Day 6 – Trek to Tulsa

[Co-written by Sheri and Erinn (but mostly Erinn).]

No trip is without it’s hiccups, and this one was no exception. As soon as we began unpacking our bags outside the hotel, we realize that Sheri is missing her large TUMI hard shell suitcase. *Scratches head*… Where could the suitcase be? Did we leave it at the campground in Arkansas? Sheri called the campground to see if she left it there, and unfortunately they didn’t see it 😦

After Adam pointed out that the storage door out back was not latched shut for the entirety of the 4 hour drive, Sheri’s heart sank to her stomach. She knew immediately that it must have flown out on one of the many left turns along the way to Tulsa. After a few “lost & found” social media posts and calls to local highway patrol, Sheri had accepted the fact – her clothes and shoes were gone. Thank goodness that it was just a dumb suitcase and not Sheri’s wedding bouquet frame, family photos or file boxes. Furthermore, we are all safe and healthy… and that is all that really counts.

We all took a moment to properly say hi to her brother Sepp who we haven’t seen since he moved from Maryland to Oklahoma back in March.

After the initial shock of the missing suitcase wore off, Sheri needed a few minutes (i.e. hours) to decompress. As Sheri and Adam got the rest of their luggage, Sepp and Erinn took Maia with us to the bar to get drinks. Our hotel was very 1920s / Art Deco with decorative high back golden spike-studded chairs and softly-lit chandeliers.

Once they got their luggage together, Sheri and Adam retrieved Maia and went upstairs. We all met in the lobby at 6pm to go to dinner. Erinn joined the crew in the lobby bar where they wrapping up their much needed cocktails. Sepp drove us over to an Italian restaurant, Dalesandro’s, where we toasted to safe travels. Maia had her fill of pasta and fresh squeezed lemonade, made just for her.

After dinner, Sepp showed Sheri and Erinn around the Greenwood District of Tulsa, while Adam tucked Maia in to her luxurious hotel bed.

Greenwood was high on our list given the history of the area. Plaques in the sidewalks identified the black businesses that was there prior to the Black Wall Street Massacre of 1921, and indicated whether or not they reopened. As we walked, we saw countless murals including those of the Black Lives Matter movement.

There was a beautiful mural of Oluwatoyin Salau, the Black Lives Matter activist that was slain in Florida.

Sepp also showed us a speakeasy that was frequented by the Rat Pack and an outdoor amphitheater.

After some more exploring, we stopped at Lefty’s on Greenwood for a round of drinks and enjoyed them on the outdoor patio.

The next morning, Erinn stayed in her fluffy queen size bed and worked while the Welsh/Darya clan went to The Gathering Place – a gigantic maze of cutting edge playgrounds and koi-filled ponds. This attraction won the USA Today awarded of “Best New Attraction”, and rightly so.

In between meetings, Erinn went to Burn Co. BBQ, which was apparently the best BBQ in Tulsa. Erinn thought the brisket was just okay, but she finally tried a local brew – Tulsa Flag, Blonde Ale.

After the park, we all met back up and went to the Black Wall Street gallery, which is filled with images from local black artists. While we didn’t buy much art, Erinn bought 3 T-shirts, 2 buttons and a print, to put in her home office. Adam and Erinn chatted with the guys who worked there and exchanged stories of their diverse upbringings.

From there, Sepp went next door to grab lunch from Lefty’s, and Erinn tried another local beer – Marshall’s Sundown Wheat (her favorite thus far). Maia played out on the sidewalk while daddy took a work call, then tried her hand at a motorized scooter with him. That lasted about 5 seconds before she jumped ship and rolled onto the sidewalk. Let’s try again in a few years.

Sepp walked Erinn down to the Historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, which has now been listed on the National Register for Historic Places. The church was burned down during the Tulsa Massacre, but the basement remained in tact, so they rebuilt the top of the church, exactly the same as the original version.

After checking the locks on the doors about a dozen times all over the RV, we were off to our next adventure.