Dispite the hotel only having two luggage carts, DarkFang, Chris B. Critter and myself managed to get all our stuff from the room to the jeep on Monday morning. One cart was in a hallway, loaded with a computer, a monitor, and a coat the entire time (about an hour - thanks for hogging the cart, whoever you were).

Tigerwolf had just finished loading up the Internet room as we were starting to bring stuff down; gave him a hug and wished him well on the trip back, he was pretty worn out. He was gone by the time we brought the next load down. I made a run through the lobby, saying goodbye and snugging furs that were still there. Jugular Jaguar (out of fur) clung to my ankle and didn't want me to go :)

We finally hit the road around 12:30. DarkFang and I stopped to eat at the Old Country Buffet before heading on south.

Supposedly, this is the largest McDonald's in the world. It's in Vinita, Oklahoma, and spans the interstate.

We didn't stop to check the cusine.

Ah, the wonders of roadside art. This giant indian marks a truckstop on Highway 69 and Interstate 44 (west of Vinita, OK) and makes me wonder what the locals think of it.

The nice woman at the Oklahoma tourist info building suggested we try The Dutch Pantry, an Amish owned-and-operated restraunt in Chouteau. I can't thank her enough - the food was absolutly fantastic, all wonderfully fresh. There's not much atmosphere, but the chicken fried steak - real 1/2" thick steak in wonderful breading - and the handmade noodles were superb. So were the homemade pies :)

Both DarkFang and I ate far too much.

We also checked out the Amish cheese shop, where we unexpectedly found bags of rice flour ... DarkFang uses it because of one of his roommate's dietary allergies but he pays almost four times as much for it in California. Happily his check-on luggage was not searched when he flew back, or at least no questions were raised about two bags of fine white powder :)

We crossed over the Red River and re-entered Texas about 7:30pm on Tuesday. By 9:30 we're back at Verdun.

DarkFang flew back to California the next day.