Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 34: September 26th, 2008 Oklahoma City — Ft. Smith

Map Oklahoma City to Ft. Smith

Today is the last day on my Stephen H. Long Trail. First time I wake up around half past six, then again around half past seven. Now it’s time to get ready and drive over to the nearby Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then I continue to Wal–Mart. On my way I watch out for some mechanics for my oil change. But I am not able to see one. So I first get some drinking water at Wal–Mart.

Then I continue in direction of a Jiffy Lube. Just before I reach them I see another mechanic. But they are not able to take me in before an hour! This is getting too late for me. Therefore I just drive over the crossing to Jiffy Lube. Mark is managing the garage here. He is a former Marine. But at the moment he is heavily fighting an allergy. Then the usual conversation round starts, where they try to sell you almost any stuff. But at least they vacuum the car and clean the windshield. This is really remarkable!

Then I am ready to roll. First I drive for a short distance on I–44, then on I–35 through Oklahoma City.

Then I leave the Interstate and continue on Highway 9 through Norman.

Highway 77, Noble, OK

Then I drive on Highway 77 through Noble.

Beetle Spider, Highway 77, Lexington, OK

Highway 39/74/77/S Green Ave, Purcell, OK

The highway takes me over the Canadian River and through Purcell.

Highway 77, Wayne, OK

Highway 59, OK

At Wayne I turn onto Highway 59.

Highway 59/177, Canadian River, OK

Once again I drive over the Canadian River and after this through Asher and to Highway 39.

Highway 39/N Broadway St, Konawa, OK

Next I drive through Konawa.

Francis Rd/Main St, Francis, OK

Then I drive over the Canadian River again and through Francis.

On Highway 1 I drive through Allen.

Cabiness Rd, OK

Today, most of my driving is on highways and to my bad most of them are really busy. Only a few gravel roads are part of my drive.

Wolfhunters Rd, OK

E 1310 Rd, OK

E 1310 Rd, OK

Next I drive through Ulan.

Then through Indianola.

At Canadian I turn onto Highway 69.

Highway 9, Longtown Creek/Eufaula Lake, OK

Now I cross Eufaula Lake.

At the Pixie Woods Resort I gas up just to be sure.

Highway 9/W Main St, Stigler, OK

On Highway 9 I drive through Stigler and over the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir.

Highway 9A, OK

S Y St, Ft. Smith, AR

Finally I cross the state line to Arkansas and reach Ft. Smith.

All in all I make good progress and around half past six I am checking in again at the Motel 6. Then I start to plan my route to Texas and Charlotte for the next days.

After that I call my friends in Charlotte who tell me that it will be difficult to get gas in their area due to the hurricane! Certainly, this is a real problem because I cannot afford it to be stopped there without gas for an unknown amount of time. In the end I must drop my car at the mine! Let’s see, maybe things will be getting better the next days. All in all, it is only a smaller hurricane today over North Carolina.

For dinner I drive over to Logan’s Roadhouse because the Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon was not this good last time. The service around here is great and I have a filet for dinner just like in Wichita — that fits perfectly to the end of my trail!

Then I drive back to my motel and check the video taping of today first. After that I write my diary and download the pictures from my camera. Around midnight I am eventually able to go to bed…

The next day is in preparation…