We drove the scenic route, on Highway 281 which turn our to be a lovely drive, through farm land and ranch lands and feed lots and oil fields, one after another. The traffic was slight so the drive was easy. Once again we stopped by four so had time to hot tub and swim here in the hotel.

Apache, Oklahoma is a very small town, but today they are celebrating. Their women's high school softball team won the state championship yesterday. Apache is a town on an Indian Reservation and the whole town looks as if it is closed or for sale. Every window in the down was decorated with spray paint congratulating the women warriors. It was fun to see. Also to imagine winning from such a small school. I saw one picture and the team looks great.

And we saw many many oil wells pumping in the old fashioned way. Whole fields as far as the eye could see are engaged in either gas or oil. And we saw hugh wind farms. Many of the fields we saw today make our farm look like postage stamps. Different places, different crops. Most small town we passed through seem to be fading away. Easy transportation has people driving to the bigger cities I bet.

I was surprised at the variety today. My image was of flat land, but that is not the case, at least not all the time. So far in Kansas the farms are huge and the land is flat. I await tomorrow.

October 9, 2010. Burkburnett, Texas. A Drive.

It is so interesting to see the topography change. Today we left the Hill Country and now we are on the plains. Everything changes bit by bit. It is exciting to watch, at least to me. Our Highway 281 is an old road, built long before the interstates, so there are many picnic areas along the road, the same ones we used to see when travelling in 1964 and 1965 and 1966. When we watch our old pictures we see them except in the pictures my hair was long and my body was skinny. Ken too. The only problem with this road is that the picnic areas have no rest rooms which is OK for Ken but not so good for me.

This is a true story. We stop at a picnic area to switch drivers and Ken finds a tree. The power of suggestion is strong so I decide to find a private spot beside a fence, hidden from the road, and I do. Except right in mid steam I look up to see that the road curves, and my backside is fully exposed to the road in the other direction. Oops. Fortunately 281 had very limited traffic so only one car drove by when I was indisposed.

We are almost out of Texas. The largest town, Wichita Falls, we drove past this afternoon, so from now on, the circles on the map will be small. The Red River we hope to walk along tomorrow. It is the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma, and thus an important river in the area. So far our little Ford Escape is running well and is comfortable. Our plan is to limit the hours in the car and take our time, if we can.

October 8, 2010. Canyon Lake, Tx. Preparations.

It all began two years ago and now we are are getting ready to drive on Highway 281, all the way to the Canadian border. This morning we drove from the ranch to the lake and after a hearty lunch we are busily organizing our clothes and our car, ready to leave in the morning. From the lake to Keith and Wilma's home is about sixteen hundred miles so we expect to take our time and poke along the old highway, which is the only highway in the US to keep the same number from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. We will drive through the great plains of the country, the same place that was decimated during the depression. There are no major cities along the highway so we expect to leave to find a hotel or two but we are determined!!

While in Canada Keith and Wilma will join us at the Elkhorn Resort for a week.. We have not seen them for over two years so we hope to see their grown children too.

Now we are ready. After a good nights sleep we will hit the road, all the way on 281.

October 7, 2010. Harper, Texas. Dottie and Fred.

I had known them for thirty years, now they have retired to Austin. They owned their own company in Rockville for thirty five years and did very well. Ethel, a friend at work, used to work with them and they have stayed friends, so last year Ethel visited them for a long weekend in Austin. One thing led to another and soon Ethel told them about our Texas connections. I connected with Dottie and we made a date, for them to come out to the ranch for lunch. It is a two hour drive from their home to our ranch. Today was the day.

Ken had never met them until today. I knew them from business. When I was an agent I sold their listings and they did the same to mine, then when I became a Manager it was easy resolving difficulties because I already knew them. They were always pleasant and helpful and certainly energetic about working out the problems. Dottie especially always had a sweet manner. Then they closed their company and moved to Texas, just like that. At first they kept their home in Rockville and planned to spend six months in each place, but once they moved to Texas they sold their home immediately. No more working half the year.

Their same qualities that made for success in Montgomery County Real Estate are serving them well in Austin. They love their life and have jumped into activities . There were no unhappy incidents, no complaints, no moaning about the weather. They are enthusiastic and energetic and happy, in other words, they are loving life. It is such a pleasure to see this in action.

Top House, Mule (in red), Smoker

Ranch 10/10

Ranch Longhorns 10/10