Highways, byways and waterways of America - Summer '21

[fmo24]

Cushing OK, the pipeline crossroads of the world!

I stopped here when I needed gas and was considering staying the night or moving on I was looking for a reason to stay...

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This is America. We have met more awesome people In our travels when we get off the highways and follow state roads and Visit small towns.












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I parked the truck in front of this old Kawasaki / Texaco station to take a picture...

And from behind me while I was standing in the street taking this pic - somebody yells at me to come in and have a beer. I turn around and some guy has his head out the door of the block building below. I have no idea what's behind that door. Its not a bar or public business. Just a guy offering me to come in and have a beer.

I decide to head in...

I walk into a local gathering that has been going on for 35 years every Friday at 5pm. The city attny was there the past city attny was there the past and current Mayor were there, a local attny family owns the building and was there briefly but left shortly after they invited me in. A lesbian couple that were Suche' Fox (sp?) Indian were really great people, another guy was a famous local boxer from the 50's etc etc.

What a great chance encounter - The short video below gives only a small look at what ended up being a late night. I ended up drinking there with them for a while, then we all went to dinner at a local place. They were so enamored by my trip they wanted to show me all around town. We ended up in a bar to end the night after dinner!

I have heard from them already asking for updates on my trip!


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This was a great burger. It had deep fried jalapinos on it!

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This town used to have a bigger oil field than Saudi Arabia in the day! Today it still stores more barrels of oil than an other place on earth. They reffer to it as the pipeline cross roads of the world because it is! basically most oil ran into or out of this town for most of the last 100 years!

With remote working becoming so big - this is the kind of town that is ripe for being discovered again. Although I was left thinking the locals kind of like the way it is.

A lap of town the morning after.

View attachment 1017240

This is America. We have met more awesome people In our travels when we get off the highways and follow state roads and Visit small towns.

 

[Taboma]

I wish I had a 36 gallon tank! Mine is 25 I think.

And no - I don't have the backup knob. Maybe I'm too macho but I didn't want to spend the money for something I was telling myself I didn't need.

Wasn't sure if those come with it or not. On the F150s and Raptors it's the typical Ford packaging game, to get a couple of things you want, you get the shit you don't regardless.
Rather amazing when you consider how many RDP members are driving F-150s or Raptors with that feature, and not a single one has ever used it ( Or admitted it )

 

[SoCalDave]

A small slice of good old America right there. Memories that will last a lifetime.
Maybe I missed it but are you traveling solo?

 

[sirbob]

From Cushing OK I headed to LOTO.

2 lane byways heading through north eastern OK or south west MO ? I forget where exactly I was here.

Tons of abandoned gas stations in every state I've been though, this was one of the nice ones.

A great little fairgrounds

At times it seemed like every town was an idyllic jewel waiting to be found by groups of beer brewers and coffee roasters.

A flavor for some of the small roads.

 

[sirbob]

A small slice of good old America right there. Memories that will last a lifetime.
Maybe I missed it but are you traveling solo?

Yes - but meeting friends along the way... both old friends AND new friends!

 

[sirbob]

Wasn't sure if those come with it or not. On the F150s and Raptors it's the typical Ford packaging game, to get a couple of things you want, you get the shit you don't regardless.
Rather amazing when you consider how many RDP members are driving F-150s or Raptors with that feature, and not a single one has ever used it ( Or admitted it )

HAHA to the admitted it!

Seriously I had to look hard to find the truck I wanted - I ended up flying to Stockton to buy this one and driving it home. I didn't wanton pay for stuff I didn't "need". The color was very hard to find also but obv it had to match the boat!

 

[Taboma]

HAHA to the admitted it!

Seriously I had to look hard to find the truck I wanted - I ended up flying to Stockton to buy this one and driving it home. I didn't wanton pay for stuff I didn't "need". The color was very hard to find also but obv it had to match the boat!

My buddy who lives in Texas mentioned how popular Lincolns are there. I think there's two dealers in all of San Diego County and the closest is about 30 miles from me.
At the Autoshow my ass was drawn to the Lincoln's -- looked comfy

 

[sirbob]

My buddy who lives in Texas mentioned how popular Lincolns are there. I think there's two dealers in all of San Diego County and the closest is about 30 miles from me.
At the Autoshow my ass was drawn to the Lincoln's -- looked comfy

Its actually something I've noticed - I have seen 1 (ONE) Escalade since I left Havasu last week - I have seen countless Lincolns.

 

[motormonkey]

Awsome, suscribed.

 

[HAVASUSUN]

Cushing OK, the pipeline crossroads of the world!

I stopped here when I needed gas and was considering staying the night or moving on I was looking for a reason to stay...

View attachment 1017231

View attachment 1017234















View attachment 1017232
I parked the truck in front of this old Kawasaki / Texaco station to take a picture...

And from behind me while I was standing in the street taking this pic - somebody yells at me to come in and have a beer. I turn around and some guy has his head out the door of the block building below. I have no idea what's behind that door. Its not a bar or public business. Just a guy offering me to come in and have a beer.

I decide to head in...

I walk into a local gathering that has been going on for 35 years every Friday at 5pm. The city attny was there the past city attny was there the past and current Mayor were there, a local attny family owns the building and was there briefly but left shortly after they invited me in. A lesbian couple that were Suche' Fox (sp?) Indian were really great people, another guy was a famous local boxer from the 50's etc etc.

What a great chance encounter - The short video below gives only a small look at what ended up being a late night. I ended up drinking there with them for a while, then we all went to dinner at a local place. They were so enamored by my trip they wanted to show me all around town. We ended up in a bar to end the night after dinner!

I have heard from them already asking for updates on my trip!


View attachment 1017233

View attachment 1017235

















This was a great burger. It had deep fried jalapinos on it!

View attachment 1017236

This town used to have a bigger oil field than Saudi Arabia in the day! Today it still stores more barrels of oil than an other place on earth. They reffer to it as the pipeline cross roads of the world because it is! basically most oil ran into or out of this town for most of the last 100 years!

With remote working becoming so big - this is the kind of town that is ripe for being discovered again. Although I was left thinking the locals kind of like the way it is.

A lap of town the morning after.

View attachment 1017240

My grandfather used to manage the pipelines in Cushing for Conoco pipelines. I loved spending my summers as a kid in Cushing with my grandparents. It is an amazing small town full of god fearing, hard working, Americans!

 

[sirbob]

My grandfather used to manage the pipelines in Cushing for Conoco pipelines. I loved spending my summers as a kid in Cushing with my grandparents. It is an amazing small town full of god fearing, hard working, Americans!

True all - really wonderful welcoming people and I enjoyed meeting them.

 

[sirbob]

So I made it to LOTO a couple days later than I had hoped but it was still worth the visit.

As has been covered in the LOTO thread, I was able to connect with Tank and Dan and a few other RDP people and enjoy some refreshment! Definitely a great scene at this lake with lots of diversity in boat types running around.

All the bouncing around made an already worn out winch strap ripe for snapping - at what had to be one of the busiest days of the year at Performance boat center, I was asking about parts and an older guy who looked like he had some pull around there offered to help. Next thing I know I’m in the parts loft and his manager is looking for a a new strap for me. My tools were on the boat (under the cover). So the parts manager ran back in and got tools and installed it for me - no charge! Of course I gave him some beer money but the friendly make it happen attitude was terrific! And I did get lucky enough to be able to leave my boat on the driveway while I went and enjoyed the Marina / pools and bar for the afternoon.

 

[sirbob]

 

[sirbob]

This may be one of the best videos of the trip so far... it’s best viewed on a 65”+ tv with volume up!

 

[sirbob]

Pushed out of LOTO EARLY Monday - need to be in Philly by Tuesday for work.

 

[sirbob]

 

[Desert Whaler]

This thread is awesome!
Enjoy Sir.

 

[sirbob]

Had a bit of a scare in rural PA.

I was on a very hilly wet and rainy two-lane road when on an uphill portion my alarm suddenly went off.

Looking down and seeing what looked like a rear flat tire I immediately flipped a U turn before crest trying to get back to a one-man independent garage I had passed about a mile before. I was able to make it back before I went totally flat.

When I got out of the truck the tire didn’t look like it had a problem. I was able to borrow a tire pressure gauge from the gentleman working in the garage (who by the way had an incredible collection of trophies and racing memorabilia from 50 years of dirt track racing locally) and after verifying that the tire was not leaking. I was back on the road only to have the sensor light go off about 5 miles later and everything returned to normal. I really thought I was going to get sidelined for a while there!

 

[RJ65]

I love road trips across the country!

Safe travels and definitely enjoying your posts about your adventures.

 

[havasuhusker]

Epic trip. I've been wanting to do something like this for a long time. Got about 10 more years probably, before I can make it happen.

 

[coolchange]

Glad you got to make your trip. Cool trip log.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Looks like an amazing trip sirbob. Be sure to reach out to us when you are passing through Hawaii with the Lincoln and boat.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Great thread. Will you get a chance to visit the 1000 islands area of New York/Canada?


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[clarence]

So great.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Wasn't sure if those come with it or not. On the F150s and Raptors it's the typical Ford packaging game, to get a couple of things you want, you get the shit you don't regardless.
Rather amazing when you consider how many RDP members are driving F-150s or Raptors with that feature, and not a single one has ever used it ( Or admitted it )

I think you have to apply a bunch of stickers to the trailer to use it anyway. I have never used it, my wife never used it, and never wanted to use it. It seems more trouble than it is worth.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Awesome thread.

Have we discussed how you are able to keep the Navigator so clean while driving cross country?

 

[Taboma]

I think you have to apply a bunch of stickers to the trailer to use it anyway. I have never used it, my wife never used it, and never wanted to use it. It seems more trouble than it is worth.

I agree, hence never having used it despite having it available on my Raptor and previous F150 since 2012. What I'm curious about is other than a knob versus wheel, what's the big sell ? As an example, will it maintain a certain radius arc without additional driver steering (Or knob) input ? Other than the ability to do that, I fail to see the point of it. It's ability to do that, makes sense with the sticker placement and individual trailer calibration that's required.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Had a bit of a scare in rural PA.

I was on a very hilly wet and rainy two-lane road when on an uphill portion my alarm suddenly went off.

Looking down and seeing what looked like a rear flat tire I immediately flipped a U turn before crest trying to get back to a one-man independent garage I had passed about a mile before. I was able to make it back before I went totally flat.

When I got out of the truck the tire didn’t look like it had a problem. I was able to borrow a tire pressure gauge from the gentleman working in the garage (who by the way had an incredible collection of trophies and racing memorabilia from 50 years of dirt track racing locally) and after verifying that the tire was not leaking. I was back on the road only to have the sensor light go off about 5 miles later and everything returned to normal. I really thought I was going to get sidelined for a while there!

Can't speak to your particular vehicle, but FWIW tire pressure sensors can be notorious for giving bogus readings. Mine on my truck have NEVER worked, the light has been on since I've owned it. Have fun ! Great thread Sir.

 

[Duramax]

Fantastic thread!

 

[XClutchboy725]

Luv the read!

 

[sirbob]

Awesome thread.

Have we discussed how you are able to keep the Navigator so clean while driving cross country?

Haha - Ive washed it on the way but their version of a wash and the guy that does it at home are a lot different!

I got the general grime off but I need to spend some time when I get to Saranac Lake and get out a bucket and scrub the bugs off.

 

[sirbob]

Great thread. Will you get a chance to visit the 1000 islands area of New York/Canada?


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I don’t think I’ll make that area but Ive heard it’s a great spot.

 

[sirbob]

Villanova University

 

[sirbob]

Got a chance to visit with an old friend while I had to work for a few days. He was nice enough to let me drop the boat at his house so I didn’t have to drag it to work every day.

 

[sirbob]

 

[sirbob]

My kids are in Boston / Newport RI for a few days - we are meeting in Saranac later this week.

They were at the Red Sox / Yankee game at Fenway Park. While I was enjoying a few cocktails and catching up with an old friend...

 

[steamin rice]

This is a great thread! Safe travels!

 

[sirbob]

Today’s run was from New Jersey north to Lake George New York. This is about 2hrs from my final destination.

 

[sirbob]

I’m going to spend the night here then met up with my host in Saranac Lake as they come up from NYC in the morning - they are flying from LA as I post this.

The Sagamore Hotel - very historic place.

 

[sirbob]

 

[RichL]

Today’s run was from New Jersey north to Lake George New York. This is about 2hrs from my final destination.

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Crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge many times with family when growing up. Won't tell you how long ago I left New York.

 

[sirbob]

Crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge many times with family when growing up. Won't tell you how long ago I left New York.

I was born in Queens - Ive been gone for a long time but I have family that still cross it regularly!

 

[sirbob]

 

[monkeyswrench]

Epic trip @sirbob !
I've never been to New York. I have buddies that swear the countryside is a world away from NYC, and your pics sure look like it's true. I hope the weather cooperates, and you have good water.
Beautiful journey, glad you're taking the time to do it. Also, really appreciate you taking the time to post about it for us!

 

[RichL]

I was born in Queens - Ive been gone for a long time but I have family that still cross it regularly!

Nassau County initially and then Suffolk County. Grew up boating on LI Sound generally around Huntington and Northport harbors and around the USCG station on Eatons Neck.

 

[RiverDave]

Incredible Sirbob!! Loving the thread! I’m gonna get caught up on all the videos tonight!

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

This is epic! My wife's friend spent 12 weeks on the road traveling across the country and back, they had an awesome time. I told my wife I was in to do that but we had to take the boat! Now I can use your trip as evidence that it can be done. So Cool!!!!!

 

[sirbob]

 

[sirbob]

 

[sirbob]

Lots of history in Lake George, I didn’t realize this area had so many battles through time. Fighting with the French and of course the English. I drove past G Washington’s headquarters on the way here / battle of the bulge etc - Ft Williams sets off canons for visitors.