PDA

View Full Version : The D.o.D. Adventure with Red Dirt Jeeps



prerunner1982
10-15-2012, 12:09 AM
Saturday (13Oct2012) I gathered a group of local Jeepers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RedDirtJeeps/) for what had been named the D.o.D. (Day of Dirt) Adventure. It was supposed to be a trip around the county via as many dirt roads as possible visiting old towns, bridges, cemeteries and such.

We met up mid morning for a quick meet and greet and for a breakfast consisting of breakfast burritos and dough nuts.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578596_352608484832118_1690918081_n.jpg

It had rained the day before and showered on us a few times while we were staging, so with the greetings out of the way we were off.

Or so I thought.. Already had a rig down? Is this a sign of the trip to come?
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545740_352518874841079_2056079371_n.jpg

Just needed a jump, so then we were off.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550947_352518988174401_809238867_n.jpg

Our first stop was at Oakview Cemetery, just south of Lovell, Oklahoma.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/480243_352519301507703_117546988_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/190270_352519528174347_1452442581_n.jpg

Here I found a headstone for a 5yr old boy who died Sept 4, 1891. For those that don't know, that is 16yrs before Oklahoma became a state.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/75169_352519974840969_1266507876_n.jpg

From here we continued on to Lovell, Oklahoma.

"Lovell began as a Post office on May 22, 1889 while unassigned lands were opened for settlement. It’s original name Perth, was changed in 1906 to honor that man who settled and developed the town site, James W. Lovell. Perth, soon to be Lovell, became an agricultural trade center upon completion of a railroad route connecting Guthrie to Enid in 1902, later to become Santa Fe Railroad. Schooling began in 1903 with a population of nearly 200. The Lovell school first met in a 16 x 26 foot sod house, a small frame building was built a few years later. At the time of statehood in 1907 the town had began to fill out having a school, two grain elevators, it’s founding post office, two cotton gins, the largest blacksmith shop in the area, bank, hotel, lumber yard, and animal feed post. The town gained population and interest in 1926 when an oil boom hit in the near by town Roxana three miles northwest of Lovell. Foreseeing the future, in 1922 construction completed on present larger two room school house. In January of 1928 a fire roared through the east side of Lovell’s main street, destroying eleven businesses. Without insurance, the Great depression and World War II on the horizon, little rebuilding was redone." --- pulled from http://www.abandonedok.com/lovell-school/

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/565035_352520528174247_1570034213_n.jpg

We also located the school and had to stop and take a closer look.
The school held it's last class May 17th, 1955.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/561777_352520621507571_2045548073_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/485769_352604444832522_282137453_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/44227_352520721507561_1487333778_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431744_4683891616853_820414729_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/481032_4685582619127_322357837_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

We headed a few miles north to Roxana, or what was left of Roxana (nothing). For a town only established in 1927 it didn't hang around long.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545304_352604941499139_399363124_n.jpg

We then back tracked a few miles and then headed east.. to an impressive modified Pratt through truss bridge crossing Skeleton Creek, built in 1927.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/540870_352605498165750_784058764_n.jpg

All lined up waiting turns to go across.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/581405_4687390864332_1443262556_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

We continued on down the road.

We crossed over the highway and then things got a bit crazy!
As I had mentioned it had rained the day before and off and on the day of, and though we had come across a bit of mud all day we had not come across a road like this.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545814_3686467892905_1919506358_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/197426_3686468132911_1504318330_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/577423_3686468212913_1306219378_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224580_3686468292915_125741936_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

After everyone made it through the slip-n-slide I developed a noise in the front end that sounded like a rock dragging my brake rotor. A couple of RDJers looked it over and could not find anything, but it no longer made the sound.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/559382_4686256915984_1931376653_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

It was all well worth it though because at the end of the road was a 120' Pin-Connected Pratt bridge crossing Otter Creek that is estimated to be approx 112 years old.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557778_352521564840810_1459206299_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425841_352620394830927_1824569103_a.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/416941_352521724840794_1334171279_n.jpg

Since this bridge was closed we backed up a bit and took an alternate route, the big Jeep of the group played a bit.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/230976_352209118205388_1375097088_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/76221_352621464830820_2142151211_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/540925_3686468732926_871912759_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

Due to time and the storm building in the distance I choose to skip a few stops and head to town for a gas and potty break, but stumbled across this.

The Midway, Oklahoma school or church.
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579103_352623051497328_124374192_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408671_352623118163988_1683437743_a.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548472_352623248163975_1383428884_n.jpg

Once we reached Guthrie, Oklahoma for gas and potty break we headed further east through the town of Meridian, however the storm had moved in and was pouring rain so few pictures were taken. We made it to Pops in Arcadia Oklahoma for a nice soda while the rain washed our Jeeps.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/307961_3851910977765_392099194_n.jpg
--Photo by Tammy Sims

Here are a few other pictures from the day along the way.

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/227455_352209591538674_1433355431_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522287_352521804840786_1245861698_n.jpg

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/560331_3850097772436_1033488464_n.jpg
--Photo by Tammy Sims

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/525629_3851838695958_1793074958_n.jpg
--Photo by Tammy Sims

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/522163_3686468492920_1509463573_n.jpg
--Photo by Judy Winchester

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/76894_4685580459073_840370314_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431744_4683891536851_533920816_n.jpg
--Photo by Brian Smith

Since the end of the trip had to be cut short and we didn't not get to visit all the places I had planned it just gives me a place to start the next D.o.D. Adventure.

cantab27
10-15-2012, 12:59 AM
mate that's some good interesting stuff right there....i like the old graveyards and such, we have heap on the coast from gold rush days......thanks for sharing jon, cool pics and write up mate...

oderdene
10-15-2012, 01:05 AM
nice trip and nice place to go. Thanks lot for sharing photos.

PS: initially read D.o.D Adventure = Department of Defense thing :))

XJ Wheeler
10-15-2012, 01:27 AM
Great trip by the looks of it. Wouldn't mind going on a few myself. Appreciate ya letting us join in and see, Jon.

TimmyTXJ
10-15-2012, 08:03 AM
Wow! Looks like it was an awesome trip! Great pictures too!

prerunner1982
10-15-2012, 08:05 AM
nice trip and nice place to go. Thanks lot for sharing photos.

PS: initially read D.o.D Adventure = Department of Defense thing :))

Yeah, I know but it sounded good. Wanted something catchy and it was the best I could come up with. My other idea was Dirt All Day, but didn't like the D.A.D Adventure. :D

nickxj94
10-15-2012, 08:26 AM
That sounds fun!

bluedragon436
10-15-2012, 08:39 AM
Awesome pics, have to say I was sort of thinking Department of Defense as well at first... Awesome photos, and look forward to seeing pics from the next DOD trip you go out on... wish we had such adventures available in DE... but might look into finding some up in PA or MD when I get back.. I miss the old clay fun... I bet the soda place loved you for the clay mud you guys left in the parking lot after the rain washed it all off your Jeeps.... LOL...

NW99XJ
10-15-2012, 09:07 AM
Nicely Done!
Well panned and routed trip, lots to see and learn about....
Thanks for sharing!

nickxj94
10-15-2012, 09:18 AM
I knew what DOD was lol I'm on RDJ on fb lol been following pics there too:D

4.3LXJ
10-15-2012, 06:11 PM
So you guys found a we bit of slick stuff eh? Nice historical tour. What was that overgrown CB antenna base?

Brasscatz
10-15-2012, 07:42 PM
Very nice man! I'd love to go on a tour like that!

prerunner1982
10-15-2012, 08:26 PM
So you guys found a we bit of slick stuff eh? Nice historical tour. What was that overgrown CB antenna base?

I assume you are talking about the giant soda bottle? ;)

That is POPS along Historic Route 66 in Arcadia Oklahoma.
http://route66.com/

olds-cool
10-15-2012, 08:46 PM
Really cool pics, both Jeeps and points of interest. I love the stairway pic. You've got a good eye.

prerunner1982
10-15-2012, 09:03 PM
I can't credit for the stairway pic. There were a handful of Jeepers with us that were also photographers. I used some of their pictures, but gave them credit under the pictures of theirs that I used.

bigjim350
10-15-2012, 09:28 PM
That looks like a really cool trip. Would love to do something like that. hmmmmm OK isnt that far away from here.....

KH96XJ
10-15-2012, 09:31 PM
That looks like a really cool trip. Would love to do something like that. hmmmmm OK isnt that far away from here.....

I want to do the K-trail in OK at some point when it isn't hot. There is a local group that does the run from time to time, but I can never get off the weekend they run it.

nickxj94
10-15-2012, 10:01 PM
Yeah some lonestar jeepers just ran it this past weekend during the baertrax free ride

prerunner1982
11-21-2012, 06:22 PM
Well it's official I have been published. My thread was in this months issue of C4x4 Online Magazine. http://www.c4x4.com/contentsnovember2012.htm

nickxj94
11-21-2012, 07:22 PM
That's awesome!

4.3LXJ
11-21-2012, 07:48 PM
Congrats man :thumbsup:

XJ Wheeler
11-21-2012, 08:39 PM
That's awesome, Jon. Quite an accomplishment, Mr. Writer-man.:D

4x4Dalton
11-21-2012, 09:02 PM
Congrats Jon. Sweet deal bro.


Sent from my bulletproof iPhone using the Flapmyjaws app :)

Brasscatz
11-22-2012, 10:28 AM
Awesome dude! Congrats!

prerunner1982
03-05-2013, 01:01 PM
A 2nd group went on the same route a month or so after my original run. Since I wasn't leading I was able to get some video.

We have ourselves a convoy.....a Jeep Convoy: http://youtu.be/wlx2_mMrAMU
Out of Dust......comes Jeep: http://youtu.be/7x4JSpFgkwk