Oklahoma.. "Ice Storm 2009"

**gypsygirl** · January 29th, 2009, 09:47 PM

Well... we left Monday for our "vacation" to OK for my stepson's basic training graduation. We decided to leave earlier than planned (about 2 hours) to get a jump on the approaching weather system coming through the plains. Once we hit I44 in MO the travel get very ... interesting... there were cars and semis in the ditches, and people driving like maniacs! We witnessed a trucker fish tail @ 50 mph and shortly after that we saw a SUV in our rearview mirror do about 4 - 360 turns in the middle of the freeway. We started dubbing those who passed us... "there goes the next contestant".

After 11.5 hours on the road, we stopped in Joplin around 8 pm to get bite to eat and assess our travel options. We decided to push through to Tulsa before we stopped for the night. We arrived 3 hours later. Now our trip ideally shouldn't have taken more than about 13 hours max. One thing I have noticed about southern MO and OK is that... THEY DON'T PLOW THE ROADS!!

We left Tulsa around 9 am and arrived in Lawton about 1 pm on Tuesday. The roads were nothing but massive slush pits. Heck on I44 the speed limit is 75 mph. We could only go about 40 mph through this stretch (which was pretty much our speed through MO also). The incline to the hotel was only about 20 degree slope, but it took us almost 10 minutes to get up that drive due to the conditions. All they had to do was plow!

Needless to say, we were looking forward to some warmer weather here and it has been cold and slushy most of the week. This is not the norm they say. We did have a nice time visiting our son, but we are leaving tomorrow with the forecast of 60 for the afternoon. I didn't get one warm day here!

At least we should get home quicker.

I told hubby that it was a good thing my girls weren't planning on military careers as I really don't really want to spend another "vacation" going to graduations in places I don't have choice in location.

Next trip... warm and sunny with sandy beaches!

**yahoo** · January 29th, 2009, 10:08 PM

there ain't no sandy beaches in Louisiana????? as a matter of fact because of hurricane katrina and rita we have hardly no beaches at all!!! BUT.......we have mardi gras!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**AULupstate** · January 29th, 2009, 10:27 PM

Yeah Gypsy but Ft. Sill is SOOOOOOOO beautiful this time of year!

**gypsygirl** · January 29th, 2009, 10:34 PM

It is definitely more laid back than Ft Benning. It took us 30 minutes to get through there and here it was just showing ID and drive on through!

**AULupstate** · January 30th, 2009, 12:33 AM

Ah the wonderfull memories of Benning and the dump of a city Columbus. Good times, good times.

**RD_Wrangler** · January 30th, 2009, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by gypsygirl

Well... we left Monday for our "vacation" to OK for my stepson's basic training graduation. We decided to leave earlier than planned (about 2 hours) to get a jump on the approaching weather system coming through the plains. Once we hit I44 in MO the travel get very ... interesting... there were cars and semis in the ditches, and people driving like maniacs! We witnessed a trucker fish tail @ 50 mph and shortly after that we saw a SUV in our rearview mirror do about 4 - 360 turns in the middle of the freeway. We started dubbing those who passed us... "there goes the next contestant".

After 11.5 hours on the road, we stopped in Joplin around 8 pm to get bite to eat and assess our travel options. We decided to push through to Tulsa before we stopped for the night. We arrived 3 hours later. Now our trip ideally shouldn't have taken more than about 13 hours max. One thing I have noticed about southern MO and OK is that... THEY DON'T PLOW THE ROADS!!

We left Tulsa around 9 am and arrived in Lawton about 1 pm on Tuesday. The roads were nothing but massive slush pits. Heck on I44 the speed limit is 75 mph. We could only go about 40 mph through this stretch (which was pretty much our speed through MO also). The incline to the hotel was only about 20 degree slope, but it took us almost 10 minutes to get up that drive due to the conditions. All they had to do was plow!

Needless to say, we were looking forward to some warmer weather here and it has been cold and slushy most of the week. This is not the norm they say. We did have a nice time visiting our son, but we are leaving tomorrow with the forecast of 60 for the afternoon. I didn't get one warm day here!

At least we should get home quicker.

I told hubby that it was a good thing my girls weren't planning on military careers as I really don't really want to spend another "vacation" going to graduations in places I don't have choice in location.

Next trip... warm and sunny with sandy beaches!

Don't like the weather in OK? Wait 5 minutes.

Seriously, in their defence, the OK ODOT doesn't have to deal with this very often. They DO plow (at least in Metro area) but it takes AWHILE. I believe the OKC metro area (LARGE area) has a total of 20 plows...maybe. They're at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to winter weather.

Anyways, it's gonna be in the 60's today, and 70's tomorrow. Just like the week before this one. Lol, you just happened to hit the one week when it is NASTY. Better luck next time!

**sprayandpray** · January 30th, 2009, 08:58 PM

Plows? I believe the only plows in Oklahomo are still being pulled by Mules - oh wait, those are Sooners!

**beyond help** · January 31st, 2009, 09:44 AM

Oh hell. There goes the neighborhood. Spray is trying to start a border war... With Oklahoma. Damn Texas fans.

**underground quester** · January 31st, 2009, 01:44 PM

Gypsy:

Since things started warming up a few years ago, we get a great many days in the year where the roads are covered with ice, or ice and snow.

Ocassionally, they plow or sand them but it can be pretty hairy driving some days. Then when you get where you are going, there is no where to park because of all the snow!

Think warm happy thoughts Gypsy.

**sprayandpray** · January 31st, 2009, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by beyond help

Oh hell. There goes the neighborhood. Spray is trying to start a border war... With Oklahoma. Damn Texas fans.

I'm not starting it , just doing my part to keep it going!

**RD_Wrangler** · January 31st, 2009, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by sprayandpray

Plows? I believe the only plows in Oklahomo are still being pulled by Mules - oh wait, those are Sooners!

lol, your aiming yer feudal gun the wrong way.

I never went in for the whole football war. If people put half the energy into improving themselves that they exert in sports fanaticism, how much better off would they be?

Besides, Texas is still just bitter and can't stop crying!