Dozens of people warned me against taking the Northwest Passage, the trip up through No Man's Land in Oklahoma. "There's NOTHING up there."
I guess they wanted to save it all for themselves; I loved every minute of the trip. Not only was the scenery beautiful, the Red Carpet People of Oklahoma are unique and wonderful.
No Man's Land got its name in 1885 when federal officials decided homesteads in the area were invalid because "no man" can own land there. The Euromericans were so mean it took a bunch of vigilante committees to keep order.
About 30 miles west on I-40 from Oklahoma City US Highways 270 and 281 head up north towards Geary. This feels like country the Cheyenne loved and before them the Arapaho drifted through like fleeting shadows. There's a very nice divided highway with short trees decorating little hills and shallow valleys. Geary (with its population of 1400) closes up shop on Sundays. Strangers are recognized at a glance as an unimportant part of the landscape. Within a 25 mile radius of Geary, you'll find the two Canadian rivers, two lakes, and two state parks.
The100-acre American Horse Lake is just 10 miles west of Geary. Most of the trees there are post oak or blackjack. There are some good-sized bluegill and largemouth bass waiting to be caught there. The 310-acre Red Rock Canyon State Park is about 25 miles south and offers fishing opportunities too. Geary residents claim Roman Nose State Park too, as it is less than 25 miles away.
The grave of Jesse Chisolm is at the town's Left Hand Spring Camp, named after the main Chief of the southern Arapahoes. The Geary Rustler was the town's first newspaper. Some people say it was the Hustler, but if so, it missed its true name by one letter.
On the north side of town the trees turn to elms and cedars. The highway opens up in a tempting way with passing lanes sprinkled liberally along. A tourist doing close to a hundred passed us so fast she didn't see the blue lights come on in front of her. She repented too slowly. The state trooper had her nailed in a hurry.
Be sure to click the title for more information.
Other links to the Red Carpet region include: Red carpet Country * Great Salt Plains * Okeene, home of the original rattlesnake hunt * Enid * Major County * Major County Historical Society * Kaw Lake * Kaw City * Ponca City Tourism * Blackwell *
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