Many people think Oklahoma means "Land of the Red Man" when in actuality it means "Land of Toll Roads And Construction". Trust me. I have first hand experience.
Right outside of Oklahoma City, I-44 turns into Turner Turnpike. The traffic is light and hot-diggity-damn, the speed limit is 75!! This is going to be an easy trip. OK,
so I drove 78...shoot me.
About 50 miles into the journey, a tiny voice drifts out of the back seat. "Mommy, I'm hungry".
"Oh good gravy, T. We ate breakfast two hours ago."
"But I'm still hungry".
No one told me that 6 year old boys could eat as much as 16 year old boys, but I'm not one to ignore the cries of the desperate. Spotting a McDonald's ahead, I exited the turnpike.
WHAT?? It's going to cost me a dollar to get off this slab of concrete? Oh, well, it's too late now. It's BicMac time.
With tummies full, we hopped back on the turnpike and I set the cruise for 78. And since I'm on vacation and it's the middle of July, it started raining. After a moment of panic, I figured out how to work the wipers and we sped towards Missouri.
Shortly afterward, we came to the first toll gate. $3.50 to Tulsa. Cripes, that's almost a gallon of gas. The road conditions better improve some after this.
I soon learned an important factor about truck drivers. Even if the speed limit is 75, if one truck is going 70, another truck will try to pass going 71 and neither one of them will give. Imagine how long it takes to pass and imagine my frustration. After about the 7th time, I quit cussing and resigned myself to the fact that maybe this wasn't going to be the quick trip I expected....especially when we ran into the one- laned road construction.
Finally we were almost to Missouri. Another toll gate loomed ahead. Another $3.50 went into Oklahoma's pot. I'm wondering what they are spending it on. It certainly isn't the roads in spite of the frequent areas of "construction" (I think they are actually lunch breaks). I believe I might find another way home.
We cheered as we passed the "Welcome to Missouri" sign! Our destination is closer by the minute.
Side note: Missouri has convince stores named "Kum and Go". I'm thinking I might just have to stop at one of those.
The roads in Missouri are in much better condition than the ones in Oklahoma and even though the speed limit dropped to 70, the trip seemed to go quicker....until it rained.
Several hours later, tired, hungry, and a little cranky, we entered the city limits of Branson. Just up ahead was our hotel, Branson Hotel Royale. The journey's over and we have arrived safely.
The adventure starts here.
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