The Great American Road Trip III; Day 4

The famous blue whale of Catoosa along Route 66 in Oklahoma. (click to enlarge)

NOTE:  I had a computer issue that I finally solved so my posts are a bit late.  I hope you will understand.  Thank you.

From Catoosa, Oklahoma, we backtracked just a few miles as the evening before we passed the infamous ‘Blue Whale.’  It was already late, rainy, we were a bit tired and just wanted to get to our hotel.  The ‘Blue Whale’ was constructed in 1972 by a gentleman who worked at the Tulsa Zoo.  He wife operated an alligator farm.  He built the whale, which is 80 ft, long, as sort of a playground for his children.  The pond is spring fed but needed to be enlarged. With time he added some other structures.  Over time it fell into disrepair.  After he and his wife died, the city of Catoosa bought it in 1972 and maintains this attraction.  Not much to it but it is quite famous along Route 66.

While there, we met a very nice couple from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Ben and June have been on the road for almost a month.  They had driving and visited places as far north and east as Acadia National Park in Maine and were currently driving Route 66 from east to west.  We all followed ‘the protocol’ of them taking photos of us with the whale and we did the same for them.  Nice people.  Everyone we have met-and I mean everyone-so far across this huge country has been very nice, kind, helpful and good natured.  (Sarcasm alert!)  I don’t understand why all of these people are so nice?  If you were to judge the United States by what you see and read in the press, you would think everyone is hateful, divisive and violent.  Hmmm.  Strange that every random person, in hotels, restaurants, gas stations, on the road, etc., have been just the opposite.  Every one of them.  Maybe it is the press that we should worry about?.

The Bob Dylan Museum in Tulsa.  I was never a big fan of Dylan but after spending a couple of 
hours in this museum, I have a much greater appreciation for his work. (click to enlarge)

The three of us spent quite a bit of time at the new Bob Dylan Museum in downtown Tulsa.  I’ve never been much of a fan of Dylan, but after visiting the excellent museum, I have gained more appreciation for his work.  They give you, I think, a specially modified iPod and ‘on-the-ears’ small headphones.  In the museum are about 90 ‘touch points’ where you place the iPod next to the touch point and the pertinent information and music about that particular part of the exhibit comes alive.  Well done and it allows you to fully enjoy each exhibit at your own pace.  If you like his work, the museum is a ‘must see.’  Parking was plentiful and inexpensive and the museum is easy to find.

The round barn in Arcadia.  Below is the intricacies of the inside of the dome. Fascinating.
(click to enlarge)

Later in the day we visited the famous round red barn and Pop’s in Arcadia, the iconic store and service station with the giant stylized soda bottle and very interesting cantilevered roof.

Finally, we reached Oklahoma City.  The sun has come out, the temperatures are finally rising and that incessant wind has died down.  Tomorrow we continue west, starting with Clinton, Oklahoma.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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