Yes, another weather-challenged day here.  Aggravating rain all day until around 3pm.  I thought for a moment there that the clouds might part and I’d get some sun.  But that only lasted about five seconds.  So, I’m futzing around in the northern nether regions of Oklahoma since I think I’m slightly ahead of schedule.   I even did a few Kansas stops today that I had to skip last summer when I was running short on time.  I figure Tulsa will probably take me two days tops, and then the rest of OK northeast of Tulsa about two days.  I have five days before I really need to split and hit the interstate for home.  So I’m trying to be patient so I can do Tulsa right — with sun.  And leave you all with a bunch of pretty pictures that will make you want to book your next vacation in Oklahoma of all places.

Got the dogs some grassy fields today.  I’ve had wet socks and shoes most of the day to prove it.  I think I’m out of clean socks at this point.  No time for laundry.  Still have underwear and tshirts and that’s what matters, right?  Nik took off under a barbed wire fence for some chickens squawking in the distance — somehow, miraculously, he came back to me before there was some horrific scene and possible lawsuit.  Grem was luckily on leash at the time.  Otherwise, it would’ve been a disaster as they are some dynamic duo when given the opportunity to work together.  Fixie watches from the van most of the time because she doesn’t like getting wet.  And Grip is getting a big Mr. Magoo-ish — wandering off and either not hearing me calling her back or pretending not to.  So I always have to keep one eye on her and usually go pick her up and bring her back to our area.

Time for the show.  Let’s start with Blackwell, OK.  This sign would be more fun and not so dreary if… you know… there was SUN.  Yes, I’m getting kinda pissy about it:

From Anthony, KS — I don’t know if sun would help this one.  Some paint perhaps:

Also from Anthony, the remains of their drive-in:

Back in OK for the remainder of this blog post.  This sign from Ponca City.  The dealership gone — a vacuum store below now:

In Pawnee — the building is vacant now.  Shoot ’em while you can folks — this one will likely disappear soon:

Jim’s Place in Barnsdall — a cute cottage station surrounded by a big gas station sign collection & some other stuff.

This is one incredible sign:

And I don’t know how old the Indian at this place is — but I love his expression:

Let’s jump ahead to Bartlesville where the dogs and I are calling it quits tonight.  This place has been closed for years but the sign is still in place.  The top part used to revolve.  Now, moves partially in the wind:

Late in the day, and shadowed by the building — this sign is really a deep navy blue.  Another business gone but the sign miraculously in place.  Jay’s Automotive is now in the space:

How about some mid-century stuff in Bartlesville.  A cool little building.  I have no idea what it housed originally:

A little strip mall:

I’m fantasizing that the sun will return tomorrow morning and I’ll be able to reshoot all the Bartlesville stuff.  And then zip on into Tulsa… with some caution.  I forgot to mention that I got a ticket yesterday in Hennessey, OK.  A total speed trap as I saw someone else get busted not even a minute after the cop was done with me.  It really seemed so like most of the highway-ish roads — not in town yet — which are 60 or 65.  This was 45 and I never even saw the sign.  So he showed mercy and made my 65 speed into 55 on the ticket.  But it was still $169 — a buck cheaper than my Texas ticket.  So now I have one expensive souvenir from each state.  Magnets or beer cozies would be nice, but hey, in the end, I’d rather have more photos.