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Big Dam Bridge – The Longest Pedestrian Bridge In The World, Day 134

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 20, 2020
Categories In Arkansas
No Comments on Big Dam Bridge – The Longest Pedestrian Bridge In The World, Day 134

I am not kidding when I tell you that a bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas is actually called the Big Dam Bridge.

The bridge connects parts of the twenty-five mile Millennium Trail located on both sides of the Arkansas River in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Although, there are actually longer bridges in the world used for pedestrians. However, this famous 4,200 foot structure is the longest pedestrian/cyclist bridge in the world built solely for recreation.

It reaches up to 90 feet above the river, and its state-of-the-art linear “wall-wash” LED fixtures illuminate its exterior and can create more than 16 million color schemes.

the trail — The Millennium Trail of Pulaski County – a wonderful hiking and biking path in Little Rock, AR.

The Big Dam Bridge Name

You may be wondering how the bridge got its name. After all, most bridges are named for cities or famous citizens. However this bridge got its name from a Pulaski County Judge, Floyd G. “Buddy” Villines, who was a leading advocate of the project.

As the project was in the planning stages, he once told skeptics at a meeting, “We’re going to build that dam bridge.” And thus the name was born.

At the start of the path is a location sign for all the Sister Cities of Little Rock.

Villines firmly believed that the bridge project was both a way to bring the sister cities of central Arkansas closer together but also to promote exercise for the residents of the surrounding communities.

“Bridges connect people and places and this one will attract people and be good for economic growth. Plus our culture has to change its ways, we have to be healthier.”

big dam bridge path — The path is paved and easily accessible for all to enjoy.

The Bridge Opened in 2006

In 2006, the dream became reality. The bridge was finally open to pedestrians and cyclists and hosts hundreds of visitors each day.

The path is made of concrete and is 14 feet wide. Although it is intended for exercise, for those that might want to stop and enjoy the view, there are 8 observation decks with benches placed on the bridge.

center of the big dam bridge — At the peak of the bridge there are flags of Pulaski County and its municipalities.

You can not only sit down and enjoy the view of the view of the river , you can also watch a working Lock move watercraft past the Murray Dam.

Although The Big Dam Bridge allows you to cross the Arkansas River, it also serves another purpose. It also connects the rural communities to the vibrant downtown Little Rock area.

big dam bridge lock — The Murray Lock – where watercraft are assisted from one side of the dam to the other.

A beautifully, well-maintained path for all to enjoy!

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

Click HERE to see where else we have been on our journey across America.

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 134 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Maumelle, AR
Miles Driven : 64.7
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,053.9
Total Gallons Used : 1,083.0
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 4.4
Hiking Miles To Date : 299.6

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

You can follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Stop In Bentonville, Arkansas To See Sam Walton’s Original Five & Dime. Day 133

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 19, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on A Stop In Bentonville, Arkansas To See Sam Walton’s Original Five & Dime. Day 133

Day 133 brought us into Arkansas, and a visit to Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton’s hometown of Bentonville.

Bentonville is of course home to the World Headquarters of Wal-Mart. The publicly traded conglomerate now operates 11,200 stores in 27 countries around the world.

But long before there was ever a Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club, there was Sam Walton’s original Five & Dime store in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.

state sticker map — Day 133 – And the Arkansas sticker goes onto the map!

And little did anyone know the future it would hold for this community when Sam first opened the doors back in 1951.

The Town of Bentonville, Arkansas

Sam loved his hometown. And he stayed true to it right up until his death in 1992. This community, and many of the communities around it owe much of their growth to his belief in keeping the core of his operations in the town and state he loved so much.

Whatever your views are of the massive chain, one thing is for sure, Wal-Mart is a big part of America’s retail history.

Sam’s original Five & Dime and the museum are actually quite well done. Both are free to visit for the public, and it is like taking a step back in time as you walk through the decade exhibits. (See: Wal-Mart Museum)

Of all of the displays, two really stood out as favorites. The first of which was Sam’s office.

Sam Waltons office — From the paneling, to papers and files strewn about, Sam’s office was

The exhibit, with an all-glass front, lets you peer in at his desk and surroundings exactly as they were at the time of his death in 1992.

To keep it all intact, the entire office was photographed, documented and stored. And when the museum was built, it was relocated and installed to its identical state.

It was interesting to see the files, magazines and other “paper” that simply doesn’t exist in today’s offices. And not a single computer to be found. In fact, the only “technology” to speak of was a VHS player and tapes!

Sam’s 1979 Ford 150

The other popular exhibit is Sam’s beloved 1979 Ford F-150 truck.

He purchased it new in 79, and drove it up right up until the time of his death. Sam definitely stayed simple in his ways, and his well-worn truck with 65,000 miles suited him just fine.

One of our favorite displays in the museum, Sam’s 1979 Ford F-150.

He is famous for telling people who questioned why he drove an old truck that “how else was he supposed to take his dogs around, in a Rolls Royce?”

It is easy to see why the community and so many people in Bentonville, Arkansas were so fond of him.

Both of us were certainly impressed at just how beautiful Bentonville and the communities that surround it are. Tomorrow, it will be on to Little Rock to take in a little more of Arkansas. Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary.

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 133 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Conway, AR
Miles Driven : 168
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,989.2
Total Gallons Used : 1,078.36
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 295.2

The Center of The Universe – Found in Downtown Tulsa, Day 132

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 18, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on The Center of The Universe – Found in Downtown Tulsa, Day 132

The search is over, we have found The Center of The Universe!

And who knew that we would have found it right in the heart of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Okay, we realize that it may not be the true center of the universe, but it truly is a mysterious and somewhat magical place.

The self-proclaimed, Tulsa Center of the Universe is a worn concrete circle in the middle of a brick sidewalk on a pedestrian bridge. The circle itself is approximately thirty inches in diameter and it is placed within the middle of another circle that is made up of fifteen rows of bricks.

So what is so special about this concrete circle? This exact spot is an acoustic anomaly.

Downtown Tulsa

When you stand with both feet in the circle and make a noise, that noise becomes distorted and is echoed back several times louder than first projected.

Imagine dropping a coin on the floor and expecting to hear a tiny “ping” as it hits the floor. Instead, the sound the coin makes is more like the loud bang of a drum.

Legend has it that a foghorn could be going off in the center of the circle and no one outside of the circle would hear it.

the artificial cloud — The Center of the Universe is easy to find. All you have to do is look for the Artificial Cloud Sculpture on the pedestrian bridge.

Although this isn’t quite the case, the truly amazing thing is that no one outside of the circle can hear the loud, distorted echo. Only the person standing in the circle can hear it.

You are probably thinking that this is a crazy, made up story. In fact, we thought the same thing.

Therefore, we headed out to downtown Tulsa on a cold and rainy day to check it out.

The Center of the Universe Experiment

Located at the apex of a pedestrian bridge that goes over the railroad tracks at the corner of Archer Street and Boston Avenue, the Center of the Universe is easy to find.

Just look for a large sculpture that looks like a cloud, and you are almost there!

We parked on First Avenue and headed up the brick walkway. It was raining and cold, so we quickly made our way to the famous concrete circle.

As I approached the worn out, cracked circle, I was skeptical that this was really the Center of the Universe that held special powers.

However, as soon as I put both feet in the circle and said ‘Hello’, I was taken aback.

My voice was definitely distorted and it was much louder than I anticipated! I made a couple of other quick noises, and each and every time the same phenomenon occurred.

An Acoustic Phenomenon

Although Jim was standing a few feet back he heard nothing different or strange with the words that I was saying. He almost, in fact, rolled his eyes in disbelief when I told him what I was hearing.

But that all changed when you took center stage on The Center of the Universe himself.

As soon as he said his first word, his eyes became enlarged in utter amazement. With a few more spoken words, he was totally convinced that something strange occurs here.

Many people have spent a lot of time studying how this effect is made. However, there has been no consensus on what causes it.

But no matter what you believe, or whatever the cause of the distortions are, it is truly an interesting experience.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

Click HERE to see where else we have been on our journey across America.

About Our Living Simple Tour

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 132 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Tontitown, AR
Miles Driven : 151.7
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,821.2
Total Gallons Used : 1,066.3
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 1.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 295.2

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

The Golden Driller – And The Strange Sights We See Along The Way! Day 131

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 17, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on The Golden Driller – And The Strange Sights We See Along The Way! Day 131

Did you know there is a 75-foot-tall, 43,000+ pound statue called the Golden Driller in Tulsa, Oklahoma? Or better yet, that this now state monument is dedicated to oil workers from the Sooner state?

One of the amusing things we enjoy as we travel are the many unique and sometimes obscure statues, monuments and buildings that dot our country’s landscape.

And there are way more than we ever thought! In fact, it seems we find at least one or two in every town, village or city we visit.

For instance, just yesterday, we passed through the tiny town of Barnsdall, Oklahoma. And Barnsdall’s claim to fame?

The Barnsdall Well - The Golden Driller story — The only well located in the world in the middle of Main Street. It exists in Barnsdall, Oklahoma.

Well, it is the only town in the world with a formerly active oil well right in the middle of main street. And sure enough, as we were driving through, it still sits there today roped off as an exhibit. See: Barnsdall Oil Well

Exploring Back Road America

There have been quite a few crazy sights to see along the way. To name just a few we have already encountered:

World’s largest pepper – Las Cruces, NM
The World’s largest wall of used bubble gum – Seattle, WA
Biggest convenience store in the World – Buc-ees, New Braunfels ,TX
Tallest movable glass structure in the world – Dallas, TX
World’s largest rocking chair – Casey, IL
The oldest running dance hall in the U.S. – Gruene, TX

Bubble Gum Wall — We have looked at some strange things along the way, like the world’s largest bubble gum wall in Seattle. Still get queasy thinking about it!

Yes, some are a bit hokey. And many are quite odd. But, it certainly has made for some great photos and memories!

The Golden Driller Statue

And that leads us to finding the gigantic Golden Driller statue in Tulsa, Oklahoma today.

At 75 feet tall, he is indeed the tallest free-standing statue in the U.S. In fact, he is so big, his right hand holds on to an authentic Oklahoma oil derrick. His hard hat is a whopping size 112, and his shoe size is in the hundreds.

Made from steel and concrete, the statue weighs almost 22 tons. It is strong enough to survive the winds of an F5 tornado.

A Little History On The Golden Driller

The first Golden Driller statue was built back in the 1950’s for an oil and gas show. After it became a hit, the statue was recreated a few more times at future shows.

Gruene Texas - Gruene Hall — We loved getting the chance to see and experience one of the oldest still-operating Dance Halls in America in Gruene, Texas.

The current and final Golden Driller statue was created for an expo in 1966 at the Tulsa Fairgrounds. It was made to be a permanent feature at the site.

But after falling into disrepair in the 70’s, the city of Tulsa finally took possession of it. They then repaired and restored the statue from top to bottom. Including adding a big “TULSA” to his belt buckle.

All crazy but true facts from another day on the road in America.

We never really know what will be around the next bend. But one thing is for sure, it sure is a lot of fun finding out! Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 131 of 365
States : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Tulsa, OK
Miles Driven : 47.8
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,669.5
Total Gallons Used : 1055.36
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 1.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 293.55

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

A Trip To The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile Store, Day 130

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 16, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on A Trip To The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile Store, Day 130

Today we headed Northwest of Tulsa to the town of Pawhuska, where The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile Store is located.

But for those that aren’t familiar with The Pioneer Woman, let me explain why we went there.

I am a huge fan of Food Network. I absolutely love to cook for our family. But to keep things fresh and exciting, I am always looking for inspiration for something new and delicious to make.

As much as I love to search the internet for a new recipe, there is nothing like having cooking shows playing in the background when I am at home.

Welcome to Pawhuska — Pawhuska, Oklahoma is a small town, about one hour Northwest of Tulsa.

I am able to listen to the chefs talk about what and how to prepare various dishes. And if I hear anything of interest, I can look up from whatever I am doing and pay attention.

And that is how I fell in love with ‘The Pioneer Woman” television show. Ree Drummond, the host of the cooking show, cooks down home meals to feed her family on a large ranch just outside of Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

I found myself enjoying many of her recipes. Some of which inspired me to cook something similar in my own kitchen. And on occasion, one of those recipes would end up on my own recipe blog makeyourmeals.com.

red truck — Outside of The Mercantile sits the Drummond Ranch, historical truck.

So when we decided to stay a few days in the Tulsa area, we both decided that a day trip to The Mercantile Store was a must.

The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile Store

And as the show began to grow, she decided to invest back into her community and open a large Mercantile store. The renovated warehouse is a shop, restaurant, and bakery and opened for business in 2016.

As we walked in the front doors, located on the corner of the Main Street and Kihekah Avenue, we knew that we were in for a treat.

The restaurant sits at the front left entrance of the Mercantile. It has a street front view with lots of large windows that surround the dining tables. On warm, summer days, you can even enjoy a meal outside.

The remaining first floor is dedicated to the shopping experience of her guests. Here you can find a variety of merchandise ranging from t-shirts, toys, cookware, and her famous signature, flowered products.

And for those that would like a quick cup of coffee or would like to sit down, relax, and enjoy some time in the Mercantile store, all you need to do is head upstairs to the Bakery.

Here you will find a comfortable seating area filled with tables, chairs, and couches. And no matter where you choose to sit, you will have a great view of the streets below from the large warehouse windows lining the walls.

Expanding The Business

The store itself brings in visitors from all over the world. And since it has opened, Ree Drummond has expanded her business adventures in Pawhuska. There is now a large banquet center, a small hotel that they call The Boarding House, and even an Ice Cream shop named for her dog, Charlie.

Coffee shop — On the second floor, you can sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee and pastry in a relaxed atmosphere.

And if you are lucky enough to come to the Mercantile Store on a day where Lodge Tours are scheduled, you can even go visit where The Pioneer Woman is filmed!

Definitely a reason for me to come back in the future!

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

Click HERE to see where else we have been on our journey across America.

About Our Living Simple Tour

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 130 of 365
States : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Tulsa, OK
Miles Driven : 276.0
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,621.7
Total Gallons Used : 1051.92
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 292.55

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Tulsa’s Gathering Place – An Epic Park Every City Needs! Day 129

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 15, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Tulsa’s Gathering Place – An Epic Park Every City Needs! Day 129

If there was ever a place and space to be treasured, enjoyed and celebrated, it is Tulsa’s Gathering Place. Not only is it a marvel to see and experience in person, it hopefully can serve as a model for future city parks the world over!

After experiencing it today first hand, I think it can best be described as a combination indoor/outdoor community center, but one on the grandest of scales.

We both were absolutely blown away by this magnificent park and all it has to offer!

Tulsas Gathering Place — A view from the boathouse area and restaurant that looks over the 5 acre kids playground at the Gathering Place.

Located along the banks of the Arkansas River in Tulsa, the 100 acre space is a sight to behold. It has truly been transformed into one of the most amazing city parks and recreation spots in the world.

And that fact isn’t going unnoticed. In 2019, USA today named it its best new attraction. More and more awards have followed ever since.

But perhaps best part of all, it isn’t even completely finished yet!

Tulsa’s Gathering Place

Tulsa’s Gathering place opened it’s first phase (66 acres) on September 8th in 2018. It was a project some 4 years in the making.

To date, it now has more than 160 play structures, walking paths, biking trails, garden areas and more.

Everywhere you look, from slide parks to basketball courts and biking paths, there is something to do.

Not only are there skating parks, basketball courts, a 5 acre children’s playground, but an additional slide park to boot. Better yet, they left plenty of green and gathering spaces along the way for outdoor concerts, events and more.

And as if that didn’t take it over the top, there is even a lodge and community center with 2 huge fireplaces, wifi and more. All to be enjoyed for free by the community and visitors alike.

We spent the afternoon trekking the miles of walkways that link it all together. With every turn, we became more and more enamored by it all.

How The Gathering Place Came About

The riverfront space was the dream of billionaire George B. Kaiser. The born and raised in Tulsa businessman and now philanthropist decided his city needed a place to come together.

And so it was that Kaiser, and the Kaiser foundation, along with a host of additional corporate sponsors invested in that dream.

Judging by all of the activity and community use we saw today all over the park, that dream is now working!

It reminded us a lot of the great trail and park system we encountered back in Bismark, North Dakota.

To be sure, if you ever find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, you have to check it out. What an incredible asset to the city of Tulsa and its residents!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary.

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:
Day 129 of 365, States Visited : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Tulsa, Oklahoma
Miles Driven : 122.6, Total Miles To Date : 14,468.3
Total Gallons Used : 1,032.06
Biking Miles : 0.0, Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 5.5, Hiking Miles To Date : 297.7

About Our Living Simple Tour

Bricktown Entertainment District – The River Walk in Oklahoma, Day 128

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 14, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on Bricktown Entertainment District – The River Walk in Oklahoma, Day 128

Today we headed to downtown Oklahoma City to check out the Bricktown Entertainment District.

This now thriving, urban district once was a large warehouse and distribution area in the early 1900’s.

Like the rest of Oklahoma City, the original Bricktown began with the Land Run of 1889.

In an effort to make a better life for themselves, settlers flocked to the area where the Santa Fe Railroad and the Oklahoma River met. This allowed residents easy access for trade and commerce.

bricktown river walk — ***A view from the top of one of the pedestrian bridges above the Bricktown Canal.***

However, in the 1940’s and 1950’s suburbs became the living preference of most Americans. So as the residents began moving out of the city, so did the businesses.

The warehouses slowly became abandoned and many of the buildings were demolished for the building of the Interstate highways.

The Revitalization of Bricktown

In the 1980s a developer purchased several plots in Bricktown area. During the economic boom of the early 1990s, Oklahoma City approved the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) program, investing public funds into revitalizing the area as a historic district.

bricktown ballpark — ***The area is filled with not only restaurant and shops, but also major league sports team including the Bricktown Dodgers.***

Through several stages of renovations, Bricktown continues to progress from its origins as a warehouse and distribution district to a family friendly entertainment district.

And through the center of it all is a canal that resembles the River Walk in San Antonio.

And yes, you can even take a water taxi ride down the canal!

bricktown water taxi — ***You can take a 1 mile ride down the Bricktown canal on the water taxi which also provides you additional historical facts about the area.***

On either side of the Bricktown Canal, the side walks area lined with restaurants that you can enter below the main road level.

In fact, in the extended area, there are more than 45 restaurants, including Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill.

But there are more than just restaurants in the Bricktown district. There are retail shops, professional sports venues, museums, galleries and even a summer beach for use in the summer!

Art & Sculptures Along The Way

And as you walk along the canal, you will see several murals and pieces of art dedicated to the history of the area.

We both agree that our favorite monument is The Centennial Land Run Monument located at the south end of the Bricktown Canal.

art murals — ***Along the River Walk, there are various murals painted along the way dedicated to the extensive history of the warehouse district.***

It is one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures featuring 45 heroic figures commemorating the opening of the Unassigned Land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889.

The statues are of life size, land run participants and their horses frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads. A truly impressive sight that is easily accessible with a paved walkway around the entire exhibit.

We are absolutely in love of the beauty and functionality of the entire Bricktown area.

And do yourself a favor. When you visit, don’t park your car in a paid parking lot (like we did). There are plenty of free parking lots that line the historic Bricktown district!

As we like to say, you live and learn.

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

Click HERE to see where else we have been on our journey across America.

About Our Living Simple Tour

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 128 of 365
States : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Oklahoma City, OK
Miles Driven : 30.1
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,345.7
Total Gallons Used : 1,032.06
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 3.8
Hiking Miles To Date : 292.05

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Somber, Moving Visit To The Oklahoma City National Memorial – Day 127

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 13, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on A Somber, Moving Visit To The Oklahoma City National Memorial – Day 127

I can honestly say our visit today to the Oklahoma City National Memorial moved us both more than we ever imagined.

Our trip has run the gauntlet when it comes to what we have been able to see firsthand. There have many man-made wonders, and incredible scenes that nature painted without any assistance at all.

Oklahoma City National Memorial - Reflecting pond — The reflecting pond lays peacefully where the street once ran right in front of the Alfred P. Murrah building.

But we have also had the opportunity to visit sites with connections to some darker days in America’s past. And today’s visit was a somber reminder of one of those more tragic times.

The year was 1995, and a bomb exploded outside of the Alfred P Murray Federal building in Oklahoma City. It took the lives of 68 innocent and unsuspecting people. In its wake, families, a city, and a nation were changed forever.

I was 25 at the time, and still remember watching the coverage on TV. I remember how stunned and saddened I was by what had just happened.

The Memorial includes to walls that face each other, each stamped with the time one minute before and after the bomb went off at 9:02 AM.

But its hard to describe how visiting a memorial site in person puts an event in a different light. And that couldn’t have been more true today.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial

The memorial is incredibly powerful, beautiful and moving – all at the same time. It is built on the former site of the Alfred P Murrah building that was ravaged by the explosion. And it opened exactly 5 years to the date the bomb donated.

As part of the memorial, this corner of the buildings foundation was left in tact.

The Chairs

It is surreal to see the 68 hand crafted glass, bronze and stone chairs sitting so peacefully in the lawn. The chairs overlooks a massive reflecting pond that slowly ripples in the background.

There is a chair placed in the lawn for every life lost that day. And etched into each chairs base is a name of one of the victims from the bombing.

The chairs are arranged in nine rows, each representing a floor of the building. Each row is then filled with a corresponding number of chairs to represent where those who lost their life were when the bomb went off.

For small children, small chairs are placed in the row. For adults, a larger chair used. The symbolism hits you immediately. It is a moving and poignant reminder of the tragedy that changed so many lives that fateful day.

To that point, the times of 9:01 AM and 9:03 AM are inscribed at the top of two huge walls on opposite ends of the memorial. The times are meant to represent the peaceful second before, and the chaos left behind the second after the bomb detonated at 9:02.

A City Stands Strong

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is dedicated in honor of the victims and survivors, as well as all of the first responders who rushed in to help,

But it also a testament to the resiliency, pride and hope that exists when people face adversity.

To this day, there is still a section of fence left up for people to place reminders and notes to those lost in the bombing.

Whether it be a natural disaster, or a horrific and senseless crime against humanity, people always stand strong in the end. And that is certainly true when it comes to the people of Oklahoma City.

It also serves as an eye opening reminder to all who visit that life is short, and that every day is precious. Jim and Mary.

* Special Note: For those that have asked, we have now added a special section to the blog where you can easily navigate to see each day’s story from the trip – from Day 1 to present. You can see that here : The Days Of The Trip

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 127 of 365
States : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 19
Stayed In : Oklahoma City, OK
Miles Driven : 53.9
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,315.6
Total Gallons Used : 1,029.9
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 1.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 288.25

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

On The Road To Oklahoma! Meeting New Friends Along The Way, Day 126

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 12, 2020
Categories In Oklahoma, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on On The Road To Oklahoma! Meeting New Friends Along The Way, Day 126

Today we finalized our two week stay in Texas and headed on the road to Oklahoma.

We left the Dallas area around 10:30am and traveled up I-35 towards Oklahoma City.

It was a little longer drive than we typically take when we move from one location to the next.

road to Oklahoma — We drove around the campus and found the food/bar district where most of the students probably hang out on the weekends.

So we decided early on in the trip that we would stop in Norman, OK to have lunch.

But of course, that was after we drove through the University of Oklahoma’s campus.

The University of Oklahoma

As you all know, we are huge college football fans. And any time that we can get a picture of our camper with the football stadium in the background, we take advantage of it.

road to Oklahoma football stadium — Even though we couldn’t get a picture of the camper in front of the football stadium, we were able to snag this picture while we were stuck in traffic.

However, today was move back in day for the students from winter break. The campus roads were busy, and unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to get the picture that we were hoping for.

So we drove around, looking at the beautiful campus area. And before we headed back on the road to Oklahoma City we decided to stop for a bite to eat. And that is how we ended up at Jason’s Deli.

Oklahoma campus — Even the campus water tower proudly displays the University Logo.

We parked the camper and headed inside for a nice healthy salad.

As we wrapped up our lunch, we grabbed a couple of waters to go. We were refreshed and ready to head back on the road towards Oklahoma City.

Meeting Matt and Stephanie

When we walked outside, we noticed a black pick up truck that was parked next to our camper.

Now normally this wouldn’t be anything unusual. However, we were parked in an adjacent, vacant parking next to Jason’s.

As soon as we got within 30 feet of our vehicle, a couple jumped out of their truck and the first words that they said was “We aren’t Stalkers”.

matt and stephanie — After talking for a little while, Matt suggested that we all get a picture taken in front of our T@B 400 camper.

We laughed as they explained that they are also owners of a nuCamp T@B 400 trailer as well. They just happened to be driving by and saw our camper parked in the lot.

And they explained that they have been following our journey across the country.

We stood outside talking about our camping experiences and how much we both love the camper itself.

Within minutes of our conversation, it was as if we had been friends for years and just catching up after a long vacation.

Matt and Stephanie offered us some advice on places to visit while were in town and wished us well on our continued travels.

Back on the Road to Oklahoma

So we jumped back in our truck and headed up the road to Oklahoma City. We both are amazed at the wonderful people that we meet while we are on the road.

And before we made it to our stop for the evening, we received an email from Steve and Betsy who saw our camper driving up Interstate 35.

Again, they just wanted to wish us the best and let us know that they would be following along as we travel to all 50 states.

I know that we have said it before, however, the best part of the trip is not seeing all the historic landmarks. The absolute best part is meeting the people along the way!

You just never know who you might meet or run into when you travel!

Click HERE to see all of the places that we have been so far.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

About Our Living Simple Tour

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 126 of 365
States : 16/50
National Parks / Monuments : 18
Stayed In : Oklahoma City, OK
Miles Driven : 219.3
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,261.7
Total Gallons Used : 1,026.02
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 287.25

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Staying Safe While Camping – A Little Storm Scare On The Road! Day 125

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 11, 2020
Categories In Texas, The Days Of The Trip
5 Comments on Staying Safe While Camping – A Little Storm Scare On The Road! Day 125

Making sure we try our best to stay safe from severe weather was a top priority for us long before we ever left home back in September.

In fact, it was the biggest factor as we planned our route and timing of our travels through each of the 50 states.

We knew we needed to stay clear of the northern states in the winter to avoid dangerous winter storms. In addition, we also needed to get across the mountain states in the west before snowfall would make traversing the passes too risky.

safe while camping — Our camper is certainly tough and strong, but would be no match for a tornado!

But probably most important of all, we tried hard to keep our travel dates in the mid-western states out of the most dangerous time frames of tornado season.

We love our little 18′ nuCamp Teardrop Camper, but it probably wouldn’t fare too well in a wicked twister!

The Journey Thus Far…

For the most part, the plan has worked out extremely well to date. In fact, there have only been a few minor hiccups in our first 125 days on the road.

A couple of early snowfalls in Colorado and Montana chased us on a little earlier than expected. And an unusually cold morning in eastern Washington sent us heading for Seattle a day early as well.

staying safe on the journey — We have had little trouble so far on the route we have covered (red states), but we had our first big scare tonight.

But sometimes, as we all know, no matter how well you plan, Mother Nature rules. And that was exactly the case on Friday night in Dallas, when a severe line of storms rolled right through our location. And in the process, sent off the tornado sirens in our location.

Being Prepared – Early Warning Is The Key To Safety

Thankfully, we had plenty of warning the storms were coming. We both use Weather Radar apps on our phone that automatically warn us of any weather danger based on our GPS location.

It is actually a must-have for anyone camping or travelling.

Thanks to the app, we knew by early morning that storms were on the way to us by early evening. And that they had a good chance of turning severe.

weather radar map — The line moving in kept getting stronger and stronger. To the point we finally decided it was to time to head for safer digs.

So as we watched the line form on the radar and edge closer, we came up with a plan to head to a nearby Target store for safer digs if needed.

Our camper is pretty awesome. But considering it is only 18′ long and sits on wheels, it’s not the place to be when there is a good chance of high winds, high water, or a tornado.

Especially since our campsite was in a beautiful state park with towering oaks above us!

Thankfully, this was not the scene for Friday night. And I honestly hope we never ever get to take a photo like this!

Staying Safe…

And the line of storms did get stronger. Actually, much stronger. So we packed into the truck, wished our camper good luck, and headed off to Target. I should mention at this point there was also a Home Depot there as well, but I think Mary was scared that my affinity for all things DIY would lead to an unneeded purchase with idle time. So Target it was! 🙂

As soon as we stepped out of the truck at Target, we heard them. The Tornado sirens were going off. And as soon as we entered, an announcement came over the loudspeaker that a funnel cloud had been spotted nearby. They asked everyone to head to the back corner of the store, and it was there we all rode out the storms.

Thankfully, it all passed without incident. The funnel cloud never touched down. And the flooding and high winds did not reach our campsite either.

target - waiting out the storm — Target did a great job getting folks to the safest spot in the store, and updating everyone on the status of the storm.

But it certainly made for a bit of excitement for a Friday night on the road. As a side note, kudos to the Target Store in Grand Prairie, Texas for how calmly they handled the warning.

We were both totally impressed with the stores plan and the implementation of it in an extremely calm area. They even offered to help people to their cars after it had all passed if needed.

Hopefully, that will be our last brush with any twister danger while on the road! Up next on the trip, Oklahoma!

Happy, Safe Traveling, Jim and Mary.

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 125 of 365
States : 15/50
National Parks / Monuments : 18
Stayed In : Midlothian, TX
Miles Driven : 42.4
Total Trip Miles To Date : 14,042.4
Total Gallons Used : 1,017.56
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 1.25
Hiking Miles To Date : 287.25

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States