Day 3, even though it was mostly just driving, held a lot of excitement for me because it marked the end of the known stops and the beginning of the unknown adventures. New Mexico to Oklahoma by way of Texas was the goal which was a good 500 miles. Driving sights finally started to change from desert and be what I really needed them to be. I needed nature, green, and farm animals. I definitely got my wish–for many (many) miles, once I entered Texas.
For those of you who have been following me on instagram, you have been made clearly aware that I have been eating copious amounts and a wide variety of meat on this trip. Prior to day 3, I hadn’t consumed animal products, aside from seafood and dairy for six years. I’ll take a quick moment to explain here, so that when you see a unreasonable amount of meat flow through the next few posts, you’ll have a little background on my intentions and mission.
I stopped eating meat right around when I started my current day job, back in the summer 2008. Last week marked exactly 6 years since I started my job and stopped eating meat. I didn’t have a grand life epiphany, I simply stopped on a whim. A friend of mine, who I was spending a lot of time with, was a vegetarian for moral reasons and truthfully I am unable to pinpoint the exact reason or deciding moment but I made an intention to attempt a meat-free diet for 30 days.
I felt so much lighter and healthier and believe that, at that time in my life, I needed to turn my diet around. Not that I was particularly overweight or out of shape but I definitely wasn’t focused on a pure and whole intake. I was so focused on meat-centric meal creation that I was ignoring the other half of the spectrum. I loved to eat and to cook but didn’t approach food with the view of exploration and adventure, that I try to now.
I always told myself, that since the reason I eliminated these things from my diet didn’t stem from morality or necessity, I would not prevent myself from reintroducing them if the time and moment at hand required it for any reason enough. And on this trip, the reason was more than present and enough. Someone once told me that food is the best (if not the only) reason to travel. And when I heard that, it reinforced my decision to eat my way through these cities and experience what each is known for.
My trip through Amarillo broke the seal with some barbeque that resulted in a truly religious experience. The experience definitely deserves its own post and will earn just that, soon.
I arrived into Geary, Oklahoma at around dusk and was so enchanted by the open and seemingly endless space. I am such a city girl. This night was my first airbnb of the trip and the directions to my final destination were measured in miles only. I quickly learned that I literally have no idea what it feels like to be one mile north of town or how to go west if west isn’t left. After multiple “Hey, I’m from California, sorry!” phone calls, I found the schoolhouse. Run and operated by nearby winery owners and cattle farmers, Jennifer & Aaron, the renovated schoolhouse was so unique and beautiful.
I definitely did not prove myself rugged like I had hoped. I definitely let the animal noises and loud country silence get to me but I will work on it before I have my perfect little country home (heehee). Geary was breathtaking and Jennifer and Aaron were the absolute perfect hosts. There is so much they are doing, just the two of them, to grow and nurture local Oklahoma products. I can’t wait to go back one day soon and tour their vineyards–apparently there is a dry red that I must try. I’m a true loather of sweet wine but I hear they have the market on dry wines in their area. Day 3 was a peaceful day full of just enough adventure and a little too much driving.
Day 3 Summary //
500 miles, 3 states, 3 cities visited, 1 bbq induced near coma mid-drive, 1 new technique discovered to drive with my right leg completely straight
+ Scenic One Room Schoolhouse on airbnb
+ Base Vines and Cattle