THE CRAZY CRUZERS ARE HEADING WEST!: WELLINGTON, KANSAS

May 21, 2015

Our trip from Cave Springs, Arkansas to Wellington, Kansas was pretty interesting. It was just one of those days. I think, when I woke up and was having a bad hair day, I should have known! LOL!

The GPS gave us two different routes to take and MapQuest gave us three. We decided to take the route that would take us near Tulsa, Oklahoma instead of Joplin, Missouri.

We set out with a half-tank of fuel and rather than fight the local Pilot at Cave Springs, we knew we could get fuel at the Pilot in Tulsa. If you wonder why we needed a Pilot, as a Rewards Member we get an 8 cent per gallon discount, which can add up.

Anyway, we were doing just fine with the highway conditions and we could see the Pilot sign ahead and we also saw our exit. We took our exit convinced the Pilot was going to be right there. WRONG! It was not an easy exit that one could just turn around at so we decided there had to be another Pilot nearby. Thom looked it up and there wasn't, so it was decided we would just not get Pilot fuel, and off we went.

We took an exit to get fuel and there was no way we could get the RV parked to get fuel so we changed drivers and headed back. Well, I, the driver, took the wrong road, thinking it was the highway we came off of, forgetting that we needed to drive another 1/2 mile. So, here we are and the GPS starts telling us to make a U-Turn. A U-Turn? What in the world is "she" talking about? Thom said to just keep going because we thought the GPS was wrong! Well, "she" starts yelling at us to make a U-Turn, make a U-Turn, and we didn't. Then "she" finally says to take the next right in 6 miles onto Wyandotte Road. Thom got the handy paper map and lo and behold we learned I took the wrong road! LOL! Yes, LOL, because you have to laugh in situations like this!

When we got to Wyandotte Road, it was literally a 25 mph country road in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma where only the cows lived, not to mention it was a road smack-dab in the middle of Indian land! I figure it this way - if we hadn't gotten "lost", then we would never have seen this part of the country!

Meanwhile, there is no Pilot, no Flying J, no Exxon, no Texaco, no nothing and our fuel is getting low, down to 1/4 tank, which we never let the fuel get that low. We had to turn the generator off because it can't run at less than a 1/4 tank! This was a first. But again, it adds to the day's adventure!

We finally made it to a Pilot, filled up, and off we went. By the way, the price was $2.50 per gallon! It paid off getting lost, because it would have cost us $2.89 per gallon! The day was looking up and we only had 42 miles to go before our next stop ... Wellington, Kansas.

We got the RV set up, unhooked the Jeep. and headed to Wichita to look for a new mattress. We found Mattress Firm and our mattress is being delivered tomorrow. While there, I asked our salesman, if there was a diner in town, a real diner, and he said there was, "Jimmie's Diner", which was our next stop, which was wonderful! A favorable ending to a crazier than usual day in the life of the Crazy Cruzers!

We are in Wellington for 2 nights and then we'll be headed towards Doniphan, Nebraska for the Memorial Day Weekend; however, we will keep an eye on the weather there and the flooding the Platte River is causing. In looking at the map, it appears the campground is not in it's path, but we will call the campground just to make sure.

Until next blog ... (see photos below)

Cave Springs, AR - the RV resort we stayed at; we also stayed here in 2013.

The Creeks scenery

Fayetteville, AR - What a flag!

The best bakery ever! Our favorite is Key Lime Cake, but we didn't get any this trip. Now I regret we didn't!

Lunch at Mr. Burger, which was just okay.

Lot 5, The Creeks

The Creeks scenery

Last night (05/20/15) this guy just sat outside his camper and serenaded us. What was the song you ask? Heck if we know!

Cave Springs has horses, but not like Ocala!

I love the red dirt of Arkansas!

Goodbye Arkansas.

The Arkansas sky when we left this morning.

When you enter "Oklahoma", this is your welcome sign, not Welcome to Oklahoma.

And, this is the first stop - Cherokee Casino & Hotel - Went in with my usual $20 and came out with $36 plus change!

Our first "grade" of the trip!

You see some of the most interesting things when on the highway, and this playground equipment looks like Noah's Ark!

Thom captured this shot of the crop dusting helicopter, which was really cool!

The road we took when we got lost, Wynadotte Road - the drive through somewhere Oklahoma!

Wynadotte Road continued

It was not a straight shot mind you!

Buffalo, but in a pen!

Somewhere, Oklahoma

For those who have read my blog before, you know I love these wind turbines and these were the first we've seen on this trip; I think the clouds look beautiful.