Howdy folks. As most of you know I have been very busy with a new project called Oklahoma Expeditions. It’s a TV program that airs on Cox channel 7 inside Oklahoma City, OK markets. Pretty much local, but takes in between 35,000 and 85,000 viewers a day. Not to bad for a small time tv show put together by one person with one camera. I didn’t think I would be back doing overnight am .. ever… again.. But, with the political stage inside the United States seemingly loosing it’s mind, I thought I had better find a place to vent my own frustrations pretty quickly before I blew a gasket. So, with that said, look for a newly formated program called Overnight AM coming back to the airwaves. If I don’t have time to do this then I wont have time to do anything. I gotta vent… or I’m gonna explode. I might as well do it on all of you! (heh)

Look for Overnight AM this week…. And bookmark the site and tell all of your friends. Lets do some Cowboy politics…

 

 Overnight AM March 20 2008 - Guest Reverand D.J. Manning [68:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (102)

Howdy folks! I haven’t had much time to get to creating the first podcast for Oklahoma Expeditions over the past week. And in fact, we were not even sure that we were going to do a podcast on a regular basis but I found that while shooting and editing the tv show that I was always left with more information that I thought critical to the stories that we’re bringing to the audience. What better way to bring that remaining information to the audience than to present it inside and audio recording? That was my line of thought. So here we go with the first episode of the Oklahoma Expeditions Podcast / Radio Show. Let me know what you think on the comments section here on the blog. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

 Oklahoma Expeditions The Podcast First Episode - March 19 2008 MP3 [14:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (141)

When we decided to do a story on Route 66, we went where most people do not dare to tread. Instead of loading up and taking a road trip to the local mall in search of lit up neon garnished pictures of the likes of James Dean, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe , we loaded up cameras, laptop computers and film and headed towards the farm country of western Oklahoma. And just as we suspected we would, we found the original Route 66 pavement just sitting there waiting for us.    So what’s the big deal about Route 66 in the first place? Everywhere you turn you find what seems to be hyped up, overexploited ideas about this run down road from the past. They call it historic, but if you venture out into Oklahoma looking for the heritage of Route 66, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. That is unless you’re actually looking for the history and what remains of the pavement that changed the face of America. If you’re looking for that, then you’re in luck. Route 66 is still out there but you have to know where to look…

Lets face it. Route 66 has not been what you would call a growing concern since the invention of the by-pass and the Interstate highway system. In fact, since the inception of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, enacted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and the creation of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, the idea of the nostalgic notions and memories of Route 66 have slowly gone the way of the Do-Do bird. And no place serves as a better example of the death of Route 66, and the communities that it served, than in western Oklahoma.

Modern Day Route 66 PropagandaThe fact is that Route 66 has been over-popularized, over-canibalized and over-glamorized by intertwining fiction and nostalgia by unscrupulous profiteers and counterfeiters. Honestly we don’t know what is worst, fiction or fictionalized nostalgia. But images of Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart and Jane Mansfield draped across the hood of a 55 Chevy at a lit up neon roadside eatery with the words Route 66 plastered above their heads is flat out false advertising and worst- false history.

Old Highway 66 West of El Reno Oklahoma Route 66’s heyday was before and shortly after the Great Depression. The 50’s and 60’s only saw a small portion of the Route 66 action as the Interstate Highway System was moving America forward with a network of roads that was well thought-out and fully functional- at least to a degree. So functional in fact that by the end of the mid seventies Route 66 was a thing of the past- vanquished to a narrow strip of bumpy road following the lay of the land westward passing near farm houses and homesteads.

The emblazoned beauty that offered hope to thousands of Americans looking to escape the hardships of the dust bowl and the great depression had been reduced to nothing more than small stretches of road used only by wheat combines and farm pickup trucks. Route 66 had become a silent observer of history and american progress as she witnessed the installment of I-40 which bypassed her small communities and abandoned her usefulness to speed and convenience. But lets face it, progress is what it is. And the death of a single road that had outlived its usefulness can not be looked upon as a national set back. America needed to make way for progress and Route 66 was to be the sacrificial lamb. And so on June 27, 1985 Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been successfully replaced by the Interstate Highway System. But Route 66’s story didn’t stop there. In fact, it was only the beginning.

U.S. Route 66 has been known by many nicknames. Shortly after Route 66 was commissioned, it was given the name of The Great Diagonal Way because the section of highway from Chicago to Oklahoma ran diagonally. This was an oddity because most highways of the time ran in semi or straight paths. In the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath, Route 66 is known as The Mother Road. And in 1952 Route 66 was unofficially named The Will Rogers Highway by the U.S. Highway 66 Association. A plaque dedicating the highway to the humorist is located in Santa Monica, California.

Prior to us loading up and heading out in search of Route 66 in Oklahoma, we had agreed that despite the research we had already completed on Route 66 in other states in the southwest, that our intentions should, and would, be focused on the portions of Route 66 found in Oklahoma. Without a doubt Route 66’s geographical importance was paramount to other nearby states, but Oklahoma’s section of road played an even more important role. Of course, our position is a bias one- we’ll admit that openly. But it’s bias because of the history of, and by which, the people most effected by Route 66 impacted their lives. Especially during the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.

Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother
Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother depicts destitute pea pickers in California, centering on Florence Owens Thompson, a mother of seven children, age 32, in Nipomo, California, March 1936.

Stratford, Texas Photo Date: April 18, 1935 Credit: NOAA George E. Marsh Album
Description: Dust storm approaching Stratford, Texas. Dust bowl surveying in Texas Image ID: theb1365, Historic C&GS Collection Location: Stratford, Texas Photo Date: April 18, 1935 Credit: NOAA George E. Marsh Album
During the Great Dust Bowl Route 66 saved many a Kansas, Oklahoma and Texan family from starvation and homelessness. And for that we will be gracious to ‘The Mother Road’ and her memory. What we didn’t expect to find was the ghost of the past sneaking up on us as we went in search of Route 66.

This story and program currently in production. It will be in the first installment of Oklahoma Expeditions seen on Cox Cable Channel 7 and here online for free. Please check back to this page frequently to check the status of the programs air time and release date.

My husband and I set out one Saturday morning with an uneasy feeling about the task ahead of us. We had hardly heard anything about, and certainly had never been to, a nudist club. The prospect of doing a photo shoot at the club made the butterflies flutter even harder in our stomachs.

We eased the tension on the 67mile drive to Oaklake Trails in Depew, Oklahoma by making numerous nudist jokes. In fact, we had told the children the Thursday before that we would be going to a nudist resort to do a photo shoot and the jokes didn’t stop from any of us until our arrival at OLT. The predisposition we had about nudists was that of many Americans…completely ignorant. To many in America, nudity must imply sexuality. The nude body in pop culture is “the forbidden fruit” or to some, just plain grotesque. Most women wont even breastfeed their babies unless they are in a dark room where there is no chance of being seen because according to a well known radio talk show host “no one wants to see that.” Our fear of nudity in an open community caused by a dense attitude about the subject led us to be nervous and jittery. Little did we know that we were about to find one of the only places we could go where respect for others, open-mindedness, and freedom to look and be who you want without fear of ridicule or stares is commonplace.

We arrived at Oaklake early in the afternoon on that Saturday and were greeted in the office with smiles and a little bit of skepticism. We found out very quickly that management is very protective of their members and visitors alike. We had called in advance and made the arrangements to do a story on the resort, but one last session of twenty questions and a contract were necessary to be allowed on the grounds due to the nature of our visit. We were media after all and everyone wanted to be sure we were who we said we were. We were escorted to the pool area by Gary and Brenda Spangler (two people just walking up, fully clothed with an over abundance of camera equipment doesn’t’t go over to well with nudists.) Brenda let everyone know who we were and what our purpose was, and to my surprise most everyone just went back to their activities without objection of us, or our cameras.

We set up just outside the pool and began photographing a highly animated game of water volleyball. One by one everyone came over to say hello. It was then that I began to question the ideas I had about the club and the nudist lifestyle.

After a couple of hours of shooting around the pool and hot tub, a few members came up and offered to take us out on a tour of the grounds. Oaklake Trails is an extensive retreat with miles of hiking and jogging trails leading to eight lakes and ponds, canyons, and a seasonal waterfall. We were happy to accept. Eight of us loaded up in golf carts and cruised around the beautiful natural scenery as well as some lovely homes and RVs. Most of the members have a residence on the grounds, and surround their homes by gardens and covered decks. Golf carts can access most of these areas, but some are hiking only trails. We stuck to the golf cart. We reached the canyon and waterfall around late afternoon. I was shocked at how large the canyon is. It was truly a very beautiful sight. The canyon stretches out and down and the waterfall comes flowing out at the top. It is a completely natural area, the smooth rocks on the canyon having been formed by the water flowing across the canyon over a great period of time. It was just about sunset, we finally felt calm and the scene complemented us.

Our tour around the lakes and waterfall led us to the gazebo. The gazebo is on a hill on the far east side of the park and overlooks the grounds back to the west. As the sun began to set, the members sat around and visited while we moved here and there trying to do justice to this tranquil place.

A couple of the members informed us that there was a farewell party for two of the members that had lived on the grounds for years. They invited us to the party and gave us directions to Gary and Brenda’s where the party was to be held. We told the group we might stop by. After all, we were there to work.

When we got back to the main grounds it was dark and quiet. We could hear everyone at the festivity across the club. Our work was done. It is easy to see where this was heading. After a days work, what could be better than a dip in the hot tub in nothing but my birthday suit? Absolutely nothing. So, we took the plunge. We threw the business attire to the wind, rinsed off, and hopped in. If you remember the first time you were nude, out in the open, in a warm hot tub on a cool summer night it was fabulous wasn’t’t it? We didn’t’t get to stay too long, the hour was late and we had work to do when we got back home.

On the way out we stopped by the gathering at Brenda and Gary’s and told everyone good-bye. As we were leaving the park, I looked down at the two of us and decided that to enter back into the world we might need clothes. We reluctantly buttoned up the shirts and pants. We exited the gate, and the feeling in the car was serene as opposed to the tense consciousness when we arrived.

We discussed for days what it was about the club that made us feel so at ease. Maybe it was the open land, or the beauty of the nature surrounding the club. Apparently others had questions about the growing popularity of nudism as well. “Why is going without clothes becoming so popular today? Maybe people are troubled by the world that the business suit, the military uniform, and the cocktail dress represent. So they rid themselves of these clothes, and relax, temporarily forgetting about their responsibilities and troubles. …

There are approximately 25 percent more nudists today than 10 years ago” (Lloyd Garver CBS Broadcasting Inc.). Oaklake Trails is one of the largest land area nudist parks in the United States with rapidly expanding facilities and one of the fastest growing memberships in the country. More than the restraint of clothes, I believe it is the people. Oaklake Trails is a family nudist resort, and the most of the members live on the grounds. They are very tightly nit, and by far the most accepting and openly friendly people I have ever come in contact with in my life. We have revisited Oaklake Trails many times since, and still enjoy the peace and tranquility that the luscious natural surroundings, friendly people, and open minds provide.

Oaklake Trails Naturist Resort is located about 41 miles from Tulsa and 65 miles from Oklahoma City. The communities of Stroud and Bristow, both located within 15 minutes of the Oaklake Trails grounds, offer several motels, locally owned restaurants, all of the typical fast food establishments, many antique stores and numerous other businesses.

Other attractions in the nearby cities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa (less than one hour away) include The Oklahoma City National Memorial, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame, The 45th Infantry Division Museum, Frontier City Amusement Park, Remington Park Racetrack, White Water Bay, Big Splash, Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum, Gilcrease Museum, The Will Rogers Memorial, and numerous other attractions including the Tulsa and Oklahoma City Zoos.

Oaklake Trails is affiliated with:
AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation)
The Naturist Society
SWSA (Southwestern Sunbathing Association)
TANR (Trade Association for Nude Recreation)

© Copyright 2005- 2008 • Taira Ivins-Lamphere • All rights reserved.
Photography © 2005 - 2008 L.A. Lamphere • All rights reserved.

By Taira Lamphere Friday March 14, 2008

If you were to search for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on the Internet you would find a brief splurge that sounds something like this:“Established in 1901,Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 546 refuges throughout the United States managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. …. Our 59,000 plus acre national refuge is home to free range buffalo, Texas longhorn cattle, prairie dogs, elk and deer. We also offer incredible scenery and views for hikers and photographers.”

Although this statement is true, it is very typical of these government facilitated travel web sites to bore you to death with acreage and species technicalities. In fact, I am almost afraid that in including such a large portion of it that you may skip my article entirely, but by all means, read on. Blurbs like that of above make you wonder if any of these people (chained to a desk, no doubt) have ever even visited the refuge.

As for myself, I love the Wichita Refuge and have visited a great many times. For so many reasons I could not possibly lay them all out to you. So instead I will tell you the story of the first time I visited. Late on a Friday many moons ago my fiancé (now husband) suggested to me that we “Go to Lawton.” I asked him why we would go to Lawton. What was there to do in Lawton so late on a Friday? “Not today, all day tomorrow. The wildlife refuge.” He looked at me as if I should know what he was talking about. The truth was I didn’t know there was a wildlife refuge down there, and honestly I had never been to a wildlife refuge. I mean, really, I am from Slowdeatha (Odessa), West Texas where the height of wildlife is seeing a dead armadillo on the side of the road. Do tumbleweeds qualify as wildlife?

Lan explained to me that there were deer, prairie dogs, and little bunnies (at this point I am wondering if Happy, Dopey, Sneezy and Grumpy are about to come into the picture here somewhere). However reluctantly, I agreed. So we woke up bright and early, which for me back then was around noon, and we set off to “Lawton” otherwise known as the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We started trekking down I-44 towards Lawton and the farther we distanced ourselves from civilization, the happier we got.

I was in such a good mood that I flipped the radio to the local country music station and gave my man a little sing a long concert. After a while, all of that singing made me hungry. So we stopped at the gas station in the middle of the highway at around Chickasha, and a few habenero stuffed olives later we headed back down the road. About thirty minutes and a million cows later Lan pointed in the distance and told me that if I looked out yonder I would see Mount Scott. I said Mount Scott?! What is this Mount Scott? “You mean to tell me there is a mountain in Oklahoma”? He pretty much ignored me and continued to point out the window. Well I’ll be darned if I didn’t look out in the distance and see a little mountain, and I thought to myself that it sure was pretty out there.

When we passed the sign for the refuge I looked to the right and there were buffalo standing right by the road. I had honestly never seen a buffalo before (as I said I am from west Texas). It was cool to see them up so close. Once I got to this point I looked up and saw Mount Scott in its entire splendor, and I thought to myself that this is a pretty big mountain, especially considering I didn’t know that there was a mountain in Oklahoma. Then I saw the sign. “You can go up to the top! We’re going to the top, right?” I asked a slightly annoyed fiancé of mine. He said, “It’s windy.” I pouted for about two seconds and he took the right turn to climb up the mountain. It was truly amazing to see that side of Oklahoma. I was able to look far out into the distance and admire the beauty of our great state. We reached the top and it was windy, but luckily for me we came out in the spring, so it was plenty warm. The view of the refuge from on top of Mount Scott is truly awesome. I looked out to the west and could see the smaller mountains that make up the Wichita Mountains. After a moment of gazing we headed back down the mountain.

Lan suggested to me that we go see the prairie dogs, and finally I recognized something I was familiar with. I went into this long elaborate story about how when I was a kid we used to go to the park by our house. It was called Prairie Pete park, and had this big statue of a prairie dog with a cowboy hat and two pistols. I loved the little prairie dogs, but apparently they were digging up the people’s yards across the street, so they removed them. I remember being the maddest little seven-year-old you ever saw that our Prairie Pete Park now had no Prairie Pete. By the time I finished my story we pulled up to a little valley that was full of prairie dogs. It was spring, so there were baby prairie dogs everywhere. I have to tell you, these are the friendliest prairie dogs on the planet (especially if you have some food). We spent a great deal of time hanging with the prairie dogs and watching the babies play, but we had to move on.

At the refuge there are spots where it is fairly easy to climb the rocks with nothing but your own two feet. Lan pulled over to the side of a quiet road off the main thoroughfare where these huge boulders just appear to be stacked one on top of the other. We got out of the car and climbed up to a rock platform that was pretty high. The rock platform is quite large and smooth so we sat down for a minute and admired the interesting rock formations and took some pictures. If you live in the middle of a city like we do, it is really nice when you are just lying around high on a natural floor of rocks and can hear nothing but the wind blowing through the crevices. The sun began to set, we descended from the rocks and began our drive out of the refuge.

As we drove back down the main road Lan told me to look through the wooded areas because deer always pass that way around sunset. Not two minutes later I spotted three deer not far from my side of the road. Lan pulled over and told me if I got out slowly and quietly I could probably get a pretty good look at them. I should’ve seen this coming. Once out of the car I took one step on a bunch of leaves and they bolted until they were no longer in sight. Lan was, for lack of a better word, hysterical. He didn’t stop laughing at me all the way out of the refuge.

Almost anytime is a great time to visit the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, but here is my advice on the best times to go and what to bring, etc:

• Visit on a weekday in the spring, if possible. I like it when it’s nice and quiet and so do the animals, they will be much more receptive at these times.
• Go when it isn’t too windy.
• Bring a picnic with you, there are many picnic areas with tables and other little spots to sit down and have a little lunch.
• Bring plenty of drinks.
• Stop by the visitor’s center on the way in to stretch your legs and learn a little more about the refuge before digging in.
• Get there early, take your time, and explore the park. There are many little hidden places and hiking trails that lead to places you didn’t even know exist in Oklahoma.
• Wear jeans and walking or running shoes. You want to be comfortable riding in a car or hiking on the trails.

My main advice, after visiting the refuge so many times and never experiencing the same thing is to have fun. Take it easy, this is not the mall where you are in a race for time to get in and get out, or a fair where you “have to do this or that.” Just enjoy being at the refuge and take it all in. You will be surprised at how fast the stress of your everyday life just rolls off you once you enter the refuge.

© Copyright 2008 • Taira Lamphere • All rights reserved.
Photography © 2005-2008 Taira & Lan Lamphere • All rights reserved.