This morning, Samantha and I went out to the Holland Hall Book Fair. We attend annually, not only to bolster our own library but to gather a collection of children's books for the Tulsa World Book Drive. It was pouring down rain, but the place was packed. I quickly tired of the crowd and retreated … Continue reading Tulsa: Oil Capital of the World
Most of my free time lately has been going towards research and writing of my book on Lost Tulsa Restaurants -- and I'm happy to say it's going well! But all that time at the Tulsa Historical Society and other archives has taken away from my time on the road. Not to mention it's been … Continue reading Eleventh Hour Bridgehunting
The town of Pawhuska was founded in 1872 on the banks of Bird Creek, within the Osage Nation in Indian Territory. It was named in honor of a tribal chief, Paw-Hiu-Skah (meaning White Hair). A post office opened in 1876 and by Oklahoma statehood in 1907 there was a newspaper, railway station, and almost 2,500 … Continue reading Of Christmas Past
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I had one of the best in recent memory, as my Mom and brother came over to our house for the holiday. Samantha and Mom cooked together, Tyler and I played video games, and we all enjoyed a fabulous meal. The family even made it to a movie … Continue reading Crafts & Crossings
In the book "Nightmares and Dreamscapes" Stephen King divides time into several classifications. One of them is called "Pretty Pony Time" and describes the good times, the times that will flee from you when you aren't paying attention. It's a good reminder to savor your enjoyment of those times, and it also carries additional meaning for … Continue reading Pretty Pony Time
You can't control inspiration. You can seek it studiously, you can create circumstances that foster it, you can dig through tedium until you find it...but, after all is said and done, it'll come when it pleases. Convenience has nothing to do with it. On Wednesday, the bulb of inspiration clicked on in my brain and … Continue reading Making Time
I hadn't taken a Route 66 specific road trip in quite a while. Sure, I followed a Military Vehicle Convoy in September...but that wasn't really about the road itself. I did spend some time on Mother Road with Michael Wallis in June; but, that wasn't directly specific to 66 either. I was having withdrawals! I … Continue reading Back to the Route
As much as I like to take a road trip to a new location, it's also nice when the scenery comes to ME. I took the day off today not so I could turn miles on an Oklahoma back-road or experience roadside nirvana in an old diner; I took the day off so I could … Continue reading A Veteran Affair
It feels like it's been a lot longer than three weeks since I've taken a road trip. The end of August was pretty busy: my article in Tulsa People came out, I prepped a selection of my photography for display at a local coffee shop, and I spent Labor Day weekend at DragonCon in Atlanta. … Continue reading Palace on the Prairie
When I have a road trip planned, it's easier to wake up early. Granted, I don't usually leave at 5:00 AM, but on Sunday that is what I did. I was attending a quarterly Oklahoma Route 66 Association meeting in Weatherford that afternoon and wanted to spend the morning exploring southwestern Oklahoma. Since that was … Continue reading Comanche Territory & Frontier Towns
Rhys' Pieces 