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With some time to spare before the start of the race, I paid a visit to
the Center of the Universe just a couple of blocks aay.
Who wouldn't?
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Among the pre-race activities was a "red carpet" where
participants could take pictures against a DAV 5K background. As race time
neared, all the competitors -- plus me -- gathered behind the start-finish
banner. As in Cincinnati, a police led motorcycle ride-by precedes the
race.
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And away we go, passing the BOK Center about a half mile in. I had just
enough breath to move my body forward as this uniformed group passed me
by singing marching cadences. Cincinnati came just before the two mile
mark and a water station. The Blue Dome wasn't far beyond. I finished in
1:03:36 which only 372 of the 390 finishers beat.
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One advantage of my pace is reduced waiting for the award ceremonies. The
last picture is of a group of veterans taking the
Spartan Pledge. The pledge is one of the ways people
are working to stem the epidemic level number of suicides among veterans.
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Once the activities were over at Guthrie Green, I checked out of my hotel
and returned to Route 66. I first photographed this sign just days before
it was removed from its original perch in
2004. These photos were
taken just days after new clocks were mounted. Clocks were part of the
original sign but were already long gone by my 2004 visit. I leaned of
the addition from this
Route66News.com article.
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It's strange but true that this was my first time stopping at
Happy Burger in Sapilpa, Oklahoma. I'd had breakfast
at the hotel plus a banana and bagel at the 5K so wasn't at all hungry. I
went inside intending to get just an iced tea but changed my mind before
the girl could return my change. I left with the tea and a 'burger. I
doubt the 'burger was all that happy when I got done with it but I
certainly was.
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I knew that Dawn wasn't there and I was even less hungry than at my Happy
Burger stop so I took that first picture intending to only do a drive-by
of the Rock
Cafe. In the end though, I just couldn't do it and pulled into the
lot. Here I did leave with only iced tea but I learned something new. What
had been the main door near the front is now marked "EXIT" and
the "ENTRANCE" is now a door to the rear that leads into the
hall of a thousand names.
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I knew there was a good chance I'd miss Joel Rayburn at
Tourist Trap
Tees and I did. The place is at least as well known as the home of
Glassboy Studios and there is a fine example of Joel's neon work in a side
window. As I walked back to my car, I noticed the creative paving
immediately in front of the shop. I'm not sure how much
bottle cap reinforcement helps preserve concrete
but maybe it helps.
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Yesterday my buddy John sent me a link to a list of a top brewery in each
state as ranked by Foursquare. The article is
here. He suggested I see how many I could visit on
the way home. When I checked into my motel and realized that the pick for
Oklahoma was a half dozen miles away, it was obvious that there was no
time like the present. The Foursquare winner for Oklahoma is
Anthem Brewing
in Oklahoma City. Though not spectacular, the taproom was nice and the
three beers I tried ere all quite good.
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Ann's Chicken Fry House is on Historic Route 66 and
I've passed it several time but had never stopped. Since it was more or
less between the brewery and the motel this seemed like the right time to
give it a try. Chicken in the Rough originated in Oklahoma City and I
initially thought the Ann's was once a Chicken in the Rough restaurant but
soon learned I was wrong. Ann's does do fried chicken but their speciality
is chicken fried steak. That's what I ordered and it was good. I ate more
than half and even took a picture but showing gravy covered meal is rather
would be rather embarrassing so here's a slightly fuzzy picture of Kukla,
Ollie, and ET instead.
My motel for the night was the Lincoln Inn Express which I liked quite a bit. I
failed to get an exterior photo but here's
my room.
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