Since then, the country has been on lock down (or some version of this). All non-essential businesses were closed. Only healthcare workers and those working at grocery stores were risking their lives to provide what we needed.
My travel schedule stopped. Canada closed the borders to International travelers and toilet paper (of all things!) was scarce.
What was happening???
But we thought it was temporary. So we followed the rules and stayed home. The only places I've been in the last four months are (1) Lowe's (our toilet flusher broke so I had to get a new chain), (2) Tom Thumb (but only to pick the few items we couldn't get from Kroger delivery) and (3) Mr. Parcel to pick up any mail that came in for us. Always masked and sometimes gloved.
Meanwhile, here in Texas, the last four months have been monotonous. John and I have been incredibly lucky in that our jobs allow us to work from home. But all we do is work and our only "breaks" are the walks we take around the neighborhood. Things were okay but we were mentally drained. We needed an escape. We wanted a little getaway but where could we go?
John had heard of this place called Broken Bow, Oklahoma and suggested that we check it out. Pros: it was a three-hour drive (so we wouldn't have to stop for a bio-break); the cabin had a kitchen (so we could bring everything we needed and not have to go to a grocery store); it was some place we'd never been. Cons: it was a lake town. But we decided to check it out.
Then Covid-19 sort of exploded. We had the 4th of July holiday and everyone went crazy. People had quarantine fatigue! All over the country, beaches and lakes were packed! Bars and restaurants were not following the capacity rules. There was no social distancing. There were no masks. People were sick of being at home! New cases jumped to new record highs in states that had opened way too early like Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other southern states. Some states, like New York or Connecticut, required that if you were from these southern states, that you quarantine for 14 days when you entered their state. Now what?
Well, Oklahoma didn't have a quarantine requirement. I had visions of us being stopped at the state line and possibly turned away...But we weren't. The plan was this: Drive straight through, don't interact with any people and then leave. Avoid people at all costs.
So we went. What could go wrong? The drive out there was lovely. We took 121 through Bonham to Paris then headed north to Hugo and over to Broken Bow. We were going to stop in Paris but I told John, if we stop, my bladder will wake up and then we'll be in trouble. Isn't that how it goes? You'll be fine on a road trip....until you stop. But then I digress...
We drove on through. We left around noon on Friday and got there at three. Our cabin was called (and I'm not kidding) "Just A Swingin". (Note the swing there under the stairs - hence the name).
The cabin was really nice. It was perfect for the two of us. It had a swing underneath the stairs, a nice front porch and a lovely covered back porch. 
We were set! We unloaded the truck and chilled out for a while as we read the rules of the house (make sure you run the dishwasher before you leave, no diapers or foreign objects in the hot tub and $100 fine for vomit. What??? Who leaves vomit....nevermind- I wish I'd take a photo of that page) and figured out where things were.
We cooked our first meal (chili stew). There were some "compromises" for things that we hadn't thought to bring, like cooking oil. We had to use butter to brown the meat but and it changed the flavor a bit but, hey! we're roughing it out here!
But we thought it was temporary. So we followed the rules and stayed home. The only places I've been in the last four months are (1) Lowe's (our toilet flusher broke so I had to get a new chain), (2) Tom Thumb (but only to pick the few items we couldn't get from Kroger delivery) and (3) Mr. Parcel to pick up any mail that came in for us. Always masked and sometimes gloved.
This is us masking up to go to the grocery store.
John had heard of this place called Broken Bow, Oklahoma and suggested that we check it out. Pros: it was a three-hour drive (so we wouldn't have to stop for a bio-break); the cabin had a kitchen (so we could bring everything we needed and not have to go to a grocery store); it was some place we'd never been. Cons: it was a lake town. But we decided to check it out.
Then Covid-19 sort of exploded. We had the 4th of July holiday and everyone went crazy. People had quarantine fatigue! All over the country, beaches and lakes were packed! Bars and restaurants were not following the capacity rules. There was no social distancing. There were no masks. People were sick of being at home! New cases jumped to new record highs in states that had opened way too early like Texas, Florida, Arizona, and other southern states. Some states, like New York or Connecticut, required that if you were from these southern states, that you quarantine for 14 days when you entered their state. Now what?
Well, Oklahoma didn't have a quarantine requirement. I had visions of us being stopped at the state line and possibly turned away...But we weren't. The plan was this: Drive straight through, don't interact with any people and then leave. Avoid people at all costs.
So we went. What could go wrong? The drive out there was lovely. We took 121 through Bonham to Paris then headed north to Hugo and over to Broken Bow. We were going to stop in Paris but I told John, if we stop, my bladder will wake up and then we'll be in trouble. Isn't that how it goes? You'll be fine on a road trip....until you stop. But then I digress...
We drove on through. We left around noon on Friday and got there at three. Our cabin was called (and I'm not kidding) "Just A Swingin". (Note the swing there under the stairs - hence the name).
This was a whole neighborhood of cabins with silly names. Some were huge and had floor to ceiling glass windows so that, as we drove by, we could see right in. Ours was one of the smaller cabins. It was, after all, just the two of us.
It was a two-room cabin where the second room was the bathroom. There was a two-sided fireplace that divided the bedroom and the living room. The kitchen was mostly stocked. I've made some notes of things we'd want to bring if we went back. (Note to self: Bring napkins, extra toilet paper, paper towels and potato peeler).
The cabin was really nice. It was perfect for the two of us. It had a swing underneath the stairs, a nice front porch and a lovely covered back porch. 
There was a hot tub and a gas grill, even a fireplace back there.
The bathroom was huge! There was a fancy bathtub and a separate walk in shower. There was even a fireplace in the bathroom. Again, not kidding.
We were set! We unloaded the truck and chilled out for a while as we read the rules of the house (make sure you run the dishwasher before you leave, no diapers or foreign objects in the hot tub and $100 fine for vomit. What??? Who leaves vomit....nevermind- I wish I'd take a photo of that page) and figured out where things were. 
We cooked our first meal (chili stew). There were some "compromises" for things that we hadn't thought to bring, like cooking oil. We had to use butter to brown the meat but and it changed the flavor a bit but, hey! we're roughing it out here! After dinner, we headed out to drive around and see what's what.
Here's a little history lesson. This land was once owned by the Choctaw tribe prior to being settled. It grew up around a lumber company that was owned by two brothers. It lies within the "Little Dixie" region of Oklahoma, an area that was originally settled largely by Southerners starting a new life after the Civil War.
There's a big lake here made by the Army Corp of Engineers (are they part of the US Army or are they their own entity? Inquiring minds want to know...). It was created by damming the Mountain Fork River (see above.)
There's a big lake here made by the Army Corp of Engineers (are they part of the US Army or are they their own entity? Inquiring minds want to know...). It was created by damming the Mountain Fork River (see above.)
I've never been to Broken Bow but it's a very small community. We saw one grocery store and a Wal-Mart. The restaurant chains available were McDonald's, Sonic, Domino's, Pizza Hut and Subway. There used to be a KFC but it closed. They had some local restaurants and ice cream shops. There were several liquor stores and a couple of wineries. In normal times, we'd have checked it all out. But in times of quarantine, all we did was drive around.
When we got home, we thought we might check out the hot tub. Then John opened the back door and the cacophony of noise scared the crap out of us. It was pitch black out there so we couldn't see what was making the noise but my mind saw bugs, frogs, snakes and all kinds of things.
When we got home, we thought we might check out the hot tub. Then John opened the back door and the cacophony of noise scared the crap out of us. It was pitch black out there so we couldn't see what was making the noise but my mind saw bugs, frogs, snakes and all kinds of things. We immediately shut the door and locked it (just in case). (My reaction was not so calm. For those of you that know me, it was more like "Oh my God! Shut the door before they get in!" And that would be with me standing on the bed with a "fly-swatter") We'd do the hot tub during the day, perhaps, when the bugs were asleep.
The next day we drove around the lake and checked out the various places to swim. One spot we went to was called "Foggy Bottom". You can see the fog over the water! Somehow that wasn't really very inviting. We drove around to several boat ramps where folks would put their watercraft into the lake and then park. We wouldn't know what to do with a boat.
The lake itself was beautiful. There were all kinds of boaters and campers (like, with tents and stuff. I'm sorry but the art of camping has always eluded me. I need...plumbing at a minimum.).
We did find a short hiking trail and we walked it but then we gave up and went back to the cabin where we were able to relax without the ghosts of impending chores hanging over our heads. It was actually quite nice.
We cooked all our meals at the cabin, hung out, watched tv, and read without guilt.
The next day we drove around the lake and checked out the various places to swim. One spot we went to was called "Foggy Bottom". You can see the fog over the water! Somehow that wasn't really very inviting. We drove around to several boat ramps where folks would put their watercraft into the lake and then park. We wouldn't know what to do with a boat.
The lake itself was beautiful. There were all kinds of boaters and campers (like, with tents and stuff. I'm sorry but the art of camping has always eluded me. I need...plumbing at a minimum.).
We did find a short hiking trail and we walked it but then we gave up and went back to the cabin where we were able to relax without the ghosts of impending chores hanging over our heads. It was actually quite nice.
We cooked all our meals at the cabin, hung out, watched tv, and read without guilt. 
We brought out own "Provisions"...
The back porch of the cabin...
There was one main "drag" through town and on it was this group of cabins. I would have LOVED to go in and checked these out but it didn't look like that was a viable option. There were about five or six of these in a semi-circle and in similar disrepair.
Also in this town were all kinds of wineries, saloons and themed restaurants. We didn't partake because of COVID-19 but would have in any other circumstance. They had street vendors that were similar to food trucks that were not working during this time. We didn't see any people wearing masks and the saloon parking lots were pretty full. So we opted out and hung out at our cabin.
The cabin was beautiful! While it lacked a few things, we now know what to bring. I would absolutely want to stay here for a temporary get away. They said the internet was a little "shoddy" but we did not experience that at all.
Our trip home was pretty interesting. Unfortunately, I was not "camera-ready". Who would have thought? "Waze" took us the back way out of there. Waze told us to turn right onto a single paved road. Then it told us to turn left. It was a single semi-paved road and there was a random cow on the side of the road just munching on some weeds. He/she gave us an odd look as we passed by.
Gotta love it, right?
Overall, we had a great time. This would be a fabulous place if (1) you're a lake person, (2) there was no Covid-19 or (3) it was fall. Our plan is to go back in the fall and just hang out.
This is what it's like to travel during a pandemic....
