June 12 - Fort Reno is an inactive military base with tons of history to share. It has served as a fort then an active Army base in WWI. It was the breeding farm for Army horses and mules. During WWII it was also a POW camp for German and Italian prisoners from South Africa. It is now a USDA Grasslands and Grazing Research Center and recently become the new home of the US Cavalry Museum. The museum was housed at Ft. Riley Kansas but has been removed due to space needed at the active base. It will take a while for all to be displayed since the new home is in old quarters that were abandoned in 1985.

The parade grounds are still used for the Annual National Cavalry Competition. The cemetery has two sections – one for members of the military serving and their families and the other for 70 prisoners who died while living at the camp or at camps in Oklahoma and Texas. A couple prisoners have been disinterred by family members who traveled from Germany and Italy to claim their family. Black Jack, the spirited riderless ceremonial horse used in the funeral processions of Presidents Hoover, Kennedy, and Johnson, and General MacArthur was raised and trained at Ft. Reno. From here we continued down old Route 66 in the pouring rain until we reached a forest campground on Lake McClellan. The lake has been dry as a bone until this spring …. Over the spillway now for the third time. How lovely!

Please enjoy my journey if you wish. I may make mistakes so please overlook them since I am in the forest most of the time and hardly have time to blog. Summer time has arrived so the Snail, Paulette and I are off to the mountains and places WEST. Last minute items crammed into the car and probably too many clothes, we pulled out the evening of June 9 headed to Little House Customs to mount my new utility box to the back of the Snail. After a couple of attempts to find a place to stay half way, we chose the Walmart “campground” in Palestine. Imagine a cool evening in Texas in June. We were up early and in the shop at Larry’s and out before lunch. The Snail now has shocks, the box is cutely attached to the rear and my pocket book is a little lighter. The best thing is that the car is more manageable. Stopping at the East Fork Café was first on the agenda for the famous hamburger. The next destination was to be Decatur in time to attend church with Angela and Mark. In Dennison I spot a “WWII POW Camp” sign to the right. Zipping off the main road I head that way. I see the next sign and head down that road only to discover that the men in the middle of the road are waving for me to back out. “Back out for over a block?” I felt like a prisoner of war. They should have put a barricade in the road!!! I am frustrated, never saw the camp and really need church now. We arrived early for worship and as a true Duncum, Mark got there on time barely but was well prepared with all songs picked out. Gran would have been proud. Beautiful worship service and the song leader was really handsome. We traveled to Sunset for the evening to spend the night. Great shower and no so peaceful night. I had the trailer brakes set to high and with all the stopping and starting in city traffic my brakes made a little squeal. Oh No! Restless night for me just thinking about that.

We arose early and headed for Route 66 in the Oklahoma City area. On the way through Duncan, OK we enjoyed the Chisholm Trail Museum. We loved the docent there. She is a retired teacher that loved to share the stories of the Chisholm Trail and Mr. Chisholm.

Larry had told us about the city or lake campground in El Reno OK. It was not exactly as he remembered it but certainly nice enough and not crowded. The Snail stayed there for the rest of the day while we scoped out the “66” from Arcadia to El Reno. The Round Barn, Pop’s Diner and service station for a snack, the Cross, and on toward the Yukon Flour Mill in Yukon , the Petree Plaza in El Reno where Larry’s family has a plaque, and back to the camp. With a little discussion about the next move, we hooked up in the morning to go to Fort Reno.

Hopefully I can send a few more words your way of the next few days of our trip.

Just ordered a recreational atlas for New Mexico. Looking forward to using this information.

This is it. THE 6 PACK CLAM SHELTER and it is outstanding.  No rain inside.  Did not have a floor cover so it was damp but only from condensation.  NO MOSQUITOES

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00E3LF7FK/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&condition=used&creative=390957&keywords=clam%20screen%20tent&linkCode=ur2&qid=1417801934&sr=8-1&tag=m00b1-20&linkId=MFJ2M5KTXKFX5V7F

Last night I watched a FREE webinar of Nick Kelsh on using our cameras. I think I understand the chart that I posted in July a little better. It is all about fstops, appature, ISO, "yatta yatta." Check out that post and consider checking out his online courses on camera success.

At Matagorda Madness Rally

My Clam Screen Shelter is absolutely the best.  I can put it up by myself very easily in thirty SECONDS and then stake it in less than 5 min.  The greatest for mosquitoes and shade in the afternoon. When I learn how to post the link I will.

This was shared with Creative Memories Consultants from Nick Kelsh.  With a little help from his website or from YouTube you might figure it out better than me.  Enjoy and check out Nick on FB.