Ardmore?

I spent Thursday night at High Plains Camping in Oakley, Kansas. Mary, the manager, left me an envelope with the directions to my site and a page on dos and don’ts. One don’t was: don’t put out the awnings due to the high winds. She was right, the wind provided a gentle rocking motion to Shirley and we both slept like babies in a cradle. I got up early enough for a couple mile walk/run which was very invigorating. I was glad I brought my neck wrap and beanie as the wind did have a bite to it. The folks driving on my running road all waved like I was an old friend. They either thought I was someone they knew or they were just friendly. Mary had told me the office would not be open before I left because she had things to do in the morning. She said leave a check in the night box at the office. Wow, this was first place that would trust a check. I had forgotten the cost of the site so I left a blank check. Mary called me while I was on the road and let me know the cost was either $26 million dollars or $26 dollars. Nice folks in Kansas, even if the politics are pretty conservative as evidenced by the very right-leaning anti-abortion signs every couple hundred yards along the interstate.

Friday, I drove to Ardmore, Oklahoma. It was a 550 mile trip across some pretty desolate country. The trip also saw my first, and hopefully last, encounter with law enforcement. I stopped at a rest area just east of Wichita on I-70. As I was entering the rest area I saw a white police car behind me. The car followed me and parked directly behind me. I got out to use the facility and the State Trooper got out of his car. He said, very nicely, “The reason I followed you in here is because one of the letters on your license plate is messed up.” I said, “Yes, the paint is scraped off the zero in two places. The previous owner must have backed into something.” The Trooper asked for my license and I was thinking “Man if I’m getting busted for a scraped license plate I am really glad I wasn’t speeding.” The Trooper looked at my license and then commented on the high incidence of smuggling and transporting illegal drugs from Mexico and California. He asked me if I had anything illegal in Shirley. Of course I replied “No” and asked if I would mind if he looked around. I said “No, as long as I don’t have to be present while you look.” My ancient bladder was starting to scream pretty loudly by then. He said I didn’t have to be there so I went to the Men’s Room while he searched Shirley. Anyway, when I came out he was finishing his search and apparently decided I was not smuggling meth in the door panels or weed in the wheel wells. He gave me my license back and I continued on my merry way.

I know, why Ardmore? I need to get to Arlington before noon Saturday because the Enterprise Car Rental shops all close at noon, naturally. I have a good layover in Texas and plan on renting a car to do some sight-seeing and getting Shirley serviced and a few minor repairs made. Ardmore is only 120 miles from Arlington so I should be able to get there before noon. I found the Hidden Lake RV Park in my 2010 Trailer Life Directory. It was very highly rated with a 9 for facilities, a 9.5 for restroom and shower cleanliness, and an 8.5 for appearance and environmental correctness. Facilities included free WiFi (a huge plus due to my on-again, off-again relationship with my Mobile virgin), security, major cable, etc. I made my reservation and showed up around 8:30 p.m. after a 6 mile detour because Exit 29 was closed. Thanks, Joe, you could have said something when I talked to you while making my reservation. I got to my site and pulled out my trusty laptop and searched for the free WiFi. Not happenin’. I then started looking around my assigned site for the nearest bathroom/shower. Not happenin’. The bathroom/showers were in the main building on the other side of the lake. I said what the heck, it’s only a quarter mile to the building with the restrooms. I got over there and there are two restrooms, each with one shower , one sink, and one toilet. Not bad for a single family dwelling, but for an RV park with 50 campsites? I hope no one needs the restroom in the morning when I want to shower and shave.

Anyway, Day 8 is coming to an end. I wasn’t arrested, Shirley purred like a kitten, I saw antelopes and buffaloes, and made it safely to Ardmore. Life is good, very good indeed. People would give their left arm to do what I am able to do and I complain about no WiFi? Get real, Bill.