Well, folks...it appears that Sis and I will be heading for Ft. Sill, Oklahoma near the end of August. Her Sweetie has enlisted in the Army, and left for Basic Training this past week. To hold a few of the tears at bay, we have hauled out the road atlas and are planning our trip - and we have a few questions for you all, if you don't mind.

We will take I-70 down to St. Louis, then pick up 44 to take us pretty much the rest of the way. Anything we need to stop and see on the way there or back? Anything in the Ft. Sill area I shouldn't miss seeing? Any particular time of day I should avoid Tulsa and OK City? What kind of weather are we looking at in late August - what should we pack??

We will only have a few days as she has to get back for school, so won't have much time for sight-seeing, but I plan to take a little time 'cause I don't know when I'll get a chance to go back!

Many thanks in advance for any and all advice and answers!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 18, 2000

Answers

My compliments to the young soldier - if he's going to basic at Ft Sill, he is training to become a Field Artilleryman. My branch, and the best branch of the United States Army. Lawton, OK, is the town next to Sill and as I recall has nothing oustanding about it. Ft Sill, on the other hand, is a neat old post. Check out the museum. During the Indian wars the Army held some "hostiles" there, I think Geromino (sp?) is buried there. There is a resort area,I think called Medicine Gap, sort of run down, on a lake bordering the north post, that had a really neat old restaurant, I can't recall the name, maybe Palmer's or Fulton's - great steaks and the best rolls. The national wildlife refuge next to Sill had a herd of buffalo. If you are lucky you may be able to catch a firepower demonstration on post and witness firsthand artillery fires. Be sure to visit the chapel and see the stained glass image of ST Barbara. Enjoy your trip, I'll try to remember some specifics and post back.

Bob

-- Robert (STBARB@usa.net), June 18, 2000.

I forgot the weather - late August will be hot, when I was out there it seems like it was always in the upper 90's during the summer.

-- Robert (STARB@usa.net), June 18, 2000.

Just a heads up on I44...there is construction a little east of Springfield, MO and it will slow you down by at least a half hour-45 minutes. If you aim for very early am or mid day it might not be so bad-or after 5pm maybe.

There are some neat things to see and do in sw MO-there is the Bas Pro Shop-creek running right through it! (free, thought there is also a museum there for $7 I think) A bit south is Mansfield-Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead(I am not sure of the price) When you hit Carthage there are a couple of neat Civil War museums and parks...they also do reanactments but I have no idea on when. Those are free or really cheap.

the scenery is breathtaking ( I come from Chicago so even though most do not consider the Ozarks moutains - they are gorgeous and hilly to us!) and in August it will be just plain hot. Not humid at least. In the upper 90-low 100's. Drink lots of water and you should find it liveable.

Off the beaten path a bit-north on 71 (which is by Carthage and Joplin) you can go to a place called Heartland Horshoeing School-it is south of Lamar a bit and there is a website...not sure of the address but I know you can get there by going to the Rural Heritage website-Chris is the blacksmith for the Smithy's corner. He is a pretty interesting guy-and of course IMHO therw is no site like a draft horse! And you can see a few around here.

Hope that helps...oh and a tip-the trucks on I44 are not to messed with-and they go at least 80-85 ALL the time. Stay to the right if you want to rubberneck-and don't let the trucks intimidate you especially through the hilliest parts!

Have a safe trip-and enjoy it! Email me if you wnat other interesting and unusual sites.

Sarah

-- Sarah Cate (heatsong85@juno.com), June 19, 2000.

If you are going through St. Louis and have any interest in history, check out the museum under the Gateway Arch. It chronicles a lot of the Corps of Discovery (coming up on that bicentennial, ya know!)and the displays are wonderful. It's been years since I was there but I remember I was only about 10' from the door when I turned to say something to my husband. He was half way finished and I just told him to take the tram to the top or sit and wait because I was taking my time to see it all. I'm big league claustrophobic and have never gone to the top but those who have tell me it's spectacular.

Also in southwest Missouri is the birthplace of George Washington Carver. Bass Pro isn't to be believed especially just looking at the different license plates on the cars! As much as we enjoy shopping there, it's sad to me that with as many wonderful historic sites that we have in Missouri, Bass Pro is the one most visited.

My husband is from Ft. Smith AR and believe me, it's hot and humid in August there. Drink plenty of fluids and wear light colored, light weight clothing.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), June 19, 2000.

While you're there try to visit the Wichita Mountains Wilderness Area or Wildlife Area or whatever it is. It's really pretty. I think it's located northwest of Ft. Sill just a few miles.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), June 19, 2000.

Thanks for the information, everyone. I was pretty much expecting hot and dry so I'll make sure to carry plenty of water and ice with us. I think I may rummage through all those boxes of fabric I've got stashed and see if I can't make me up a couple of cooler jumpers or sundresses before we go - anyone know if the Army has a dress code on base..ie: will shorts and tank tops be okay for Sis (plus a sundress for the ceremony) to wear, or do I need to build her a couple of jumpers too??

Bob, thanks for the compliment - it sure was difficult to see him leave ...and he's not even mine!! I'll be sure to ask Ryan about what we can see on base while we're there. Isn't that where the White Sands Missle Range is located? Where they test all the new stuff??

Sarah, with a 16 year old driver on board - you can bet we'll stay to the right as much as possible. She has driven on the interstates around here (Central IL), but not for long distances. Now all I have to do is figure out how to hit Springfield, Tulsa and OK City all in the middle of the night!! Or how to go out around them without getting lost ot taking too much time!

Marilyn, I've been to the Arch many, many times on field trips with my daughter and on vacations. I didn't have any problem with the pods going up to the top of the arch. They did have a little trouble prying my fingers off of the door frame to get me to go back down, however!! Boy, do I hate heights!! After the first 1/2 dozen times, I got to where I could even force myself to go look out the windows! I can't find Geo. Washington Carver's birthplace on my map - can you pin piont a location for me? Thanks!

Joe, we'll take a drive through the Wichita Mt. park, if we get a chance - I enjoy the opportunity to see different environments - as natural as possible!

We don't have a date yet as to when we'll be leaving, or exactly when we have to be back, so our intenerary isn't set yet. Any other suggestions will be gratefully apreciated! Thanks!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 19, 2000.

White Sands in in New Mexico. You might consider everybody getting some type of straw hat with a wide brim if you plan to do outside-in-the-sun-type stuff. A hat makes a lot of differnece in the summer heat. Be careful with shorts and sun dresses if any of you are light skinned. Sunburn can ruin a vacation not to mention melanoma.

-- Joe Cole (jcole@apha.com), June 19, 2000.

OOOPS!! Wrong state!! Another friend is going into the Air Force and we were talking about that while we had the atlas out - got the bases mixed up! All this Army, etc...stuff is new to me. Pop and his brothers and Ma's brothers were all in WWII and Korea, and I had a cousin in Vietnam, but most of my contemporaries didn't go to the service, so I am at a loss! Sis's JROTC Military Ball dates for the past two years are both in basic now, along with her sweetie, and she has another friend leaving the end of July. She has several other friends in JROTC, so I expect that we will be seeing a few more of them off before too long. Any tips about "care packages" those of you in the military would like to offer!??

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), June 19, 2000.

Polly,

It'll be HOT! Pack some sunscreen.

If time isn't an issue, I recommend staying off of the interstate. There are many things to see here, but most of them are on two lane roads. You'll enjoy the ride and not feel rushed by the big trucks. Our roads aren't in great shape here, even the interstates.

There's a book called "Roadside History of Oklahoma" by Francis L. and Roberta B. Fugate. It's put out by Mountain Press Publishing Co. in Missoula, Montana. If you can't find a copy, e-mail me and I'll send you mine.

What kinds of "sites" are you interested in?

-- Mona (jascamp@ipa.net), June 19, 2000.

Polly, I'm about 40 miles north of Ft.Sill/Lawton. July and August are usually our hot months, near 100. Although we have had some pretty warm days allready this year. Since I have lived in this area all my life I have allways taken the local sights for granted. There is a lot of Native American heritage in this part of Oklahoma. As a matter of fact Lawton is the county seat of Comanche county. Anadarko,Ok. is about 7 miles east of me and they have billed themselves as the Indian capitol of the World for years. There is a place about 2 miles south of Anadarko that is called Indian City. They are supposed to have authentic Indian tepees/huts, native quides,native dancers, etc. Like I said been here all my life and never been out there. I can remember when I was a kid some 50 years ago in Fort Cobb(about 7 miles west of here) on Saturday nights; the local native americans would get together and have powwows. Anyway, back to Ft.Sill there the old museum on post where Geronimo was imprisoned. Also, some of the Kiowa chieftains were kept there. The Wichita wildlife refuge is out northwest of Ft.Sill. Just past Medicine Park. The comment about the resturant was true. Ate there about two months ago, can't remember the name though. I think the roller rink is reopened now. Just north of there on Highway 58(I think) is an intersection with a filling station and cafe. Do not go in there and order a pancake unless you are very hungry. It hangs over the plate. At the same intersection there is a roadside marker indicating Mears is back to your left(or west). If you go to Mears (used to be an old mining community) don't go in the cafe(that's all there is there now)and order a Mears burger unless you are very hungry. Same story. Then when you come out, if you can still navigate take the road back south, back onto the reservation and go to a t in the road. Then turn to the right(west) and go about a half mile. There will be a sign indicating an exit to the right(back west as the road has curved slightly at this point)to the Holy City. They have a live show on Easter morning every year. Never been to see the show, But the props and the little church that is there are neat. Ramble, ramble. If I can be of any other help, just e-mail me.Okay?

-- terrell (terrell@tanet.net), June 19, 2000.

Traffic around OKC and Tulsa is worst between 7-9a.m. and 4-6p.m. Oklahoma is ALWAYS working on their roads (though you couldn't tell it). Right now there is major construction in OKC. My sister was coming up (to KS) from Dallas and got lost in the construction. So allow a little extra time. If you are a member of AAA you might check with them before you go to see if the constrution is still going on.

If you have time to stop a few "must see" spots in OKC are The Cowboy Hall of Fame, which you will probably drive right by, and The Kirkpatrick Center (Science) which is next to the zoo and down the street from the Cowboy Hall of Fame. Either one is great.

It's so hard to see everything when you have time restraints. Have fun.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), June 19, 2000.

Hi Polly. G.W. Carver birthplace is near Diamond MO south of Joplin.

I would truly love to see the view from the Arch! My husband teases me that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I had to have been a bird of prey in a previous life because I enjoy high places. It's the little trams I don't handle well.

Enjoy your trip. I've also found that a hat and sunglasses help me endure heat. I grew up in Arkansas and Mississippi and had to use what ever strategies I could to get through it.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), June 19, 2000.

Polly, I forgot that I-44 is mostly old Route 66. There are a number of places that have maintained the flavor of the old highway--just watch for the signs. Some are tourist traps, some are fun and interesting.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), June 19, 2000.

Not a frequent poster here im usually at the OTHER site LOL...I live in St Louis... actually st charles...but Daniel Boone was here and there is a place you can check out.....Lewis and Clark began thier exploration from here...to name a few...one piece of advice you may want to consider... get the numbers of some folks you know in case of an emergencey as you pass through thier area...the wife and i do this with folks on the other site (BWH) have met a few of the folks there and have enjoyed every meeting immenseley...Our Son is in Oklahoma city and the wife travels there to meet him and as a result of the forums she is never more than an hour away from help should she need it...might be something to consider.....Doc and Leona

-- Doc (Thisisdoc@aol.com), June 25, 2000.