Phase X : Oklahoma

Oklahoma kinda came fast and furious, so I feel like we didn't really do it justice.  That being said, we can always cut back through!

We arrived at the campgrounds of Lake Wister State Park well after dark.  In fact, I'm not 100% sure we were at a camping spot, or more just kinda parked on a hillside near the boat ramp.  Either way, I couldn't sleep.  All of my mojo juju from earlier had worn off, and I spent the night listening to bird calls I had never heard before.  Finally, the sun rose, Ryan woke up, and I slammed into sleep with the same ferocity required to shut Vincent's front doors.

After a good three hour nap, I stumbled out of the van, trudged uphill (my knees still screaming about Hot Springs), brushed my teeth, and we were off.

Though we try not to make a lot of hot and certain plans on our voyage, we were scheduled to spend the night with Ryan's old buddy that night in Oklahoma City, and he kindly bought us tickets to watch the local baseball team - The OKC Dodgers- in action.  There were going to be fireworks and everything!

The road between Lake Wister and OKC was pretty standard.  Ryan was shocked to learn they have trees and hills and wind in Oklahoma.  I was aware of this from a trip I made back in college, so it was amusing to watch Ryan's mind get blown.

As is standard practice, we popped in at a brewery.  Prairie Artisan Ales has long been admired by Ryan and myself, and it's not too-too easy to get in Ohio.  I enjoyed a Bomb!, and Ryan had a Pink Guava Funk.  I also managed to get spectacularly beaten in Connect Four, because I was all revved up, exhausted, and totally not paying attention. 

We met up with our friends, who kindly set us up with a room with AC and running water, which are my two new favourite things.  They also have dogs, so I had to roll around with them while Ryan caught up with his buddy.  

Then it was time for more beer before the game!  We started at TapWerks, then took the elf-dotted path to Bricktown Brewery, where we enjoyed another beer, and some seriously spectacular nachos.

No, that's right.  I said "elf."  There are elves on the telephone poles.  I don't know why, but I like a good quirk.

The baseball game actually went faster than I anticipated.  We enjoyed fantastic seats, and more good beer, and the people-watching was Grade A.

Unfortunately, the fireworks were cancelled due to the wind, so we walked along the canal and rounded back to the apartment, where we all soon retired.

After a nice cool sleep and a warm shower the next morning, Ryan and I headed out with plans to hike and swim at Chickasaw National Park.   Unfortunately, by the time we got there, I had had more than enough of the heat, so we found a nice bubbly stream to splash around in. 

Unlike most National Parks, which beg you to not interact with the nature, this park is set up for playing!  Kids of all ages, adults, and several dogs were frolicking in the cool, cool natural water when we arrived, and we wasted no time in staking out a spot where we could sit and cool down.  The water was ice cold, and varied between ankle deep and shoulder deep. 

We eventually had to move forward, though, because we knew camping would be at a premium, being a beautiful weekend nudging into summer.  We ended up trying a few campsites in Oklahoma with no luck, so we bore down and decided to bid adieu to Oklahoma... at least for the time being!