For nearly 70 years, the town of Wetumka, OK has held an annual festival called Sucker Day. It's an odd name for a celebration, and it has a colorful story. It inspired me to take a little trip to Hughes County and explore a little more of the Sooner State. Here's the story of Sucker … Continue reading Sucker Day
This weekend, I drove out to Shamrock Texas for the International Route 66 Festival, "Texas Welcomes the World." I'll have a lot to say about my time here later, but today I want to share with you a little place just on the Okie side of the border in Texola. By the time the Post … Continue reading An Oasis in Texola
It's been a little over seven years since I received that terrible phone call, the one that signaled a new age of my life. It's a little surreal to look back at my world at the time of my father's sudden passing. I feel like I was just a kid then, even though I was … Continue reading The March of Time
When I woke up early on Sunday, I was eager to get back on the road. The EconoLodge in Hays, Kansas was fine, sure, but why lie around when I could be out exploring? Besides, it's cooler in the morning. However, I was shocked when I walked outside and discovered it was only 58 degrees. … Continue reading Uncommon Attractions
Early Thursday morning, I took Samantha to the airport so that she could spend a few days with her family back in New York. The house is awful quiet when it's just me, so I made plans for a little Route 66 trip with a friend on Saturday. When those plans fell through, I decided … Continue reading Rock, Chalk, and the Land of Jayhawks
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
"It feels good to not set an alarm," I told Samantha Friday night. She smiled a knowing smile and said, "Doesn't matter. You have road trip brain; you're gonna get up early anyway." She was right. Since I was planning a day trip through Kansas on Saturday, I woke without aid before 7:00 AM. By … Continue reading Sunshine and Storm Clouds: Part I
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
(other installments of this series here) When I set out to take this trip, I knew I would be updating my blog as we went. I didn't expect to update it every day -- but, as I should have known, our adventures have given me plenty to write about. Although we had no direct book-related … Continue reading On the Road with Michael – KC to Columbia
My mother-in-law is in town this weekend. I am thankful that these visits do not come with the stereotypical hand-wringing and stress; I'm always happy when Cindy comes to town from New York. She's a great lady. Additionally, Samantha is on Cloud Nine the entire time; they usually spend most of the time junk-store shopping anyway. … Continue reading Backroad Bridgehunting
Rhys' Pieces 