Lawton town to Black Mesa

It has taken me a while to post because I just didn’t know how much of our time in Lawton I wanted to comment on.  “Camping” in a parking lot ….mom and dad’s tv going out and tv shopping with mom….staying at Ten Oaks ….in mom and dad’s apartment because of tornado –ish weather every night..watching the devastation happening real time on the new big screen…the picnic out at the Wichita’s that did not turn out as planned….Seeing first hand the changes in mom and dad even since I was last there in April….Changes I was not expecting to be so profound.  But, Ten Oaks is a good place.  Dad likes there and mom acts like she just tolerates it…she likes it there too. The changes make it so hard to leave.  But over -staying can be difficult and stressful.

Isn't this just a cool pic?  dennis doesn't know how he did it!

Dennis did have the opportunity to get out to the Wichitas and snap a few pics.  The Trading Post is a landmark for all in the surrounding area.  That sign stands as a sentinel to the Cache entrance to the Wichita Mountains.  In its heyday  The Trading Post sold Minnetonka moccasins, Frankoma Pottery, postcards, turquoise jewelry, little Indian dolls clothed in beaded leather outfits and just about any other souvenir a family could want as a reminder of days gone by in the wild west.changes again that remind us that the days continue to pass and we change as well….The Trading Post has at long last closed their doors…

So, when it was time, we headed back on the road again….

And on to Black Mesa State Park in the tip of the pan handle of Oklahoma.  This State Park is a favorite of Dennis' and it has become one of mine as well. 

Entrance to Black Mesa summit hike

Dennis and the coach whip

horned lizard

Collard Lizard

same coach whip!

         

Dennis spent some of his old college days here collecting with one of his most beloved prof’s at Cameron University, Dr. Jack Tyler.   Lots of memories for him and now for both of us.  Collecting is what we do the most when we are here.  Road kill….sounds romantic, doesn’t it!  Dennis’ great thrill is throwing me into the dash of the car when he stops on a dime, driving in reverse at 30 miles an hour, slamming on the emergency brake and jumping out of the truck to chase down and catch a horned lizard or any type of snake.  Turtles are a lot less challenging…..and we hike.  Turning over rocks and boards looking for whatever is keeping cool underneath.  I reminded Dennis MANY times today…. that outside his little world…the world of his peers who have wives that accompany them on collecting trips….and that is a pretty limited group….most and I mean a majority of women would not consider what we did today a vacation.  But ya know?  That doesn’t matter to me….we had a blast.  Road riding, hiking, talking, taking in the vastness of the part of the country that we both love….isn’t that what vacationing is all about?  

mule deer (yes, there is a fence!)

The wonderful thing about the Black Mesa area is that in the area around the park it is truly "open range".  There are thousands and thousands of un fenced area where the cattle roam freely.  We spotted pronghorn, mule deer, prairie dogs and we crisscrossed between Oklahoma, New Mexico and briefly into Colorado....I was never sure what time zone we were in...

So, we are off tomorrow....Heading to Lake Caballo, New Mexico to catch up with my brother and his wife for a day or two.  Lots of good things to catch....walleye and whites for Les....horned lizards and whatever else crawls, slithers or creeps along our path as we get back on the road again......

hiking the summit trail 

huge cottonwood trees in the campground

turning boards..hunting for critters

open range looking towards Black Mesa