Dave and Diane,

While we've not stayed there, Howard and Linda did once and wrote a review for it.  Here is a link:

Palo Duro Canyon

Terry

Here is where we stayed. Check it out.

http://fasteagletravels.blogspot.com/2012/06/amarillo-tx-fort-amarillo-rv-park.html

FastEagle

Ahhh.....

.....Oklahoma in May.

Keep an eye on the weather.  If you've got bad weather and are anywhere close to Oklahoma City, KWTV, channel 9, gives the best severe weather coverage.  When the bad weather does come, we tune to 9 and watch the storm tracks.  They are pretty darn accurate, and if one knows where one is in relationship to their tracks, one can mostly just sit out the storm.

Terry

Yes, you want to hurry.  It smooths out the rough roads because if you go fast enough, you just hit the tops of the bumps, or as we used to say in the trucking business, "running on the high road."

At one time in the Oklahoma Panhandle, there was a three mile stretch of road that was so rough that those hauling produce from the west coast had to slow down so as no to "bruise the fruit."  Those of us that drove that road fairly regularly made it a point to run with our inside wheels ON the center line, which put the shoulder side wheels on the center of the right lane.  Then, if you were going fast enough, it was a fairly smooth ride.  Trouble was, if you met traffic coming at you (two-lane road), you got to feel the bumps.  As soon as the traffic passed, it was back to riding the parallel ridges.

On some stretches of roads, I still do that today.  The road "lanes" tend to get "beat out" by the heavy truck traffic which is what gives the normal area of driving such a rough ride.  I also tend to do the same if it has rained fairly hard and water is standing in those "valleys."  That way, I have less chance of hydroplaning.

Terry

OK.  I want to give a wee bit of perspective here before the entire world decides to FOREVER AVOID Oklahoma.  With regards to tornados, I've lived in Oklahoma except for nearly 4 years in the service and two years of living in Texas as I was driving an 18-wheeler at that time.

In all of that time, and considering that I am about two weeks from being 67 years old, I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TORNADO WITH MY OWN EYES.  (Yeah, I know.  My eyes aren't all that great right now.)

Terry

We really enjoyed Claremore Oklahoma, including the Will Rogers museum.  The bombing memorial in Oklahoma City was overwhelming to us, mostly because we had lived close to the northern Idaho militia movement and Rajneedhpuram in its heyday.  We had lived where the crazies might do something nasty.  We also liked the Oklahoma City Bricktown Water Taxi, http://www.bricktownwatertaxi.com/. 

You are right, Ken.  And one never knows what they might miss because they didn't search it out.  For instance, Palo Duro Canyon would not seem to exist until you get right to it.  Similarly, just off of I-44 and South of Hinton, Oklahoma is Red Rock Canyon State Park, another of those places that won't be seen until you get to it.  While the sites there don't have sewer, we spent a week there back in April of 2011.  While we were there, a number of folks "over-nighted" in their travels.

Now, as far as Nirvana is concerned, some of our roads certainly don't qualify for that "image."

Terry

Dave,

My comment was not directed specifically to you.  I just wanted other folks to know that Oklahoma isn't the end of the world.  (I think that is Pakistan, where I was stationed in the Army.)

Like yourself, I've done my share of "risky" things, but as I'm almost 67 years old and want at least another 10 or 15 to go, I also temper myself with regards to those "risky" things.  With any endeavor, whether extreme or just towing a big rig, respect for the "possibilities" is something to always have in abundance.

I guess I was in my late '50's before I learned what "fear" was for me.  That was getting up in front of about 300 people at church and giving a 3 to 5 minute talk.  Jo said she saw the color literally drain out of my face.  That is a story for around a fire so everyone can experience the humor in it.

Terry