Reporting from Chandler Oklahoma

We have stopped in Chandler Oklahoma and thought we'd give you a quick update.
We left Springfield at around 9:15 and had hardly gone any distance when we pulled over to adjust the cooler behind the drivers seat. We stopped outside an old restored gas station with old trucks and cars in the enclosed yard. I took some photographs and was about to get into the car and set off on our adventure again when the door of the gas station opened and a guy (Gary Turner) called across to me and asked where we were from. I told him England at which point he asked us to come in and sign his guest book. Our minds were still full of Norma's instructions not to pick up hitchhikers and psycho's kidnapping tourists but we went in and found someone so interesting and helpful. We bought some authentic root beer and he directed us to Red Oak about 30 miles down Route 66 across an old iron bridge. Red Oak was a re-created old time village complete with church, school house and numerous other buildings, full of old cars and other Route 66 memorabilia. Amazingly it cost nothing to visit. The town has been created by a three times married artist (not sure why that is significant!) and could have come straight out of "Grimm's Fairytales."
We carried on to Miami (pronounced My-am-ah) and stopped to take pictures of the Coleman Theatre. Carolyn peered through the window and saw someone inside so we gingerly opened the door only to be greeted warmly and invited to take a tour. Well, what can I say but that it was truly wonderful. Full of ghosts according to Larry the guide who lived the words he was speaking. The icing on the cake was Carolyn playing the Steinway Grand piano on stage.
We couldn't drive out of town as it was under water from the recent floods so had to detour on to our destination Claremore.

One thing that has stood out for us has been the strange speed limits. You will be cruising along at 65 and then suddenly it will drop to 55 then 45 and the 35 all within about 100 yards! And sometimes there is a police car waiting to ticket out of towners but we have been lucky so far.

For those of you who asked about the shirt this is truly a fashion statement but as it was the 4th of July celebration I was showing there was no hard feelings between us and them!
Also, the hunk next to Len is Bruce, Donna Mae's longsuffering husband who makes the best grilled steaks in town! When we get a chance we will post more pictures.

We are heading for Oklahoma City now having negotiated Tulsa very easily. On Saturday we go to the ranch and will out of contact for a few days as they boast of providing only basic amenities. I think we are sleeping in a teepee!