Day 19: July 1, 2019 OK in a Day Comment via blog

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After nearly a full day in Texas, I guess it was time for a new state.

US-70, in both Texas and Oklahoma, has more than its share of long straight stretches. Here are a couple of pictures that some clouds and a bridge keep from looking completely bland. Under that bridge is Lake Texoma.

I've been in Durant, Oklahoma, three times prior to today but stopped at the big peanut on only the first of those. One reason is that it is no longer the world's largest (that honor moved to Ashburn, Georgia), and another is that it is not actually on either US-70 or the Jefferson Highway. But today I headed straight to it when I reached Durant. I did so in order to post (Instagram Facebook, Twitter) the second picture with the caption "I like big nuts and I can not lie." I'd been thinking about it since shortly after posting the pistachio picture in New Mexico.

As I approached the town of Idabel, I spotted this sign beyond an intersection I was stopped at. I could sort of makee out the letter 'E' and assumed the sign read "EAST 70". Imagine my surprise when I was able to read it clearly. A marker placed 25 to 200 feet beyond an intersection that identifies the road ahead is called a reassurance marker. I don't know the official name for a marker that identifies a road that is not ahead although I offered several suggestions as I turned around. Back at the intersection, I saw a sign with a 'B' on it that I had missed before. I was in the wrong lane to make the turn when I saw it but eventually got it worked out. I again made an incorrect assumption. I assumed that the 'B' meant Business Route and that it would take me through the center of town. Evidence on the ground and other sources (such as Google Maps) says no. This 'B' stands for Bypass. Those Idabelians sure are creative.

Some twenty miles later, I entered Arkansas, and a half dozen miles after that I entered the town of De Queen on US-70B (Business). Decision time was approaching. When I reached US-71 in a few more miles, I would also reach the start of US-70 that I'd driven in the past. Should I continue on US-70 even though it would no longer be new to me, or should I head off on some other road. I decided to delay deciding and went to roost in this room.

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