It
was about seven in the morning when we woke up on our third day of the trip.
After getting changed and packing up our stuff, we jumped in the car to get
started driving. I rummage around in my bag to find my cell phone because we
needed to determine our route for the day; when I turned on my phone, I quickly
realized that I had no service. I started freaking out!
Kate was freaking out!
I
walked around our entire campground, hoping to find even just one bar, but
there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. When I told Trevor, he actually started
to hyperventilate! He started mumbling things to himself, things about how we
never should have tried, how we were going to die out here, how he should’ve
found a campsite near a larger city. I let him freak out for about five minutes
as he ran around the car, yelling and kicking dirt. Then, I led him back to the
car, and convinced him that everything was going to be all right (even though I
didn’t quite believe it myself).
He sat down for about five minutes to calm down while I contemplated what to
do.
Finally, I decided it would be best
to check in with the manager of the campsite. We walked to the office, which
was only about a five-minute walk from our car. I knew that we needed to find a
library or some sort of store who offered access to a computer or to the Internet.
When we arrived at the office, we
asked the receptionist if she knew of a public library close by. She had no
clue if an Edgewood Public Library even existed; she thought our best bet was
to drive back to Albuquerque because there was bound to be one there. Driving west on I-40 could set us back
by a long shot, and decrease our chances of getting to Sarasota. Trevor asked
if they had any other way of looking up a library nearby: she lent us the
office’s phonebook. Since neither Trevor nor I had ever used a phonebook, it
took us a little while to figure out what to do. The receptionist was nice
enough to lend us a hand, and we finally found out what number to call. We
called information at (575)-555-1212.
There, we asked for the public library nearest or in Edgewood, New Mexico.
Luckily, we found out that there
was a public library in Mexico, so we were able to get the library’s number.
Trevor called and asked for directions from Red Arrow Edgewood Campground. He
repeated the directions to me as the librarian told him, and I quickly
scribbled down as much as I could. He even had to call back because I didn’t
catch the name of the exit we were supposed to take off the freeway.
Directions to the library!
Once we struggled our way through
the vague directions, we found the library. I practically jumped out of my seat
due to my excitement. Our day was not a complete waste! Once we parked, Trevor
skipped into the library, laughing and smiling all the way. We were able to
quickly determine our route for the day, find gas station and restaurants to
eat, and find a place to sleep that night. We were on the road at about nine.
The Edgewood Public Library
Fortunately, for the rest of the
day, it was pretty smooth sailing. We finished listening to the second books in
the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. After driving for a little over two
hours, we had to stop and get gas. Until we took this trip, I didn’t realize
how expensive gas was. $3.50 per gallon seems like so little until you have to
buy seventeen or more gallons!
By the time we got to Amarillo,
Texas, I could hear Trevor’s stomach growling. I knew we needed to stop for
lunch: we hadn’t eaten breakfast that morning because we had been so stressed
about finding a library. I had figured that we would need to stop around there
that morning, so I had researched some possible restaurants. There was a Subway
very close to the highway, and that was the easiest, simplest food to get.
While we would prefer to go to McDonald’s because its cheaper, the FDA has
issued a warning on all meat products in fast food restaurants. Trevor and I
couldn’t risk either one of us getting sick because we needed to get to
Sarasota in two days. We quickly pulled into the Subway parking lot, and
hurried inside to fill our aching stomachs with more $5 Footlongs.
After we finished lunch, Kate and I
hurried to the car. We had a very rough morning due to poor cellular service
and both of us were eager to get the days travels to an end. The dirt and dust
has started to become visible everywhere we went and the layers of filth not
only covered our bodies, but it also encased all of our belongings. The dust
seemed to settle down straight from the air and no matter how hard we tried, we
couldn’t escape its unyielding reach. Finally Kate and I gave up and claimed
the problem insurmountable. Kate started the car and I tried to navigate the
map that the library gave us. Finally we found highway I-40. I have started to
feel attached to the road for it is the only thing that is constant in our
journey. The long stretch of pavement has turned into my temporary home and it
has developed an air of security and certainty. I turn into my seat and stare
at the sunset. In the time of this road trip I have learned to appreciate
nature more then I used too. Kate and I could now sit in silence occupied by
the horizon and it’s multi-colored swirls traversing across the sky like waves.
Although the sight was soothing, it brought back memories of San Francisco; the
place I will always call home. It makes me question if our leave was the best
choice. I shake my head and dismiss the thought. It’s too late to have doubts
now; we already made our choice. Bored and in need of comfort I turn around to
talk to talk. I don’t know how she does it but she always knows what to say.
When I was a kid, I stole a bag of candy from the corner store and the manager
caught me. Kate was about 10 at this time and she somehow managed to talk my
way out of trouble and said it was an accident. When I was told I had to bring
our belongings to Florida, I was very glad to hear she was accompanying me.
Right before I was going to ask if she regretted leaving, a billboard saying
Okemah, OK passed to my right. I tapped Kate on the shoulder and pointed and
she nodded and cut through the traffic lanes to reach the exit.
We cruised into
the town and soon spotted the lake. It was 6 miles north of Okemah and
supposedly was the best lake in America for Bass fishing. We spotted a sign
directing us to the primitive campsite, paid the ranger an $11.00 fee and drove
up to our tent. The area was pretty nice, furnished with a fireplace and a
grill in the commons place. To our surprise there was also a very cheap, flimsy
fishing pole leaning against one of the sides of the tents. Kate and I both
looked at each other and a silent agreement was made. We grabbed the pole and
headed towards the lake to try our luck. Within 20 minutes we had 3 pretty
descent size bass. I started the fire and Kate took out some simple cooking
supplies. I was never that big of a fan of fish, but freshly caught bass is a
different story.
Okemah Lake
Within an hour Kate and I were both laughing and having one of
the best meals of our life. A neighboring tent had someone playing the guitar
and the music danced through the night. Before entering the tent, I stared up
at the stars one last time. The beauty of the ancient balls of flame radiated
across the sky, completely untouched by humanities influence. I lay down in our
tent and smile. I have now driven across a great portion of the country and yet my most cherished moment was one beside a lake in
the middle of nowhere.
Details of Day 3:
Route:
Continue east on I-40 to Okemah, Oklahoma, about one hour
outside of Oklahoma City.
Breakfast:
None. Too preoccupied with finding a library.
Cost: $0.
Lunch:
Two $5 Footlongs
at Subway.
Cost: $10.
2001 S Western St.
Amarillo, Texas 79106
Dinner:
Caught some fish at the Okemah lake!
Cost: $0.
Hotel:
Campground in
Okemah, Oklahoma. Rented primitive
sight, without electric or water (see left box in link reading Camping and
Park Rules for rental fees).
Cost: $11.
103065 N 3760 Ter
Gas:
We stopped in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and later in Calumet, Oklahoma.
Cost for Stop 1: $57.75.
3900 Route 66
Tucumcari, NM
88401
Cost for Stop 2: $61.25.
550 S Walbaum Rd
Calumet, OK
73014-8536
Money Spent on Day 3: $140.00.
Money Left After Day 3: $803.06.
Miles Driven: 586
miles.
Hours Driven: 8
hrs., 45 min.
Bibliography:
Claman, Kate.
Directions to Edgewood Library. Web. 22 February 2012.
Claman, Kate.
Worried Kate in the car. Web. 21 February 2012.
Unknown. Edgewood Public Library. Maps.google.com. Web. 21 February 2012.
Unknown. Okemah Lake. Okemahok.org. Web. 21 February 2012.
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