Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 25: September 17th, 2008 Ft. Smith — Wichita

Map Ft. Smith to Wichita

My navigation software suggests to drive via Wichita and not Amarillo. So I will give this route a try. That way I will test my Street Atlas Software with the acoustic announcements. Unfortunately the sound on my Laptop is so low that you can barely hear the announcements. Looks like I will hook up my Laptop to the radio next time.

Because I will drive once again through Wichita, I try to reach David on his mobile phone. Unfortunately, only his mailbox answers and I leave a message.

Then I drive over to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. These are almost 12 miles. But I am currently not in the mood for going to Denny’s. After breakfast I continue to the next gas station. Around eleven I am eventually back on the road.

I–40, AR

I–40, State Line AR and OK

I–40, OK

I–40, Arkansas River, OK

I–40, OK

On the Interstate I make good miles while having plenty of sunshine.

I–40, Oklahoma City, OK

I–35, OK

Around 3pm I arrive at Oklahoma City. There I turn onto I–35 North. This is also good time to make a stop over at a gas station.

I–35, OK

I–35, State Line OK and KS

On this stretch of the Interstate are no restrooms, only parking is possible at the rest areas. And the last one with restrooms before the state line is closed.

At the state line, the Turnpike starts. But you are allowed to drive there without paying for a couple of miles. Then I leave the Interstate for today.

Now I am following Highway 81, which is also not really slower. In the meantime I try to reach David a couple of times. But I have no luck.

In Wichita I am just able to get around a huge traffic jam on Highway 54. The highway had been shut down completely. With the assistance of my sometimes pretty weird navigation software, I eventually arrive at the Cowtown Museum. But as I have it already expected, no one is there, because they are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Now I do a last call to David with no luck before I drive back again through the downtown of Wichita.

When I am sure that I have passed the traffic jam, I drive back to Highway 54. On this one I continue to my Motel 6. At the reception I am immediately recognized again. But I am not able to do the same with the girl at the reception. She now wears glasses and the Motel 6 outfit. Now she looks completely different than on my last visits here.

This time, there is even a room free on third floor, which I receive. Then I put my stuff into the room and check my emails first. For dinner, I drive again to the Outback Steakhouse. The service is pretty good. But the table in the open area in front of the bar is not really great. There is sports on television all the time and you can barely hear the music.

Just past nine I drive back to my motel. There I check my video taping first. After the first hour I start writing my diary. While doing the writing, I listen to the last one of my recently bought CDs. Just past eleven I have finished my writing and decide to go to bed early exceptionally. Someday I definitely need to catch up with some sleep. And tomorrow I must drive again around 400 miles…