Our trip through Oklahoma was pleasant enough, with scenery much more pleasing to the eye than northern Texas, and few cows. We briefly enjoyed a rainstorm, and camped out in our new favorite location: a Wal-Mart parking lot. We now plan our final leg of a day’s travel based on our proximity to either a rest area or the ubiquitous Super Wal-Mart.

Another “bonus” to this trip is the declining cost of diesel fuel. Did you ever in your wildest thoughts think that $4.09 a gallon was a deal? Amazing how perspective can change your, well … perspective. I used to set the cruise control at 68 or so, but this trip we stayed between 60-65 nearly all of the time. We averaged 8.8 mpg, so it may have made a difference. I haven’t checked my “carbon footprint” lately, but I’m guessing that my time in the nitro cars has put me over the average. Originally I thought that doing the entire rest of the tour could add up to $5000 in fuel bills alone, but hopefully that number will be reduced by 20% or more if fuel continues to decline in price.

Anyway, after leaving Wal-Mart # 724 and filling up on some of that bargain diesel fuel, we headed over to Tulsa to check out their aquarium. I did receive some amount of retribution for being denied entry into my former Air Force base: I used my military I.D. to knock two bucks off of my admission! This aquarium really was impressive, and Jason just loved it. He made his fish sounds during much of our visit, and he got to see all kinds of water life. Eels, sharks, rock and puffer fish, urchins and turtles, clownfish and starfish, mantas and sea horses, they had lots of stuff. There were even otters and beavers. Jason loved the “petting area”, and he got to touch some shells and various sea life. He really enjoyed watching the lively otter swim back and forth, and we had to go back two additional times to visit his new buddy. I preferred the beaver (does that sound odd?). The beavers were funny looking, almost like caricatures of animals from a sci-fi show, but they seemed friendly enough. Perhaps they knew we had a Beaver motorhome and they wanted to chip in for diesel and check out the Wal-Marts with us. The shark exhibit was impressive as well, featuring a “walk-under” tank that afforded some awesome viewing angles. I now have a whole new appreciation for five-foot fish, as the damage they could do is something else.

After recharging our batteries (not literally, that’s a metaphor for spending the night and sleeping) down the road at, you guessed it, Wal-Mart (who does carry Schumacher battery chargers, incidentally), we were eastbound once again. A quick check of the map revealed that a mere 90 mile detour would yield yet another Capitol, this one in Illinois.

Springfield was everything that Santa Fe wasn’t. (Again, my apologies to those with a fondness for New Mexican design). Their Capitol building (I believe the second built in Springfield, and the fifth overall) was phenomenal, one of the (if not the) best I’ve ever seen. We even stuck around to take the guided tour, we were so impressed. You’d think that we’d be doing this around lunchtime and have the entire afternoon to sightsee, but not the Laytigans. We did need to park a ways away and take the PT around town (which by now we’re getting good at), but our tour ended just before 4:30pm. Time flies when you have a 17 month old. The town of Springfield has much to see, but we knew we only had time to get into one more attraction. Tough call.

We chose Abraham Lincoln’s tomb, and it was a good choice. Thanks to John Wilkes Booth (not to be confused with Pat Garrett, who shot Billy the Kid), our 16^th President (and first Republican) was laid to rest prematurely. Though we had to rush through the tomb to see everything, it was well worth it. Lincoln was actually placed in a temporary tomb for more than six years while the tomb was being built, and it wasn’t finished for another three years after that. Way more impressive than the resting place of William H. Bonney, and deservedly so. It’s a reverent feeling being at the final resting place of such an influential person. Abe was way beyond remarkable, and he dealt with so many personal (and National) tragedies in his short lifetime, we all should pay homage.

On our way out of the cemetery, we came across the tomb of Fred Flintstone. Not really, but you can see my point. This memorial looked like a movie prop, but it actually belonged to Gov. Tanner. Very odd looking. I told Jenna that when I die to make sure that any needed organs are taken from me, and once the medical folks are done I want to be cremated. She said she’s having me stuffed.

Before we packed up to do our final leg into Indy, we drove by the old State Capitol building, which is nearby. This is where Lincoln lay in state for one day before being laid to rest, and it’s a cool looking building, though nowhere near the appearance of the newer building. Maybe New Mexico can pay to have it shipped to Santa Fe and reassembled.

Arriving in Indy Monday night, we camped in the parking lot at DSR. We’re here, we still have plenty of time to organize, and the “Big Go” is still days away.

Norm, our fab. shop chassis guru who built our new “DSR 1” chassis, gave me a hand taking apart the step close solenoid and air valve for the motorhome. It’s been leaking for awhile, and our best efforts didn’t show much improvement, but it made us feel better. Next attempt will be to replace the miniature o-rings on the internal plunger…….more fun!

The crew had already taken our race rig down the road to IRP (okay, ORP, though I struggle with that one) to set up our pit area. I took the guys out for dinner, and now I’ll need to beg for nickels for fuel money. Turns out the guys had a victory dinner on Don at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse last week, while I had a McDonald’s #2 Quarter Pounder combo on the plane flight home.