Whirlwind Road Trip! Part 1: July 18-19, 2024

Zach participated in a friend's wedding as a groomsman last weekend in Oklahoma.  So last Thursday we got up REALLY early and embarked upon a whirlwind cross-country road trip to Oklahoma and beyond.  

First stop New Mexico where we enjoyed a mid-morning "brunch" of green chile cheeseburgers at McDonalds.  The burgers were loaded with green chile goodness. YUM!!!

Our next stop was in Moriarty, NM just east of Albuquerque for a beer run to our favorite Sierra Blanca Brewing Company.  A mixed case of pecan beer and cherry wheat beer along with a growler of Derek's favorite Outlaw Lager made its way into our trunk!

Next up was am early dinner stop in Amarillo, TX.  Zach had to log in to attend his online programming class.  So we stopped at Panda Express to grab him some dinner.  We then parked him at a Starbucks with wifi and hot chocolate.  He attended his class while Derek, Ashton, and I ate dinner at Chuy's.  Total yum!!!! And the weather was fabulous in the mid-80s!!!!

Thursday night we made it all the way to Weatherford, OK for the night.  It was a LONG day of driving but filled with family fun and food! 

Friday morning we went to the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford.  It is named after astronaut Thomas Stafford of Apollo 10 fame (he was the pilot) as well as commander of the US/Soyuz missions.  The museum was great with lots to see.  Zach was fascinated by all of the rockets and engines.  The museum had lots of cut-aways which allowed one to see the internal workings! 

Below the boys are pictured with an A-10 warthog.  

A full-scale model of the Wright Brother's pioneering aircraft.  

Thomas Stafford's actual capsule from one of his missions.  

After enjoying the museum, we drove into Oklahoma City to meet up with Zach's old friend from middle school, Thomas Parsley.  Both Zach and Thomas were groomsmen in their friend Sam's wedding.  Here are the guys at Cracker Barrel where we enjoyed lunch.  After lunch, Thomas and Zach went on their way to Roman Nose State Park where wedding events were to take place and Ashton, Derek, and I started the drive over to Bartlesville, OK- our old stomping grounds.  

We arrived in Bartlesville late afternoon and checked into our motel downtown.  We walked around a bit to see what had changed in the five years since we moved away.  We then met up with friends for dinner at our favorite restaurant, Frank and Lolas! 

Here we are with Mike and Tracy Hammon!

Derek enjoys the famous smothered green chile cheeseburger! 

A picture with Peggy and Tracy! So great to see and catch up with old friends! 

After dinner Derek, Ashton, and I walked over to the old Kiddie Park where we played their nine hole course of mini-golf.  So fun!  Then Derek and I enjoyed a flight of beer at the new microbrew downtown.  Then it was an early night to bed! 

Ashton is a lot taller now than when he was last a Kiddie Park!