My Oklahoma City Trip

The only thing wrong with my trip was that it was too short in duration.  Yes, I missed my kits, and they appeared to have missed me, but I really needed a lot more time in Oklahoma City to see what I wanted to see at my leisure...  and I don't know what I would have done if there was, indeed, a championship horse show going on at the same time.  As I've written in earlier blogs, I arrived shortly after noon on Monday at the Will Rogers Airport and checked into the Biltmore Hotel.  The Biltmore has new ownership, and they are currently in the process of re-carpeting all the rooms and making some cosmetic repairs throughout the building.  Personally, I had no complaints - I had a single room, non-smoking, with a king size bed, a love seat and a chair, a bureau, the TV and a standard hotel bathroom.  The only thing "wrong" that I saw was that there were very tiny burn holes in my coverlet - as if a cigar had been dropped, and bits of the ash had made lace of the cloth.
   I walked outside to get my bearings, and saw a Yellow Cab parked in the shade of the building.  I approached the driver, and asked if he would take me to Langston's (Western Wear) in the Stockyards. I had a map of OKC, with places I wanted to go marked on it; and I had looked up the mileage between my hotel and the sites I wanted to see on Mapquest, so I wouldn't be taken advantage of.  This cab, number 11, had an OKC man as the driver, and he drove me straight to Langston's.  I asked if he had a card with his number on it, so I could use him as my regular driver while I was in town.  He gave me his card, and he drove me all around OKC while I was there.  He drove straight, true routes and didn't try to drive aimlessly and "pad" his fare.  I highly recommend Mike (cab # 11) as the best taxi driver in Oklahoma City - if you can get him, you'll be in good hands.
   I wandered through Langston's, then over into the Stockyards themselves; after looking at cattle, the auction, and a lot of cowboys, I wandered back into the town area to visit the other shops.  I had a wonderful time looking at saddles and bridles, halters, boots, hats, saddle blankets, and just about anything you could want for your horse, your self, or your house in the way of Western related items.  Afterwards, I went into the Cattlemen's Restaurant (across the street from Langston's) and had a huge supper - their extra-thick cut Top Sirloin, with a baked potato, steamed broccoli with cheese sauce, a salad, and fresh baked rolls.  It was more than worth the cost - absolutely delicious!
  Mike was off duty when I was ready to return to the Biltmore.  I called the cab company, and was picked up by a man who drove me all around town before taking me to the hotel.  He had driven until the fare calculator said $24.75 was due.  The trip to the exact same spot with Mike was $6.  I paid the driver $10, and left, after telling him I knew he was trying to scam me...  (And, boy, did Mike get mad, when I told him about it the next morning!)
  Tuesday I spent at the 45th Infantry Division Museum with my cousin and her family, who drove down from Wichita to see me.  The 45th has a long history and has reason to be proud of it, and their heritage.   It was amazing to see some of the photos, equipment, and memorabilia on display.  The 45th fought at Anzio and on up into Germany; they liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp; and they were the first US troops to enter Hitler's apartment in Berlin, the bunker, and his vacation home.  Quite a few items "liberated" from Hitler's personal quarters can be seen at this free museum.  I am truly in awe of the men who fought and served our country in any capacity, and in all of our conflicts.
   The rest of the week will appear tomorrow...

45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City - Photos

The Thunderbirds - 45th Infantry Division Museum entrance marker

This was the only artillery piece that Colonel John S Mosby (the Gray Ghost of the Confederacy) possessed during the Civil War; it was captured by the 5th New York Cavalry at Catlett's Station

I think this gas mask would have frightened me as a child - it doesn't look reassuring at all

Monument in honor of the 45th Infantry Division

US Army field ambulance, used 1960 through 1976

A Willie's Jeep, with a mounted 107-mm gun

One of the many planes that belonged to the Oklahoma Air National Guard

Having a Blast in OKC!

I didn't expect to be blogging while in Oklahoma City, but here I am.  I have absolutely no idea of what is happening in the outside world, as I have only seen a late-night local news show since I arrived.  But I am having a ball...  Flew in with no problems on Monday, with Kathy and Jim taking me to the airport.  Checked my bag, got my boarding pass, and wandered down to the farthest end of Terminal C for my flight.  Ended up sitting in row 6, and had an extremely enjoyable flight.  The flight time was 1 hour and 9 minutes, and instead of calling my hotel for the shuttle, I took a cab.  Mistake.  It's pretty much a straight shot from the airport to my hotel, but that wasn't the way the young man drove me - and he seemed to be totally dependent upon his GPS, which kept going out...  Once we got on Meridian Avenue, where the hotel is, he kept saying, "It's not far, now..."  with each block.  I was watching the building numbers on the street, and finally told him, "It's 8 blocks down on the left..." 
  OKC is extremely spread out - the next time I visit I'll know to either (a) drive, (b) rent a car for myself, or (c) choose a hotel that's close to the places I want to visit...  Other than that one observation, I'm having a fantastic time.  Monday afternoon I wandered around the Stockyards area, poking my nose into the Stockyards, themselves, and visiting a large array of Western stores and saddle and tack shops.  I had supper at the Stockyards Cattlemen's  Restaurant.  I think that it was the best steak I've ever eaten - and I couldn't finish it.
  Yesterday I spent the day with my cousin Sarah and her family at the 45th Infantry Division Museum.  They had driven down from Wichita, and since they were visiting a history museum with their family, both girls were marked as being in class and getting credit for extracurricular activities.  The displays at the museum were fascinating - original drawings by Bill Mauldin; a collection of over 200 historic weapons (from Brown Bess blunderbusses to items used in the Gulf Wars); photos of the troops in action in World War I, WWII, the Korean War, and Viet Nam.  The Division liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp, with photos and mementos of that occasion; they were also the first American troops at Adolf  Hitler's vacation house, apartment in Berlin, and in the bunker where he committed suicide.  They also have a 15 acre campus outside with various Jeeps, tanks, trucks, artillery pieces, helicopters, planes, and a scud missile launcher.  We had a wonderful time, and I was able to meet Ashley, Kristie and James.  I think everyone had a great time.
  Today I was at the Oklahoma City National Memorial, and at the OkC Museum of Art - they have fantastic glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly - and also have a display of Italian masters covering 500 years that's on loan from the Glasgow Museum.  It is gorgeous!  After this quick library break, I'm walking down to Bricktown to wander around and look and shop....  And Mary should arrive tonight from Florida, so we'll be spending the next few days at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum...  Oh, boy!!!
  I'll be back on Saturday!