Kelly's SC to CA Road Trip

Fort Smith, AR

A word about this blog – I’m using a site called WordPress. It’s pretty user friendly and provides good support, though I’m sure you’ve noticed that it has some flaws. I’m struggling to get the Route cities in the right number order. Sorry for the bother. I decided a blog was the best way to share text and photos since I’m not on FB or IG.

Lots of wind turbines and lots of cows today – and one small herd of longhorns. Moderate traffic and clear skies.

I set out this morning for the East Amarillo Branch Library, just a few minutes from the Hampton Inn. I was the only patron; the librarian said they are the “chill branch.” I like the quote in very large letters on the back wall: “A library is infinity under a roof.”

What a find right down the street, though: the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum! This beautiful modern museum displays boots, hats, horse statues, bridles, trophies, silks, ribbons, and more in tribute to the American Quarter Horse. I learned that horses whinny in their sleep. The Museum also contains a chuck wagon and a cutaway view inside a horse trailer. The outside area is arranged as a paddock with common plants for horses growing along a neat pebble path. The two young women who work at the ticket counter ($8) told me they have a summer STEAM camp each year for kids: a live horse lives in the paddock during the camp. Who wouldn’t want go to that camp!? Their gift shop is full of horsey stuff, and the toy section has the Cowboy Kate book series. (Highly recommend for early readers.)

I drove for about 3 1/2 hours and arrived at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The outdoor area is called the Field of Empty Chairs, one for each of the 168 victims. As you wind through the Museum, you enter a room with a recording of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board meeting across the street from the Federal Building. The meeting starts at 9:00 that April 1, 1995 day, and you hear the bomb explode at 9:02.

One exhibit shows items found at the site: eyeglasses, purses, toys, a file cabinet, and a Bible. There’s a display of TV screens showing news of the bombing in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles, and New York.

There are clocks from the building all stopped at 9:02am. Another display shows the trail of evidence with parts of the Ryder truck found at the scene. The getaway car is there, too – a yellow 1977 Mercury Grand Marquis.

I headed back to the car and spotted an unusual flower to add to my camera roll next to an office. The office door opened and I was invited into the UMB Bank for Mother’s Day refreshments – cookies and juice. Bank employee Tejil also gave me a package of seeds. She had seen me take the picture outside and could tell I love flowers. Such a nice way to end my visit to OK City.

Almost 3 hours later I arrived in Fort Smith, AR. I drove right to the Hampton Inn, but saw the big public library that I plan to visit tomorrow morning.

Not the best library entrance – again, I wonder if budget limitations are in the way of renovations.
Interesting seating in the Children’s section of the East Amarillo Public Library.
Don’t miss this museum if you’re ever in Amarillo, TX.
This is the gate that revolutionized horse racing. The closed electrical starting gate was invented by Clay Puett in 1939. Before that, horses lined up to race and would frequently break out of line.
“Early Morning Disagreement” bronze sculpture by Mehl Lawson, 1989.
The paddock displays the basics of a horse’s daily management – food, shelter, water, exercise, socialization. I wonder how many insects horses eat as they graze.
Field of empty chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
“It was a day like any other.” Reflecting pool – the time on the clock tower is 9:02.
I didn’t get a good shot of this interesting flower in front of the UMB Bank in OK City.