Stage Four: Fort Smith, AR

This is the most difficult day of the trip because we covered over 600 miles yesterday AND we lost two hours on account of time zone changes. Waking up at 4:30a felt no bueno. Fortunately, today brings our shortest driving distance of the trip.

The highway is starting to play tricks on us. Mirages materialize and vanish in the blink of an eye.  Earlier today, Ali asked, “Is that a bull or a tractor?” Newsflash, people…it’s starting to get weird.

We’re driving through Tornado Alley today and storms are in the forecast so we won’t be making many stops! Here we are trying to thread-the-needle in Oklahoma. Those are two big storms to the left and right. The terrain is so flat that we could see the storm (and watch the lightning) from 30 miles away.

Shortly thereafter a giant Indian Muffler Man delivered a compelling enough reason to stop. Route 66 is way oversold. Is it really necessary to have a “historic” museum every 150 miles?

The real excitement happened after we arrived in Fort Smith. As fate would have it, we found an awesome dog park and a western wear store within walking distance from the hotel. As you can see, I am the proud new owner of a COWBOY HAT and I like it.

 

Of course, everything comes with its challenges. A cowboy hat, for example, cannot be worn inside a car. It’s just too darn big. It’s OK though; I’m sure Nashville will provide abundant opportunity. I wonder what I should name my new friend?