Yellow Tulsa

Driving into Tulsa from Afton this evening, the skies kept getting more and more yellow with every mile.  There's a huge yellow cloud over the city, blocking out the sun and causing the temperatures to plummet from 112 to 109 [insert sarcastic laugh here].    There have been some very serious fires west of Tulsa on Route 66 in Creek County, which actually closed down both Route 66 and the Interstate at times today.  One of the fires was intentionally set, which makes me so mad I'm spitting nails.   Because of an idiot arsonist, many people lost their homes and livestock.  Even now, they're announcing on the TV news that residents are being advised to evacuate their homes in parts of Creek County.   One hundred and twenty-one homes have been lost so far.  Furthermore, the air is so smoky here in Tulsa that my eyes are burning and I'm feeling sorry for folks with respiratory problems.

(Trevor -- I believe that the fires are centered in your home town, Luther.  I hope that any family and friends you have there are safe.) 

Here's the "yellowness" from my front porch.

At Afton Station we were under sunny, clear skies since we're east of Tulsa and out of the fire area.  That didn't mean we had bunches of visitors. Nearly everyone who visited was close to collapse from the heat.   These folks from Griffith, Australia (halfway between Sydney and Perth, in what they described as the "salad bowl" agricultural area of Australia) were enduring the heat while enjoying the fact that they weren't back home where it's the middle of winter.

These folks from St. Paul, MN were heading home from a partial Route 66 trip.  They were trying to make it to Omaha today, but they spent a lot of time with the vintage cars, so I'm afraid they might not quite make it. They're the inquisitive types, so I doubt they'll want to miss out on the many Route 66 attractions they'll pass on their way.

 Jon Edwards, a good friend of Afton Station, stopped by on his motorcycle and stayed for a nice long time while we caught up on what's going on in our lives.   Jon has been attending a lot of car shows lately and his vintage beauty has won a handful of awards.  Way to go, Jon!

A "full timer" gentleman (one who has lived in his RV for I believe he said 15 years!) came for a visit.  He was a very interesting fellow, with truly fascinating stories of his great-grandfather's trip on foot from Colombia to California with a herd of burros during the Gold Rush.  

Rounding out the guest list was a young couple from Turin, Italy doing Route 66 from California to Chicago.  They appeared to be having the time of their young lives.

Phil and Robin were there to open for me and Phil came back later in the day to help me close.  The best news of the day is that there's a chance that Ron M. will be released from the hospital tomorrow.  Think good thoughts!