1,725 miles...HALF WAY across America!!!!

7/16/10





We have now traveled halfway across the United States with Sojourner. This is pretty exciting for Walter and I, and I'm sure Sojourner is happy that we can now begin the countdown to Bath, New Hampshire!!

We still have over 1,700 miles left to go which is a pretty massive amount, but from here on out the miles ahead will be less than what's behind and that feels pretty good! Our halfway celebration point is in a town called Muskogee, OK. The people here have been nothing but kind, generous, and inviting and have offered us the most wonderful accommodations.

Right now I am writing this from a four pillar canopy bed in a beautiful room inside an incredible, very unique Bed and Breakfast. It's called the Whitlock Wishouse. This is the place to stay if you're ever visiting this town, no question.
http://www.oklahomabedandbreakfast.net/

We have the entire house to ourselves other than these guys, but we're going to help them while we're here by helping them find their things and drink their sorrows away...

Except for this guy. He's as happy as a pigeon on a roof top.

This house is full of old antiques and treasures from around the world. WISH stands for Women In Safe Homes. All profits above operating costs directly support the WISH shelter in Muskogee, where abused women and children from five area counties are given free room and board. When Jerry Whitlock donated this home to the WISH charity it became the Whitlock Wishouse.

The outside bartender, not Walter.

We found an Italian place that made the best pizza I've had in a long time (including California). The restaurant was called Johnny V's. We decided to eat our dinner in the dining room. This place is incredible. And to top it all off it started to rain and thunder and lightning outside and here we are in this house full of wooden people, stuffed lions, bears, and well, every animal you can think of, and tons of old antiques! (I feel bad for the animals, too).

The Wishouse donated 3 nights to us and we are thoroughly enjoying it. I don't think I'm going to leave this bed, in fact, for the rest of today (except to go see Soj, of course). Sojourner is over at The Hilltop Arena.

A woman named Leighann Matthews set everything up for us here in Muskogee. She also contacted the channel 6 news out of Tulsa and is setting up stops for us after we leave here as well. Last night she treated us to a wonderful Mexican dinner and has given us an open invitation to join her with some of her fun outdoor activities, like sailing on the lake.

The thing is, I'm a little glued to this bed because I don't want to be out in the heat and I'm eaten up with poison ivy. It started to break out yesterday as I was riding so I went to the Dr. to get a shot hoping that would prevent it from blowing up too badly. I was able to find a Doctor that I was going to be riding right by so once we got there Walter continued on with Soj to take him the last 2.5 miles to his home for the next 3 days.

Well, this morning the poison ivy was a hundred times worse. It is EVERYWHERE and itches like a million mosquito bites.

Dr. Jason Dansby was awesome, though, and covered my co-pay as a donation to the ride. I think the steroid will kick in at some point. I called the Doctor and they said it could take 24-48 hours. It's pretty miserable feeling and has prevented me from wanting to do much of anything but stay in this cool room.

We have been in brutal heat. We get up at 4am and are usually able to get Soj fed and saddled by 4:45. This gives me about 5 hours of riding and then we have to take the saddle off because it's just too hot. Walter and I take turns walking the rest of the way and douse one another with water every mile or so. I can not wait to be out of this heat. It's really hard on all of us.

We have to take the saddle off of Soj after about 5 hours of riding (around 9:30am) because it's just too hot. You can see that Soj is soaking wet just from walking. Walter and I trade on and off and keep the truck traveling slowly along side so we can dump water on each other every mile.

Stephen called us with great news though. Coolmedics has donated some vests to help keep us cool, including Soj! Here is a link to their site: http://www.coolmedics.com/

I had never even heard of anything like this, but a friend mentioned it through this blog and so we looked into it. I can't wait to get the vest, especially for Soj. He just goes and goes no matter what. At least Walter and I have each other to pep talk to, but he just silently walks along sweating like a monster.

He has shade where he is at the Hilltop Arena and they loaded him up with hay so hopefully he will get some well needed good rest. I wish I could have him here in this room with us. Walter and I are going to head over there in a bit to give him a nice bath and a big bowl of his Omegatin/rice bran mix that he so very much loves.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!! THE ITCH!!!!!!! Whyyyy meeee?????

A couple nights ago Walter and I had to camp out and I think that might have been when this happened. I didn't sleep that night because you can't camp in this weather. I was eaten alive by bugs and it was so humid and hot. It was a beautiful lake though at Arrow Head State Park. The manager of the park, Debbie, didn't charge us the $12.00 to camp there and went ahead and paid for it herself. We couldn't believe it.

If only it had been cooler it would be an absolutely wonderful place to cookout and camp. I bet people really enjoy it there later in the season.

(in The Wizard's voice from The Wizard of Oz): Do not be deceived by the cool looking lake. Off of this lake blows fiery stillness. There must be dragons on the other side.

The next morning I was riding before 5am and could not find a place to duck behind a tree. Every time I would try a car would come (and I assure you some got an eye full that fine early morning). I would jump up and scoot away mumbling my frustrations to myself and Soj as I shyly looked for my next option. Well, anyway, I finally had to just venture full on into the woods to avoid cars and little did I know this nasty little plant had gotten me.

That night we were saved by the town of Checotah. They donated a motel room to us and Soj was comfortable at the The Glover Veterinary Clinic in a stall next to a sweet Palomino. We were so happy to be in air conditioning!

Three mornings ago we were stopped by a cop because a convict had escaped from the State Penitentiary and was "armed and dangerous". He actually thought I might have been a cop out looking for him on horseback. Ummmm....we'll just let that one go.

We have traveled through some beautiful country and found fantastic, quiet roads, but the heat has made it hard to enjoy. We are kind of just muscling through this. Sometimes we have to hop on a busy, fast road called HWY 69, but only to get over the bridges. There was one bridge that we just couldn't get over without police escort. 69 is just tractor trailer truck after truck at 70mph and there was no shoulder this time. The police were out there right away with smiles on. One blocked off the lane on one end and the other stayed behind me as we walked across.

Tonight Walter and I are going to enjoy a movie in bed and play a game of pool in the game room. I have got to go take another scalding hot shower because I am starting to itch like crazy.

By the way, my sister texted me and told me to watch Lee Evans. He's hilarious...just in case you're in the mood for a laugh!

This is Obama and Jack Williams. Jack has been running the Williams Country Store in Onapa, OK for the last 40 plus years. He only just marked his Dr. Pepper up from 10 cents to 50 cents. He was showing Walter pictures of Politicians who have come to the store and pointed towards Obama and said, "and look who showed up".

Sojourner and I were on a different road so we didn't get to meet Jack, but it looks like he and Walter had some good ol' craic.

Gypsy knows where he is.

Walter brought breakfast to us around 6:30 am yesterday morning. It was a little treat to celebrate our half way mark.

I am staying in my robe (not my robe, the robe that was in the closet here) today because I am in and out of the shower constantly. The only way I can stop the itch is to stand in burning water for a minute every hour or so. We did go to the grocery store earlier though so I could make some salads the way I like them. Mmmm....it was delicious.