The Real Road Trip Begins. Riders On The Storm

Friday May 20th, and we headed out of the more populated areas, which was a relief. We were really on the road  now. No huge multi-layered freeways and traffic jams for  some time. Off into the Texas country side. Small towns here we come, and cowboys!!! Where are the cowboys???  (We hadn't  seen any yet, except an older chap in Plano who was dressed up like a real outlaw, with gun.)
We had  no commitments until May 26 ( a  hotel booking ). This was our first taste of REAL FREEDOM, something I would come to realise later on. True freedom. On the Road. That Wide Open Road.
And now our "Bible" for the trip started to become extremely useful - Rand McNally  USA Road Atlas 1993.  I bought this in a second hand shop at least 12 years ago, and I spent many hours pouring over  the pages taking in the smallest details and dreaming that one day I would use it . That day had come.

Bad photo!!

As big  as Texas. On and On..Southern Great  Plains

We had our only "accident" in the town of Denton. ( always take out the proper car insurance folks!!! We didn't have to worry  about this prang at all ). We had been stocking up on various items in the  local Walgreens store, then  an  old man ran straight into our car and took off. Hit and run!!! However it was also here we discovered Almond Joys, and became addicted very quickly.  

 Since we had arrived in Texas,  we had being hearing very serious weather warnings, including in  the area we had planned to head to. The sky darkened , suddenly  we were in the most incredible downpour. We could not see much in front of us and had to take it really slowly for a while. It seemed it would go on endlessly, but there was something rather of exciting about this!!

Storm in Denton County, Texas, May, in the area we were in. Not my photo, but this was what it was like, but MUCH  worse!!!

 Paranoid thoughts of tornadoes hit us both, here we were in an  area of Texas which is right bang-smack in  the famous " Tornado Alley".

No sooner had Cameron steered us safely through this almighty storm, than we were all of a  sudden in quiet, clear and calm weather again. Sadly this was not so for many many others, as this was part of the tornado that would devastate much of Missouri over  the next few days.

Into The Twilight Zone, and Loving It!! part one

Highway 287 heading north west to the Oklahoma Border, storm has  moved on and we  and pass this fascinating  construction.

Well, it was our "first" huge grain silo in the USA, and really reminded us of  the classic 50s movie "Picnic" ( which is set in Kansas, but never mind, that is only one state away). Attebury Grain is a big deal here, as far as I can make out. I liked it anyway.

Our journey took  us to the town of Wichita Falls, Texas. We took  a wrong turn on the freeway, and what a  blessing. We were thrown back into the olden days - 50s, 60s.. and much earlier. How fabulous! Downtown Wichita Falls is a place I would beseech anyone travelling this way to stop  and take a wrong turn at too!!! 

We  began our obsession  with old signs here - dead neons, decrepit neglected ones. Faded remnants  from the past. And the buildings!!! Most seemed to be deserted  or boarded up - it was Friday afternoon. Where was everybody??

Downtown Wichita Falls. Looks like it would be happening..but it was mostly deserted!

Well, the bar was still open it seems!

A human! Right corner of building.  What else to  do but flop down next to the Bail Bonds building for the afternoon??

Can't imagine business is thriving here!!

The few modern cars spoil the atmosphere, but something  must be going  on..

 The Big C Appliance Store, a lovely olden days  building. Looks fine from the front!

But it is falling apart  at the side..who cares for it now???

Hello!! Train Spotters rejoice!!! Wichita Falls Railway Museum - but it was closed, with not a soul around.

Are they still in business??? Nothing to suggest they are. Run by zombies at night???

This took up a whole block - but what was it once upon a time ?? A department store?? A Bowling alley??

Are they really open??? Or has it been left like this for years??

 

ssshhh - I think I can hear a pin, or a 12 1/2 gauge 4d nail , drop