2023-05-06 – DAY 2: Springfield, Missouri To Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

07:00 – hotel Wakeup call, automated, of course

07:05 – the camera bag in roll-on bag were packed last night, so all I have to do is roll them out of the car.

07:15-07:45 – breakfast: leftover sirloin from TRH, trimmed with mushrooms and onions; packed the few odds n ends not packed last night: phone charger, Garmin watch charger, laptop.  

07:45 – prep room for departure – used towels on bathroom floor, trash gathered in wastebasket by desk; bags loaded on dolly

08:00 – Bathroom trip 

08:10 – check out after loading the van

0922 – enter OK on I-44W

 

09:59 – first toll : $5


1057 – tried to do screen recording of 4-cam shot, crossing the Arkansas River on I-244 in downtown Tulsa. Apple Location app keeps shutting down the recording. Will need to retry with CarPlay apps OFF. 

11:41 – second toll

[add syncup drive map] 

1300 – tried to check in at Holiday Inn Express. Too early

1310 – lunch at Golden Dragon (across the street). Way too much food. 

1500 – checked in. Room 303. Paul G is rm 204. 

1600 – clear seats in minivan, in case we do a Walmart run later 

1713 – $4 For a low carb Monster energy drink. Gotta love hotel prices. Located the surge protector (that I thought I left at home). 

1740 – wrote and emailed my intro to the team

1901 – Paul G and I met Phil & Kathy as they arrive at the hotel (after a 19-hour marathon travel session from the UK).  We decided it would be best if you and Kathy got a good nights sleep before they made a Walmart run. Paul G and I made ours then and there. I had a moment where I had “misplaced“ the shopping center, but we arrived at Walmart without any detours or travel difficulties. I simply had a moment of disorientation, thinking that the store was closer to the hotel than it actually ever was.

20210509 – Sunday, Day of Rest (Oklahoma City, OK)

07:00 -Had a ‘soft’ wake-up (no call or alarm)

09:00 -Atttend my Chicagoland church online

10:00 – Shower, grab a coffee in the lobby

1030 – Finialize the blog entries for the past two days.  Seems like I’m always catching up on blogs

1130 – Return to Golden Palace for lunch. “You’re back early.” said the diminutive hostess, smiling broadly. “It’s never too early for hour sour soup,” I retorted. First joke of the day!

13:00 – Return to Avid. Work with the housekeeper to get my room sprayed for ants. I relish the chance to have a conversation in Spanish, even if ti’s about my hormiga problem.  The crew pays me a compliment on my Spanish: tu hablas muy bien.  The truth is, I’m embarrassed at how rusty I am with the language. When I when sailing out of Chile during my stint with the U.S. Antarctic Program, I reached a certain level of fluency. My Mexican friends at home — Colorado, at that time — paid me a tremendous compliment: they told me I had picked up a Chilean accent. Very flattering, as I worked hard to do so.

15:00 – Upload some images and videos for today’s blog entry. Took a break just long enough for a short walk, a trip to the van (to clean it up a little for guests), and took a quick weather reading on the Kestrel:

(PLEASE accept my apologies for the formatting of the Kestrel data tables.
I am trying to find something better, in vain)

FORMATTED DATE_TIMETemperatureWet Bulb TempRelative HumidityBarometric PressureAltitudeStation PressureWind SpeedDew PointHeat IndexDensity AltitudeCrosswindHeadwindCompass Magnetic DirectionCompass True DirectionWind Chill
MMM d, yyyy HH:mm:ss°F°F%hPafthPakt°F°FftktktDegDeg°FData TypeRecord nameStart timeDuration (H:M:S)Location descriptionLocation addressLocation coordinatesNotes
May 9, 2021 14:07:5387.165.532.0971.51150971.60.053.785.533870.00.032432587.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:07:5787.165.531.9971.51150971.60.053.685.533840.00.032532587.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:0287.065.531.8971.51150971.60.053.485.133810.00.032432586.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:0787.065.531.7971.51151971.60.053.385.133790.00.031331486.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:1286.765.332.1971.51151971.60.053.485.133580.00.030030186.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:1786.065.533.7971.51151971.50.054.284.633270.00.0495086.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:2285.265.535.3971.51151971.60.054.783.832760.00.0686885.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:2785.065.736.1971.51151971.60.055.183.832660.00.0313184.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:3284.965.836.9971.71146971.80.055.783.832610.00.0394084.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:3785.066.237.5971.51151971.50.056.284.232790.00.0666784.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:4284.666.238.5971.51151971.50.056.683.832560.00.033833884.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:4784.065.738.4971.51151971.50.056.083.132150.00.031031184.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:5283.264.937.8971.21163971.21.054.881.731700.90.228228383.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:08:5782.564.037.1971.51151971.50.053.780.631090.00.028928982.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:0781.162.636.0971.51151971.60.051.678.630020.00.032532581.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:1380.261.534.9971.51151971.60.050.077.429360.00.034834880.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:1779.961.234.6971.71150971.60.049.577.229160.00.029929979.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:2279.961.234.4971.51151971.60.049.377.029110.00.030931079.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:2779.661.034.3971.51150971.60.049.076.828980.00.031431579.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:3279.260.434.1971.71150971.70.748.576.528600.10.7101179.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:3779.461.034.8971.51150971.60.049.276.628850.00.00079.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:4279.661.535.8971.51150971.60.050.277.029060.00.033133279.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:4778.961.236.4971.51150971.60.050.076.328520.00.026726878.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:5278.260.837.0971.51150971.60.049.875.728140.00.029829978.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:09:5778.060.837.4971.71150971.70.050.075.627990.00.026626777.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:0779.161.737.8972.01138972.10.051.276.628570.00.024224279.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:1278.361.237.9972.01135972.10.050.675.928040.00.019919978.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:1777.360.237.7972.01135972.10.049.574.727380.00.0131477.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:2276.659.537.1972.01135972.10.048.473.926820.00.032432576.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:2775.658.636.5972.01138972.10.047.172.926140.00.035435575.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:3275.458.436.1972.01138972.10.646.772.726020.40.532132275.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:3775.858.835.9972.21135972.10.047.073.026320.00.028528675.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:4276.459.236.0972.21135972.10.047.573.626670.00.029629776.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:4776.959.536.0972.21135972.10.047.974.127030.00.028728776.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:5277.559.935.9972.01138972.10.048.474.727430.00.029029177.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:10:5777.860.135.8972.21135972.20.048.675.027610.00.027928077.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:0277.960.135.5972.01135972.10.048.475.227660.00.030330377.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:0778.060.135.3972.21135972.20.048.475.227690.00.029829877.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:1278.460.435.2972.01135972.10.048.775.628020.00.028929078.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:1778.360.235.0972.01135972.10.048.475.427940.00.030130178.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:2278.660.234.7972.01138972.10.048.475.728140.00.029829978.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:2778.560.234.5972.01138972.10.048.275.728040.00.031131178.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:3778.059.734.2972.01135972.10.047.575.027690.00.028228277.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:4278.259.934.2972.01138972.10.047.775.227810.00.028528678.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:4778.359.934.2972.01135972.10.047.875.427860.00.027727778.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:11:5278.559.934.1972.01135972.10.047.975.728020.00.027627678.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:0278.860.133.8972.01135972.11.847.975.728221.51.030330378.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:0778.659.933.6972.21135972.20.047.675.628040.00.027427578.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:1278.659.933.5972.21132972.20.047.575.728020.00.027127278.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:2278.759.933.2972.21135972.20.047.475.728070.00.027727878.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:2778.659.933.1972.01135972.10.047.275.628040.00.030130178.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:3278.459.733.0972.21135972.10.047.075.227940.00.028028078.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:3778.559.733.0972.21135972.20.047.075.427910.00.027827978.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:4278.359.532.9972.21135972.20.046.875.227840.00.028228278.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:4778.259.332.8972.21132972.20.046.675.027760.00.028128178.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:5278.159.232.8972.21132972.30.046.574.827610.00.029729877.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:12:5778.259.332.8972.21132972.30.046.675.027710.00.030130178.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:0278.559.732.8972.21132972.20.046.975.427940.00.029429578.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:0778.759.732.8972.21132972.20.047.075.628040.00.033633678.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:1278.459.733.2972.21135972.20.047.175.227890.00.030030178.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:1778.761.236.5972.21132972.20.049.976.128240.00.030430478.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:2279.062.139.1972.21132972.20.052.076.828520.00.029329378.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:2779.263.141.9972.21135972.20.054.077.528800.00.030130179.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:3279.464.044.2972.21132972.20.055.778.129030.00.030230279.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:3779.464.946.1972.21135972.20.056.978.429180.00.0313179.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:4278.864.647.4972.21135972.20.057.177.728750.00.033033078.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:4778.664.246.8972.21135972.20.056.677.428600.00.031331378.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:5278.764.446.9972.21135972.20.056.877.728730.00.031531678.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:13:5778.564.647.6972.21135972.20.057.077.528630.00.032032078.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:0278.663.945.7972.21132972.20.055.977.228570.00.032632778.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:0778.863.142.8972.21132972.20.054.377.228570.00.032132178.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:1279.162.640.3972.21132972.20.052.977.228650.00.032032179.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:1779.161.938.1972.21132972.20.051.576.828600.00.031531579.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:2278.961.337.1972.21132972.20.050.676.528420.00.032632678.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:2778.861.036.2972.21135972.20.049.876.128270.00.032332378.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:3278.860.835.7972.21132972.20.049.476.128240.00.029429478.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:3778.460.635.9972.21135972.20.049.175.627990.00.034634678.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:4277.960.135.3972.21132972.20.048.375.227630.00.031931977.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:4777.259.234.6972.21132972.20.047.274.327180.00.030430477.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:5276.658.633.9972.21135972.20.046.173.626700.00.034134176.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:14:5774.857.233.9972.21132972.20.044.572.025490.00.033833974.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:0271.354.834.6972.21132972.20.041.969.323140.00.032832971.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:0768.653.235.6972.21132972.30.040.365.721360.00.031331368.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:1766.552.338.3972.01138972.13.640.362.620062.42.8404066.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:2266.052.339.9972.21135972.25.540.962.119723.24.531831965.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:2765.052.141.5972.21132972.37.441.161.019085.35.231331464.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:3264.952.343.1972.21132972.26.042.061.019082.75.333233364.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:3765.553.244.4972.21132972.24.243.361.919551.73.933633765.5sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:4264.952.945.5972.21129972.35.443.461.219102.64.833133264.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:4764.552.946.5972.41129972.36.543.660.818863.46.133033063.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:5264.753.247.4972.21132972.34.744.261.218962.34.533133264.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:15:5764.553.448.3972.41129972.46.544.661.018883.45.532832963.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0264.553.648.9972.41129972.44.544.961.218902.33.932933064.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0264.553.649.0972.21132972.24.944.961.218962.64.132832864.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:0764.653.649.7972.21132972.24.545.461.319052.33.832732864.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:1264.453.850.5972.21132972.25.545.661.018882.94.633033063.9sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:1764.253.651.0972.21135972.22.845.761.018811.32.533233364.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:2264.253.851.4972.21132972.25.145.961.018812.24.633433463.7sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:2764.153.651.6972.21129972.34.245.961.018731.83.733333464.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:3264.053.651.8972.21132972.35.745.960.818632.84.933033063.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:3762.252.352.4972.21129972.38.744.559.217404.57.432832960.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:4261.151.652.9972.41127972.49.243.858.316665.27.632532558.6sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:4761.151.853.9972.41129972.48.344.358.316694.57.032732858.8sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:5261.152.054.9972.41129972.410.244.758.516696.28.032132158.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:16:5761.452.555.6972.41127972.42.845.458.816930.52.734935061.3sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:0262.153.056.2972.41129972.40.946.459.517450.10.935535562.1sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:0763.054.157.3972.21132972.20.047.760.418140.00.031731863.0sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:1262.353.657.3972.21132972.30.047.159.917650.00.030931062.2sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:1762.653.857.1972.21132972.30.047.260.117800.00.028528662.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36
May 9, 2021 14:17:2264.555.657.9972.21135972.20.049.361.919180.00.026126164.4sessionSession - May 9, 2021 14:07:505PM2021 9, 2021 14:07:5000:09:36

15:44 – Checked the SPC convective outlooks.

Murphy’s Law of Chase Tours: The day between tours is often the best chance for storms, the then chances thereafter approach zero:

TODAY: Tour 2 returns to OKC and cannot chase (in the jungles of the ArLaTex region)

TOMORROW: Tour 3 will leave early and may only see marginal storm (then NOTHING for several days following). We will like be stuck in the Big Bend region sans Internet for 2-3 days!

15:55 – Waited in the lobby to see if anybody needed a ride to Walmart for supplies for the trip. No takers seen, though our fearless team lead, Bill Reid, happened by. On to WalMart for handle my list (and a few odd-n-ends for Bill).

1701 – returned to Avid. Delivered items from Bill’s shopping list.

20210508 – Travel Day 2 (Springfield,MO – Oklahoma City,OK)

ROUTE: Springfield, MO – Oklahoma City, OK:

0700 – wake-up call

0825 – Arrive Cracker Barrel, for Lisa M’s (and granddaughter Angelina’s) birthday breakfast

1000 (approx) – Depart Springfield on I-44W
But goof around with a harmonica first!

(insert video later)

1100ish- Enter Oklahoma. Sing the state song (an old ritual of mine).
Pull out a $20 bill for tolls (about $10 between the MO-OK state line and OKC).

 

1430ish- Refuel at Tulsa

 

xxxx – Arrive at Avid Hotel, OKC. So glad they have an elevator, as this makes dragging bags much less work.

1730 – Grab dinner at Golden Palace, an excellent Chinese buffet on the Meridian strip.  Unlike Zio’s, the Italian restaurant several blocks south, the Palace had no waiting line (but lots of people dining, just the same). Given that COVID-19 has driven so many restaurants out of business, I’m delight to see that pretty much every restaurant on Meridian (between the airport and I-40) seems to be thriving.

1800 – Do  a little computer and battery maintenance. Charge up the AX53 camcorder batteries that arrived the day before I left of this trip.  Adding these batteries gives me nearly 8 hours camcorder running time between recharges!

2000 – Watched Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 2 on the room TV. Still a fun flick after a number of viewings. Our generation is very fortunate to enjoy the genius of Stan Lee, creator of the Marvel universe.

2200 – Charge the Fitbit, listen to my bible podcast, and drift off to sleep.

20190512 – T-1: Around OKC, 2019

After a busy day yesterday, we slept in late.

Our day really started with Chinese lunch at Golden Palace, a place with over 100 items of high-quality Mandarin and Cantonese appetizers, soups, entrees and (American-style) desserts.

After lunch and a quick fuel stop, we visited the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.  If you go, allow up to two hours to walk through the amazing exhibits, pictured below.

After the museum visit, we went to the Oklahoma National Memorial (“the bombing memorial”).  Although it is a somber place with moving tributes to those lost, it also holds a message of hope and recovery. Photos are below.

We met up with most of the tour group and walked up to Charleston’s for dinner.  Simon and I split a Kale-Quinoa salad, which was still an overwhelming amount of food, even split in half.

Then, we returned to the hotel, where I spent the balance of the evening charging devices, uploading photos, and (finally) sleeping.

20190511 – T-2: Oklahoma Bound

This morning I woke up in Springfield, Missouri. Did not need an alarm clock, as one of my Motel neighbors (who I will simply call #MethMom) was shouting over the second floor balcony to her friends that this motel was “no f***ing kind a place for my f***ing kids!”  If memory serves, this is how certain moms in Missouri (and other states in the Midsouth) indicate that there is no pool for the kids. No matter. I am awake now.

After a quick round of dental hygiene (to remove that taste that I can only describe as “Walt and Jesse starting a meth lab in my mouth”) and a quick cuppa tea I was ready to face the day.

After a quick round of dental hygiene (to remove that taste that I can only describe as “Walt and Jesse starting a meth lab in my mouth“) and a quick cuppa tea I was ready to face the day.

I spent a little bit of time in reviewing yesterday’s photos and getting the updates for yesterday‘S blog page started

Today’s weather is gray and drippy day, a fairly common sight after the good storms have passed through the area a few days earlier. A quick look at the SPC outlook seems to indicate that the next few days are going to be for a little bit quiet, weatherwise. So will be playing tourist and various natural wonders instead of chasing. That’s the way it goes.

I checked Facebook and responded Do a post asking about “what equipment do you use when you chase” as follows:

COMMS:
* Kenwood TMD-710GA 2m/440 ham radio
* Radio Shack PRO2067 500-channel scanner
* Radio Shack TRC-519 CB Radio

INTERNET/GRlevelX(Radar)
* HP Pavilion 13×2 laptop/tablet
* Arnova 10-inch Android tablet

NAVIGATION:
* AVMAP GeoSat6 GPS
* Garmin 18X GPS puck

I also carry a good assortment of cameras/camcorders.

* Nikon D7000 DSLR (plus a lens collection)
* Two GoPro Hero2 cameras (w/3-D frame, various mounts, including the popular suction mount)
* Sony AX-53 4K camcorder (plus zoom and telephoto lenses)

Next stop: Sid’s Diner in El Reno. We arrived about an hour before closing time. I had the King Burger Deluxe, Paul the BLT, and so on. We had a moment of dismay when the British Contingent  realized no beer was available there. We survived, however.

Final tourist stop for the day: the Twistex Crew Memorial. We let Simon try his hand at rural Oklahoma driving  He negotiated gravel roads, muddy ruts, and got us to the memorial in time for some great photos, including shots of a beautiful classic western sunset.

After a quick WalMart stop, we returned to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

(Photos to be added later)

 

ChaserCon 2016 – Friday -Day 1

0230 – alarm sounds

0300 – depart home; gas up car

0340 – arrive at offsite ParkWhiz Nguyen for Chicago Midway

0410 – arrive at airport via parking shuttle

0556 – on board flight WN2653, bound for Dallas

0611 – De-icing treatment  

0620 -wheels up

0710 – daybreak. I snuck in a short nap.

0730 – sunrise reflected the off whitecaps 

0820 – arrive in Dallas

0850 – waiting on my flight to OKC. I would grab a Whataburger, but the airport price is $7. Too much for a burger!

1030 –

1200 – met by Lynda Whitfield and Cori Krehm, my regular ChaserCon homegirls. We headed to the Twistex Memorial

Later – …

Day 2: 10May2015: ‘Round Okietown

0800 – Breakfast

1000 – Errands
_____  — Home Depot: a long quest for a SEEK infrared camera for Phil (they aren’t sole yet in the UK)
_____ — WalMart: searched in vain for a Bruce Springsteen album for Kathy.  Fellow traveler Eric Meola photographed the cover art for the “Born to Run” album.  The WalMart music section was so disorganized that five of us could not find a single Springsteen album.  Bad WalMart, naught WalMart!

_____ – Continued on to Penn Square Mall to visit the Apple store (and search for another music store). Phil spent a bit of time looking or the new Apple Watch.  We discussed lunch at Whiskey Cafe, but the wait was almost two hours (as this is Mother’s Day).

_____ — Venture northwest (on Northwest Expressway) to F.Y.E., a real music store.  Plenty of Springsteen, but we cannot find “Born to Run”. *SIGH*

_____ — we head south to Reno and MacArthur, ending up at Lin’s Restaurant for all-you-can-eat steak, sushi, and Chinese food. Stuffed, we return to the hotel, to allow safe storage of our purchases. We take a short break to allow all to regroup.

13:30 — We head up to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (just off the Kelley exit from I-44).  Many great exhibits, a lot of walking, and a visit to the souvenir shop.

16:45 — We hed back to the hotel, then regroup later for dinner.

19:00– Walk to dinner at Frosty Mug (a bar and grill a few doors down from the hotel).  We aree later joined by David Balfour, who arrived s bit earlier in the afternoon.  The British/Aussie/Kiwi contingent is complete!

22:30 — Wrap up the day by frafting the day’s blog entry.

Virtual Chase – 08 May 2015 – Southwest Oklahoma

11:21: It’s only a few days until I chase in the physical realm, but the conditions are amazing today (and better tomorrow).

Based on a preliminary look at the SPC outlook, I’m focusing on my target area of a 25 mile radius around Altus, Oklahoma (the orange dot located in southwestern Oklahoma.

20150508-1033-GRLevel3

I’ll update this as the day rolls on. If I were there in the flesh, I’d likely be starting my day from someplace in southwestern Kansas (like Liberal, KS) rolling down US83 south to Altus.

Liberal,KS-Altus,OK

Here’s a look at yesterday’s action:
20150507-filtered-storm-reports(See also: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/150507_rpts.html)

1603CDT: My forecast has verified! check these radar shots (composite reflectivity):
Near Childress: TOR warning on storm rotation (not observed yet):

20150508-1600a-grlevel3Over Altus: BULLSEYE!20150508-1600b-grlevel3Strategy: watch the both storms. Stay with the Altus storm. Let the southern storm move toward me.

1630: Sheriff-nado at 16:23! (But plenty of chasers (Jim LaDue, Tony Mesias, David Drummond, others) are sitting on this storm attentively. (Local emergency management has another sighting at Oklaunion around 17:21.)

20150508-1630a-grlevel31640: TOR warnings dropped on the southern storm. Wait a bit longer, then slide east (to Anadarko, about an hour’s drive). Stay on the Altus storm.

1648: Course correction: Will go south at Lawton,OK (or north, if the Altus storm gets much stronger). Checking the tornado climatology rating on the Vernon (southern) storm: STP of 3+ !

20150508-1648-SPC-meso_torc_limo_envOk. Given that i was not watching the radar constantly, I’ve missed the better storm. Do I abandon the Altus storm or go for the larger storm (perhaps missing both)?
[Real world note: 2.75-inch fell at 16:11 in Caddo. Odds are that if I’d been there in the flesh, I’d have move east earlier instead of getting hammered by near-baseball size hail.]

17:14: The storm that was over Altus is fizzling. “Head south!”

17:38: Ok. Heading south on I-44 from Lawton to Randlett (36 minute drive), hoping to reach the Vernon storm in time.

GRlevel2 shows this to be a monster (looking from east toward the I-44 crossing of the Red River and beyond, to the west)
20150508-1738a-grlevel2

 

17:48: Pulled off at Walters, OK exit. Have to let the storm slide on by. I arrived too late!
Oh, well, tomorrow is another day. (Will circle back to Lawton for dinner, hotel, etc.)

END RESULT: A strong storm at my target, but the storm of the day is further south.

 

 

28 April 2012 – DAY 8 – Slight risk, High Tension

I am still trying to process the emotions of the day.

One person in the group has become so selfish, loud, vulgar, and arrogant that I have had waking fantasies of dragging him behind the van as we race into a hailstorm on a gravel road.

Another lost his wallet (and I feel terrible for him, especially because he is a talented and wonderful person).

I even feel a little down because my netbook is dead, one of my shoes is held together with duct tape.

And we did not see any severe storms, I feel disappointed that after tomorrow the tour is done. I fear having nothing to show for the money I spent.

Photographs of my chase log notes follow:

20120429-091944.jpg

20120429-091956.jpg

20120429-092006.jpg

20120429-092018.jpg

Xxx

Travel: ??? miles