Giraffespots' Travel Log

[giraffespots]

This week was the most fun I’ve had in a long long time: meeting everyone. . . watching ball. . .getting lost in Dallas. . . wait getting lost? Well, have I got a story for you. Actually it’s a story with three parts.

Part 1.

On Saturday, my mother and I went to Fort Worth to visit old friends before heading to Reunion. I had parked at the Reunion parking lot and had gotten out after the game on Thursday with NO problem. So, I knew it would be the same tonite :rolleyes: .

After the game, a group of hoopscoopers were deciding where to go for a farewell dinner together. Since I was heading back to Norman that night, Chipper was heading north to McKinney and Swok34, BBall Girl and MC6821 were going back to the hotel on the northside of Dallas, I suggested Cheddars off Greenville and north LBJ. Swok and I had parked in the same lot, so Chipper said he’d drive over and wait, then he would “lead us out”.
I remember thinking “where can he wait on that street?” As we pulled out of the parking lot, I saw Chipper was on a one way street waiting. A one-way street leading to Zang street. I know Zang. I’d been there. I ended up there Thursday before the game trying to get to the Hyatt. We didn’t want to go that way. But off we went anyway. I guess he had a plan because he whips onto a piece of road that connects the separated one-way streets. There were barricades up, but not to worry, Chipper got thru them. We were headed in the right direction.

Then, all of a sudden, BAM we were all getting onto I-30 heading west. . .to Fort Worth!!! What the heck???? After about 2 regular miles (what’s the difference between a regular mile and a Texas mile? A Texas mile is about 4 regular miles long. Of course, I didn’t know this until this week! ;) ) we exit, flip a U and get back on I-30 heading, once again, back towards downtown.

As I was the last car in our line, I had just a little problem keeping up. I guess in Dallas turning on your left blinker doesn’t mean you want TO MERGE!! This guy in a big-A**-honking-pickup refused to let me in. Coming from Albuquerque, I merged in anyway because if I didn’t I might have ended back up on Zang, or somewhere. When I merged, he had the audacity to flash his lights at me. Well, really!

Well, I made it and all was well . . .until we reached the exit to Commerce street. At that point, Chipper gets in the right lane, turns his blinker on indicating, at least Swok and I thought, that he was exiting. We promptly get over as Chipper “SKRRRRRRS” back into the left lane sending us into a panic. Swok managed to get back over, but I, ahhh, I had no such luck. I went careening back into downtown.

Not to worry, I thought, I made it out Thursday and I’ll be fine :rolleyes: . A little foreshadowing here, because, it was not to be. I was in a different spot than I was on Thursday, and all these streets look alike. Anyway, I found Central Expressway and got on it but it was an ugly trick because somehow it morphed into 175 East.

I was on a freeway heading who knows where. There were no exits. There were no signs. There wasn’t much traffic. I didn’t know where I was heading or in what direction, but it just felt WRONG. So I see an exit and I took it. It was the Second Street and Bruton exit. So which to pick? I picked second street, Bruton didn’t sound good.

At this point, I still don’t know which direction I’m going and its looking pretty dark and scary, no houses just scraggly trees. :(

So I call the hotel. The genius who answered, who I assume LIVES in Dallas, had NO IDEA where I was. He suggested I get on Highway 75 north to get back to the hotel.

“YOU THINK???? I don’t know where that is, that’s why I’m calling YOU!!!” He tells me he doesn’t know where I am. “I’m at Second and Cauthorn, now I’m at Second and Hatcher!!!” I yell. :mad:

“Umm ma’am, you see we’re in north Dallas, so you need to turn north”

“I KNOW where YOU are, I don’t know where I am. And I don’t know what direction I’m going”

At this point I’m at a stop light with a black Nissan Maxima beside me going BOOM BOOM ba BOOM. BOOM BOOM ba BOOM. The guy in the car slowly turns his head towards me and does that upwards nod at me. My mother says “How do we get out of here?”

So my genius from the hotel suggests this, “Ma’am I suggest you find a station and get out and ask someone. Now picture this
Saturday night, 9:30 pm, two females, in a rental car, decked out in Oklahoma Sooner gear, on a dark road with bars lining the roads, people crossing the road at will to get from one bar to the next, cars stopping mid-lane to flip a u-turn. And he wants me to get out and let people know I’m a tourist, a tourist from Oklahoma, a tourist from Oklahoma who’s wearing OU shirt, OU sweats, and OU tennis shoes. Is he crazy????

“I am NOT getting out of this car, are you nuts????”

“Then, ma’am, you should just turn around and go back the same way you came.”

Where did this guy come from??? At this point, I’m desperate. So I call TX4OU.

“HEEEELLLLLLLLPPPPPP! I’m lost and I can’t find my way out”

“What direction are you going”

“I don’t know. I’m at second and Scyene”

“Oooh. (He said ooh??? What does that mean?) What’s in front of you?”

“The downtown skyline is off to the left, I think”

“You’re in the right direction just keep going the direction you are headed. By the way, I got a picture with Sheri, and one with Courtney, and one with Erin and Britany Brown’s dad took one with her. . . “

I’m in scaryville, but Tx4OU got pictures!!! :D

Finally, I pass Fair Park and downtown comes back into view. Tx4OU has led me out of Scaryville and onto Highway 75 north. Thank you Tx4OU!!

In my line of work, we always do a “Lessons Learned” meeting after submitting a proposal.

So here’s my lessons learned:
1. Don’t let Chipper in the lead car. Its not a good thing!! Trust me on this. I love ya, man, but Moses you ain’t
2. Don’t stay at Holiday Inn Select on Central Expressway. They don’t know where ANYTHING is.
3. Never forget lesson 1. :D

[giraffespots]

Part II.

So after getting to Cheddars and meeting up with Chipper, Swok, BBall girl, and MC6821 we have a great final dinner together and we all head out. After my late nite adventure in scaryville, I am ready to get out of Dallas. We head out and go up 75 North and leave town. We pass Plano, thank the Lord (on Thursday afternoon, we had gone looking for something to eat and ended up in Plano. I don’t know how. My mother says to me, “Well, why did you leave Dallas?” My answer: “Be. . .cause. . .I. . .don’t know where I’m going?!?!?” :rolleyes: )

We’re happy to be heading back to Oklahoma after a great week. We’re driving, driving. I’m just glad to be out of Dallas. My mother keeps thinking to herself, “I don’t recognize that” or “ Where is that Braum’s”.

Dorky me, I’m completely unaware of her thoughts. Until we have driven 70 miles north, all of a sudden, I realize HEY, that sign said TEXAS 75 NORTH. Why doesn’t it say I-35 north? Wait a minute, where the hell are we?!?!?!?! :eek:

I pull over immediately and pull into a Shell station sitting next to a Cotton Patch Café. Now I KNOW we’re lost. AGAIN. In Texas. Only here they’re all driving pickup trucks and wearing Wranglers.

The clerk tells us “Ye’re about 5 miles from the Oklahoma border in luvly Denison Texas.” (his exact words)

Denison Texas? :eek: I look at a map and we are 22 miles from DURANT. (that’s pronounced DU-rant, not Du-RANT)

Lost in Texas, AGAIN?!?!?! What is up with that????? :rolleyes:

The clerk tells us “Just turn around about 5 miles,

“Would that be Texas miles or regular miles?” I interrupt. ;)

He blinks at me a few times and continues, “Go back to Highway 82 and that’ll “git ya” to Gainesville”.

So we turn around and get pointed in the right direction. Now, I’ve driven from Oklahoma to DFW many many times, but I have NEVER missed I-35 in my life. My mother is giggling hysterically, I have my mad face on, :mad:
I have to put in my 4Non-Blondes cd. That’s my “angry” CD. Its hard driving rock (well, for me it is :rolleyes: ) and its fabulous.

So we’re on this road, I’m banging my head to 4 Non-Blondes, mom’s still giggling and we pass “Oppossum Trail” and “Raccoon Road”. I do not like the sound of this. Up ahead there’s a suspension bridge and we keep passing flashing yellow lights suspended over the highway. What are those for???? They alternate flashing, so it almost makes you dizzy.

Then we pass 4, count ‘em 4, honky tonk bars filled with pickup trucks. Imagine the drunk cowboys leaving those bars and having to face those flashing yellow lights. :eek:

Anyway, we make it to Gainesville and I-35. As we head north and cross over into Oklahoma, I know that I have never, in my life, been so glad to see Thackerville, Oklahoma. I have finally left Texas and have returned to Oklahoma. . .Land of the Free. . .And the Home of the . . .


SOONERS!

[giraffespots]

Part III

So I got to Norman around 2:30 am (needless to say, we missed the welcoming party at the Lloyd Noble Center for the team), I collapsed on the bed and slept until 11:30 the next day. I intended to head back to Albuquerque around 2:30 that afternoon, but for some reason, didn’t make it out until 3:30. Then I stopped at Wal-Mart for OU souvenirs for the kids. I am feeling good, I’m in Oklahoma and heading towards New Mexico, all thoughts of Texas are behind me.

Not. . .so. . .fast! I have to drive 200 miles in the Texas panhandle to get to New Mexico. Texas is out to get me, I don’t know why, I rooted for Texas in the Sugar Bowl, I was sad when Texas was one and done in the tourney, I was BORN in Texas, for pete’s sake.

So, I cross the Oklahoma border into Texas. I had been noticing how it was very hazy, but once in Texas the sun disappeared completely. I get nearly to Shamrock and the air is smoky, traffic comes to a standstill. We are all being routed off I-40. After 45 minutes in line, I make it off the exit and into a store.

I find out that the entire panhandle is on fire. Clerks in Shamrock tell the MASSIVE crowd that Skellyville has been burned up, the whole town. One clerk says drivers about 1.5 hours ahead of us ran into dense smoke and some didn’t make it out alive. If I hadn’t horsed around and gone to Wal-Mart in Norman, I could have been there. It’s a sobering thought.

We are told all north, west, and south routes are shut down. It’s either spend the night in Shamrock, or go back to Oklahoma. Well, you know what I did. I got the heck out of Texas and went back to Oklahoma. Texas was in trouble and it was scary.

I drive 20 miles back to Erick (regular miles, that is) where I go into another store trying to find a way out. Again, crowds milled about. One lady, Patty, and I start discussing our situation, people kept joining in the conversation until about 8 of us were discussing our options, looking at maps and discussing what areas were closed and giving out all the information we had been told from various locations.

We also were telling our stories about where we were going and why.

One lady was in the process of moving to Idaho with 3 cats 1 dog 2 girls and a husband. I felt for her. They decided to spend the night in Erick.

One man was trying to get to Santa Fe. He was going to try north thru the Okla panhandle.

Patty said she HAD to get through somehow because her father in law was in an Amarillo hospital dying and she was on her way there. She didn’t know what to do and she was alone in her car as I was.

Then another lady appeared and told us her husband wanted to try driving south. We waited on him and pored over the maps again. He used to be a traveling salesman in west Okla and east Texas, so he knew all these back roads. He said this is the route to try and we all agreed to follow him. I will call him Moses, because he truly did lead us out.

They had never really said where they were going or why, just follow us, we’ll get you to Amarillo. If he hadn’t been leading, I KNOW I would have been lost again on those country roads in west Texas.

We turned on Highway 9, jogged onto 203. We were approximately 20 miles south of I-40 heading west toward Hedley. Thoughts are random and the drive seems to take forever. About 10 miles out of Hedley, I look to the left (south) and see various lights in the distance. I look to the right (north) and it is pitch black. It is getting more and more smoky, I am completely nauseated and my throat is raw. I am drinking massive amounts of water.

We come to a break in the smoke and I see a light off to the right. The wind gusts and that light disappears instantly in smoke. Then I see the fire line. I can’t tell exactly how far away it is but I can see flames. McLean is directly to the north of our position, so I think, either McLean is burning or just south of it is. As I drive and look, unable to stop looking at the flames we begin to near Hedley and the towns farm houses and fields.

I am looking at the fires when, at that instant, we pass an irrigation field. With the fire illuminating the background, the irrigation sprinklers pass in the foreground. They are spewing water full force. Steam, smoke, fire and water and great gusting winds.

We make it to Hedley where we turn northwest toward Amarillo. The town is completely dark and silent, its residents apparently in bed asleep. I’m thinking how strange the entire town is asleep when the fires are within visual range. Then I get to the turnoff and its completely the opposite. Emergency personnel, police, lights; they’re yelling at us to turn our turn signals on. We do and head toward Amarillo. Apparently, Hedley had been closed but had just reopened as we arrived.

As soon as we turn north, we are out of the direction of the wind and smoke. You can smell the water of all the surrounding fields irrigation pumps. To the left, there is a burning patch of land that buts up to the highway. It is still smoldering and had embers still glowing, but we get to pass through. The fire line is still to my right although it is further off. One last image was the red fire in the background as a cross made out of lights passed through the foreground. Again, a sobering image.

Well, Moses led us to Amarillo. He and I took the second exit as Patty kept heading west on I-40 towards the hospital, we waved at each other, Moses and his wife headed north and I headed to the gas station. Four strangers met, made it through a fireline, then parted ways, waving at each other in the darkness.

Once in Amarillo, I made a quick stop at my beloved Taco Bueno, then headed west out of town. It was 11:00 p.m., about the time I expected to be in Moriarty. By this time I was exhausted. I still had 4 hours to drive. I-40 through Amarillo was completely deserted, 4-5 cars along the whole stretch. It was creepy. The rest of the way was also pretty deserted, and while I didn’t miss all those semi-trucks, it was also a creepy ride home.

I barely made it to Albuquerque at 2 in the morning. I had been driving 12 hours straight. I nearly didn’t make it past Santa Rosa but I began eating fruit, drinking water and putting on music I could sing loud to. Every 10 miles I had to play freeze out. While we were enjoying warm, muggy weather in Texas, Albuquerque got snowed on. The air turned frigid in Amarillo, and stayed that way clear into Albuquerque.

Well, I made it and those are my traveling adventures. Next year, Thank the LORD the tourney is in OKC. I KNOW that place.

[MsProudSooner]

I have only one thought for you:

The DART Train is my friend!

[Bball Girl]

I thought about you coming home yesterday after hearing about the pileups on I-40. The winds were blowing like a son of a gun around noon here in ABQ, the last 20 minutes of the flight were just a *tad* bumpy with 40-50 mph gusts. Snow does little good when it falls and then gets blown towards Texas.

Glad you made it home safely.

[tx4OU]

All I have to say is....."Man, giraffespots is one hellova B12 WCB fan, and Sooner fan!" Talk about Shadrack, Meshack and Abendago (sp?); I think giraffespots was right there in the firey furnace with'em.

Oh, and by the way; I also got a picture of me and Leah, me and Krista, me and Kendra, me and .................................................. .... :p

[sybarite]

My first observation is that you have a little understanding to do. When selecting a guide, do not look for someone who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and never found the way out. Your problem is that you were following Moses. Any woman or any kid would have been out of that wilderness in a month.

My second observation is that you are now among the greats. I have met one man who climbed Mount Everest. I have met one man who survived a mine cave-in. But, I have never met anyone who was on Hatcher Street at 9:30 on Saturday night and lived to tell about it.

My third observation is that you should have stayed in Erick. Between the memorials to Sheb Wooley and Roger Miller, you could have been a Flying Purple People Eater, but you seem to need a King of the Road.

[Jimi]

My first observation is that you have a little understanding to do. When selecting a guide, do not look for someone who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and never found the way out. Your problem is that you were following Moses. Any woman or any kid would have been out of that wilderness in a month.

My second observation is that you are now among the greats. I have met one man who climbed Mount Everest. I have met one man who survived a mine cave-in. But, I have never met anyone who was on Hatcher Street at 9:30 on Saturday night and lived to tell about it.

My third observation is that you should have stayed in Erick. Between the memorials to Sheb Wooley and Roger Miller, you could have been a Flying Purple People Eater, but you seem to need a King of the Road.
LOL, Good observations Sybarite.

Great story giraffespots! Thanks for writing it and I'm glad you were safely delivered. I hope to see you in OKC. Maybe we could give Chipper one more chance to lead us to Norman. :)

[giraffespots]

My first observation is that you have a little understanding to do. When selecting a guide, do not look for someone who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and never found the way out. Your problem is that you were following Moses. Any woman or any kid would have been out of that wilderness in a month. I would rather wander the wilderness following Moses than end up on Hatcher Street after following Chipper :D (Chipper, "You know I love you more'n my luggage"-Steel Magnolias)


My second observation is that you are now among the greats. I have met one man who climbed Mount Everest. I have met one man who survived a mine cave-in. But, I have never met anyone who was on Hatcher Street at 9:30 on Saturday night and lived to tell about it. And dressed to the nines in Sooner gear.


My third observation is that you should have stayed in Erick. Between the memorials to Sheb Wooley and Roger Miller, you could have been a Flying Purple People Eater, but you seem to need a King of the Road.Roger Miller was a goodie. I had a collection of cds which kept me entertained. I would have included them, along with the random thoughts in my head as I drove, in my commentary, but, too many thoughts, not enough memory cells.

[giraffespots]

Maybe we could give Chipper one more chance to lead us to Norman.
Chipper, a fearless leader. . . . NOT! :D

The one who saved me, truly, was TX4OU. He let me know I was in the right direction. And stayed on the line with me until I got the HE!! out of there.

[ISUbballfan]

Thanks for your travel adventures. That is why I DIDN't go to the tournament this year. After getting lost last year in K.C. I knew I wasn't meant to go to Dallas. I plan on going to the tournament next year I just hope OKC is a nice friendly town to a lost cyclone fan.

[DblT81]

giraffe thanks for taking the time to write that up. It was very fun to read.

I'm glad you made it safely, even if delayed.

[MsProudSooner]

Thanks for your travel adventures. That is why I DIDN't go to the tournament this year. After getting lost last year in K.C. I knew I wasn't meant to go to Dallas. I plan on going to the tournament next year I just hope OKC is a nice friendly town to a lost cyclone fan.

Make your reservation TODAY for one of the downtown hotels in OKC and you'll be able to park your car when you get there and never get in it again until you are ready to leave OKC!

[walkaway]

Dang, girl.

I've been lost in that part of Dallas in the daylight, in Wranglers and work boots, and scared to stop the pickup I was driving. Last year, in fact, on my way to watch Tech and Texas at the NC2As... I ;) you NOT.

I actually love the DART. Elfdenmom taught us all about it last year and it is a beautiful thing.

[giraffespots]

Dang, girl.

I've been lost in that part of Dallas in the daylight, in Wranglers and work boots, and scared to stop the pickup I was driving. Last year, in fact, on my way to watch Tech and Texas at the NC2As... I ;) you NOT.

I actually love the DART. Elfdenmom taught us all about it last year and it is a beautiful thing.

We did ride the DART on Tuesday and Wednesday, but my mother was with me and she couldn't do all that walking. By Thursday, she was getting pretty tired.

But, its all good. I made it out. :D

[Jennifer]

I've lived in Dallas for almost 7 years, and I still got lost in/around downtown. It's a wonder I got out of there OK myself on Saturday night! Good thing you didn't have my cell # to call me, as I would have been NO help! I didn't hardly see a familiar named street in your writeup!

TX4OU, were you outside where the girls came out after the game? I hung out for a while, but left before the Paris girls made it out--I did see Krista, Carolyn, Chelsi, Brittany, Kendra, Erin, Laura, Beky, Leah. Gosh, the twins must have been darn near last. I'm not big on autographs and my camera battery was dead.

[Row6Seat10]

Glad you made it home giraffespots.

I think you just might of wrote the sequel to "Thelma & Louise" :D

[giraffespots]

Glad you made it home giraffespots.

I think you just might of wrote the sequel to "Thelma & Louise" :D


I made it home, slept 4 hours, went to work today, and now its naptime. :D

[BearLady]

giraffespots,

sorry that you encountered some of the ugly traffic that goes with this territory. Yes, getting lost and being in unfamiliar, scary parts is not fun. But your perserverance prevailed! Glad that you had met TX4OU and he was able to help get you back on course.

Maybe not just now, but I have a feeling that with a little time, all of that will just endear your visit to the B12 tourney a little more.

As I frequently say, we drivers in this area try not to let little things slow us down . . . like being in the wrong lane, big pick-ups on our rear-end, etc. :eek:

Some years ago, not long after I finished college and had moved to Dallas, I got lost myself one day of the Texas/OU game. It was 10am in the morning, but none of the traffic in any of the 6 lanes on I35 was moving. I quickly decided that was not going to work for me, as I was not even intending to head anywhere near the Cotton Bowl. So off the freeway I went, promptly entered what was unfamiliar territory and scary at that, turned around, then turned around again a few more times, completely lost my sense of direction, got very afraid and on the verge of tears . . . only to spot the Goodyear blimp over what I thought had to be the Cotton Bowl. So I used it as my landmark to get my sense of direction back and headed back in the right direction. Though I wandered on very unfamiliar roads, eventually I did come upon the road that I wanted . . . way down the road a few miles.

So I'm always thankful whenver I see the Goodyear blimp. :)

Am glad to get to meet you and I hope to see you again next year in OKC. I may be the one in need of directions then!

[swok34]

I made it home, slept 4 hours, went to work today, and now its naptime. :D

You gotta a hell of a lot more stamina than I do...I got home around noon yesterday, taken a nap, slept a full 8, decided I still wasn't rested enough and went ahead and took off today. :D took ANOTHER nap.

I think I may have started this whole fiasco, as I told Chipper...."we'll follow you". Why would I even think that someone from Connecticut could lead us out of downtown Dallas?
:rolleyes:

I got lost the night before, AND the next day on the way to the arena. So I studied the map how to get out, and going the way we were going I knew we had to go left, not right, that started this fiasco.

Those Texas drivers I encountered have been some very nice folks. Chipper did this thing and took us over about 2 lanes, then came back over 2 lanes.
And I think that's where we lost Giraffe. In my favor, I had 3 other people who were watching the back and side telling me when I could get over.

But, I did have occasion to pull across three lanes, begging forgiveness from some behind me....sorry, sorry, dumb okie on the road

Dallas reminds me a whole lot of New Orleans, you almost have to be a kamikaze driver to survive...or maybe you need to have a few kamikazes before so you will survive.

Makes me appreciate little Norman, and I curse getting to the east side of town :confused:

I'm glad you made it safely home, I think had I gone through all that, I'd have pulled all my hair out.

[giraffespots]

Where is Chipper?

Lost, perhaps?

[swok34]

Where is Chipper?

Lost, perhaps?

Close......was stuck in Dallas for 5 hours; probably still on plane headed for home.

[giraffespots]

Here's a short story about the fires I was caught in:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/koco/20060313/lo_koco/3326456


That crash happened near the time I had originally planned to pass through the Shamrock area.

[tx4OU]

Jennifer, yes I was there. I was the guy who people kept asking if I was in the OU Athletic Department, b/c I wore slacks, white oxford and red/silver silk tie.

Here's a pic with Sherri. She looked so relieved, glorious, happy, excited and hungry all in one. I'll add more on a different thread.

Sherri&Mesml.jpg

[Jennifer]

Jennifer, yes I was there. I was the guy who people kept asking if I was in the OU Athletic Department, b/c I wore slacks, white oxford and red/silver silk tie.

Here's a pic with Sherri. She looked so relieved, glorious, happy, excited and hungry all in one. I'll add more on a different thread.

Sherri&Mesml.jpg

I believe I was standing right by you at one time. I was the one in an OU tshirt. :) I was alone and standing talking on my cell phone to my dad. I think I saw you get a picture w/ Kendra Moore. I actually think I wondered the same thing at first, re: you working in the AD.
So, I guess it was nice to almost meet you. :)

[labcoatguy]

I was the guy who people kept asking if I was in the OU Athletic Department, b/c I wore slacks, white oxford and red/silver silk tie.
I can see why they asked you that. You kinda look like asst. coach Chad Thrailkill.