Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 24: September 16th, 2008 Tulsa — Ft. Smith

Map Ponca City to Tulsa

My ear plugs are really good. Otherwise I would have not been able to sleep as much. So I am up around half past seven and reasonably well–rested. I have breakfast directly next door at Kelly’s Country Cookin’.

Then I start my drive in direction of Downtown.

S Elwood Ave, Tulsa, OK

W 71st St, Arkansas River, Tulsa, OK

River Parks Bear Fountain, Tulsa, OK

River Parks Bear Fountain, Tulsa, OK

Arkansas River, Tulsa, OK

At the Riverside Park Trail I make my planned stop. But this area is less picturesque than what I have had expected. Only the River Parks Bear Fountain is worth a couple of more pictures. Then I drive on.

SW Blvd/US Rt 66, Tulsa, OK

Cyrus Avery/US Rt 66, Tulsa, OK

SW Blvd/US Rt 66, Tulsa, OK

SW Blvd/US Rt 66, Tulsa, OK

Finally I arrive on my downtown drive at a stretch of Route 66, which is nicely prepared for tourism. Also from this area I take a couple of pictures.

Highway 72, Arkansas River, OK

CR E0790, OK

Then I make the decision to drive on to Ft. Smith today after all. Indeed, it is already noon. But I am traveling on a lot of main roads.

Highway 104, Arkansas River, OK

88 S10 Blazer, N4160 Rd, OK

As expected, I make good miles. At a nice spot I take the time for a brief lunch break.

E0850 Rd, OK

N4285 Rd, OK

Highway 16, OK

Every now and then there are indeed some smaller roads again.

Highway 251A, Ft. Gibson Dam, OK

Highway 251A, Ft. Gibson Dam, OK

Highway 251A, Ft. Gibson Dam, OK

On Highway 251A I cross Ft. Gibson Dam.

Highway 80/Nathan Boone Rd, Arkansas River, OK

Around 3pm I arrive at Ft. Gibson.

Visitor Center, Ft. Gibson, OK

Ammunition Depot, Ft. Gibson, OK

Ammunition Depot, Ft. Gibson, OK

Bakery, Ft. Gibson, OK

Bakery, Ft. Gibson, OK

Bakery, Ft. Gibson, OK

Sign Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Entrance Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Prison, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Barrack, Ft. Gibson, OK

Ft. Gibson, OK

Cannon, Ft. Gibson, OK

There I take more than two hours to have a chance to really see everything. The employee at the upper Visitor Center even knows Stephen H. Long!

Highway 10, Greenleaf Lake, OK

Around a quarter past five I continue my journey. Most of my traveled roads are paved today.

E1070 Rd, OK

On Highway 10 a railroad crossing keeps me up due to the approaching train.

E1090 Rd, OK

E1090 Rd, OK

Pretty late today I have the chance to get some gravel under my tires — and soon I have again a washed away bridge. But this time it happened recently due to the heavy rain before. From far away it almost looked like I would be able to drive through. But the remnants proof me wrong pretty fast and it is way better to turn around here.

Highway 59, OK

Soon I reach Highway 64 again, which I follow to Sallisaw. There I continue on Highway 59 and later on Highway 141.

Then I take Highway 64 to I–40 first and then back to Highway 64 in direction of Ft. Smith in Arkansas. Unfortunately it is already getting dark. Therefore I am not able to get good pictures anymore. The sunset also gives me no nice shots, because the road runs simply too unfavorable…

Highway 64/Garrison Ave, Ft. Smith, AR

Around a quarter past eight I check in. When approaching the motel I have already seen a Lone Star Steakhouse. This is my place for dinner. Around half past eight I arrive there. But my server is very inattentive. First, he gives me a coke with ice, then he serves a Rib–Eye. Unfortunately I realized this not before he gives me the check. I was already wondering why it was so marbled. As compensation he gives me a 10% discount, because the Rib–Eye is more expensive than the Sirloin (which I would have appreciated way more). Somehow I feel pretty mucked here in the South, don’t know why…

Back in my motel, I first check which alternative route I will take tomorrow. I think about making another stop over at Wichita to visit my new friends there. Let’s see, which route I will take tomorrow. At Oklahoma City I must decide whether to drive north or continue to the west. But for now I start writing my diary and check at least one of the video tapes. But at midnight I fall finally again into my bed…