Ponca City to Rose, Oklahoma

I have entered a new phase in my gypsy travels. After a chance meeting with a wonderful man named Al, we’ve decided to travel the country together, along with a very mild mannered tortoise shell cat named Chloe. Heili has decided to spend the rest of her high school years living with her grandfather and my youngest sister. We’ll be sure to return every school holiday to, hopefully, take her on short trips.


Our home is a 1983 MCI Crusader II bus that we are in the process of refurbishing. The kitchen is completed for the most part with the exception of decorative touches. We have a smaller apartment sized fridge, a four burner stove top and a wall oven with broiler. The most convenient thing about our kitchen is a deep stainless double sink. The bedroom and living room is a work in progress, as well as the shower area. For the time being, Al does all the driving; an arrangement that we both find convenient.

Our first trip together began in Ponca City, Oklahoma, which is mostly a stomping ground for Phillips-Conoco refinery employees and several Indian casinos. We spent one night at the 7 Clans Paradise Casino, in Red Rock, where a sign up for their casino club card netted us $10 in free play each. After an hour or so on the penny slots, we walked out with a little over $30. We parked our bus at their RV facilities and hooked up electric for free. Our plan was to stay only one night, although our understanding was any further nights would be $10 each; still a great price.

The end of October fall colors here in Oklahoma are just beautiful. Sumacs are already brilliant ruby red; the maples are a combination of yellow, orange and red; and the variety of oaks provide just as many color variations. Our route took us down Oklahoma’s state highway 177 to 64, and then across 412 where we stopped off at my dad’s house until November 1st. We decided to stick to state roads rather than cope with the traffic of the turnpikes and freeways. The country side is a combination of farmland, forest, and a few sleepy little towns, with the exception of Tulsa, which is a major metropolis. The bright sun warmed the cooler fall weather and reflected brightly off the myriad of small lakes and ponds along our route.

I am rapidly learning that the world of full-timers and especially those who travel in converted buses is a world of friend folk. Wherever two or more end up parked near each other, there will be visits between. The morning we pulled out from the casino, a gentleman who had worked on buses came over just to learn about ours and take a look; like I said a very friendly group. I look forward to many trips with my new companions.

Less Traveled Roads

I haven't been out and about lately, and thought it might be fun to talk about some of the roads out there that are much less traveled. Not the ones that lead to cool, but out of the way places; these roads lead to people's homes and farms. Here in Northeast Oklahoma it's not hard to find a dirt road. They seem to be about everywhere I look, and they all lead somewhere. One leads to my dad's house, where I live now.

Lately, with all the rain we've been having, my son and I have been taking the truck mud bogging. There isn't really a lot of choice. Oklahoma has what they call "low water bridges". They consist of concrete slabs poured across a section of a stream. The stream flows over the slab, and you get to drive through the water. If you're like my son, with a slightly devious side, you suddenly gun the engine so you can see how far the water will spray up the sides of the truck; especially if your mom or sister have their elbow hanging out the window.

There are roads that we have to be careful of and not drive across until after the water has gone down quite a bit. It may not look like a lot of water going across the road, however, if you look at those areas during dry weather and see how far down that creek bed really is, you'd definitely think twice about chancing one.

One benefit of all this water where I live is not having to worry about watering any type of fall garden. I have a mum and a small pansy that I've been trying for some time to get planted in the ground. The water just hasn't cooperated with me in getting the flower bed revamped before I plant them. They seem to be very happy in their pots, though. I have them sitting on a lawn table and haven't really touched them. With the rain they stay watered, and Northeast Oklahoma's temperate fall weather there's little worry of a hard frost.

Being virtually homebound has been very hard on my gypsy spirit, but I wait for better weather and the funds to continue my travels. And, console myself with the my son's mud bogging in the four wheel drive.