Thursday 5/9/19 Russellville, AR to Amarillo, TX
Today was just a day of driving 522 miles. We left the La Quinta Inn in Russellville, AR at 7:30 am. The TV news told us that there was overnight flooding in Memphis, a tornado somewhere in Arkansas and more flooding in Louisiana. As we drove, we encountered light periods of rain but nothing severe. Everywhere there was a river, creek or lake, you could see severe flood conditions. This was not present when we traveled east two weeks earlier.
We crossed into Oklahoma just to the west of Fort Smith where we spent the evening two weeks earlier. I-40 through Oklahoma takes you through several Indian nations.
Today was just a day of driving 522 miles. We left the La Quinta Inn in Russellville, AR at 7:30 am. The TV news told us that there was overnight flooding in Memphis, a tornado somewhere in Arkansas and more flooding in Louisiana. As we drove, we encountered light periods of rain but nothing severe. Everywhere there was a river, creek or lake, you could see severe flood conditions. This was not present when we traveled east two weeks earlier.
We crossed into Oklahoma just to the west of Fort Smith where we spent the evening two weeks earlier. I-40 through Oklahoma takes you through several Indian nations.
Oklahoma was where many of the Native American tribes were forcibly translocated through the passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Between 1830 and 1850, the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee people (including mixed-race and black slaves who lived among them) were forcibly removed from their traditional lands in the Southeastern United States, and relocated farther west.[4] Those Native Americans who were relocated were forced to march to their destinations by state and local militias.[5] The Cherokee removal in 1838 (the last forced removal east of the Mississippi) was brought on by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia in 1828, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush.[6] Approximately 2,000–8,000 of the 16,543 relocated Cherokee perished along the way.
Trail of Tears: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears
We made a brief stop in Oklahoma City, thinking this would be interesting. However, the "Bricktown" area was really not that interesting and public parking costs $10. We considered having lunch there but reconsidered. We decided to drive onward and find food further west.
Bricktown: http://www.bricktownokc.com It might have been more interesting in the evening?
We got off I-40 at E. Sheppard Ave in El Reno, OK to fuel at a Phillips 66 Station. Because we were hungry, we decided to drive down Business I-40 that was the old Route 66. There we encountered Swadley's Bar-B-Q with a sign that said "World Famous." There were a lot of people in the drive through and at the entrance so we stopped and were glad that we did. There was a fairly long wait but it was truly worth it. I got two "Ultimate Bar-B-Q Sandwiches" for about $10.50 each and it included about 1/2 pound of smoked turkey, beef, bacon, pickles, and cheese. It was way more than we could eat and the dogs loved the extra meat. I would highly recommend this place if you are in the area. You can't go wrong!
Swadley's Bar-B-Q: https://www.swadleys.com
We arrived at the La Quinta Inn in Amarillo at about 4:15 pm and got a room for $64 for the evening. There was no pet fee.
We hope to make Winslow, AZ tomorrow.
Between 1830 and 1850, the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee people (including mixed-race and black slaves who lived among them) were forcibly removed from their traditional lands in the Southeastern United States, and relocated farther west.[4] Those Native Americans who were relocated were forced to march to their destinations by state and local militias.[5] The Cherokee removal in 1838 (the last forced removal east of the Mississippi) was brought on by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia in 1828, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush.[6] Approximately 2,000–8,000 of the 16,543 relocated Cherokee perished along the way.
Trail of Tears: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears
We made a brief stop in Oklahoma City, thinking this would be interesting. However, the "Bricktown" area was really not that interesting and public parking costs $10. We considered having lunch there but reconsidered. We decided to drive onward and find food further west.
Bricktown: http://www.bricktownokc.com It might have been more interesting in the evening?
We got off I-40 at E. Sheppard Ave in El Reno, OK to fuel at a Phillips 66 Station. Because we were hungry, we decided to drive down Business I-40 that was the old Route 66. There we encountered Swadley's Bar-B-Q with a sign that said "World Famous." There were a lot of people in the drive through and at the entrance so we stopped and were glad that we did. There was a fairly long wait but it was truly worth it. I got two "Ultimate Bar-B-Q Sandwiches" for about $10.50 each and it included about 1/2 pound of smoked turkey, beef, bacon, pickles, and cheese. It was way more than we could eat and the dogs loved the extra meat. I would highly recommend this place if you are in the area. You can't go wrong!
Swadley's Bar-B-Q: https://www.swadleys.com
We arrived at the La Quinta Inn in Amarillo at about 4:15 pm and got a room for $64 for the evening. There was no pet fee.
We hope to make Winslow, AZ tomorrow.