On our first chase day in Oklahoma, we head northwest into Kansas (YEAH - Rebecca, Mike, & Brad got to go to KS for the first time!). We left Norman early, around 11:30 a.m., and returned to Norman around 11 p.m.   Here is our story, in pictures:

On the way out we went from Norman (Start) to Geary (1) to Watonga (2).   We ate lunch at the intersection of US270 and Hwy 51 south of Seiling (3).   From Seiling (3), we continued to Woodward (4), Fort Supply (5), May (6), Laverne (7) and then into KANSAS!   Yea!   Our first Kansas town was Englewood (8), although we were much more interested in the storms nearby.   We saw the severe weather at the curve in US283, just south of Minneola (End).

We did a lot of backtracking after leaving the storms back in Kansas.   We left Minneola (Start) and passed back through Ashland (1), Sitka (2), ...crossed the border... Buffalo (3), and Fort Supply (4).   We ate supper in Woodward (5) before heading home on the same route we used to head out.   We passed back through Seiling (6), Watonga (7), and Geary (8) before reaching Norman (End) late at night.

On the road, still in Oklahoma City on our first storm outing.

Headed west

View of downtown Oklahoma City

Pulled off for a stretch break, and a view of the countryside.

Driving in Watonga (Brad's most referenced town), we had NO clue what this was.   Mike yelled out, "It's an igloo." We illegaly backed up down the highway to get out and admire.   If you look closely you can even see the mailbox. (if this is your home let me know and I will gladly take this picture down.)

After scoping the map for a place to stop in and eat, we noticed picnic tables on the map and decided to go for them because it was now 2 and we were starving.   We opened the cooler only to find SMUSHED sandwiches.   Brad's brilliant idea of putting the sandwiches in first and then the grapes and apples in on top of them resulted in ONLY Rebecca and Mike's sandwiched smushed.   COINCIDENTALLY, Brad's sandwiches were fine.   But, we did enjoy the sandwiches because they were complimented with airheads and pretzels.   Now Mike decides to dump the whole bag of airheads everywhere in the car getting in, and Rebecca was so eagar to get in and take a look, she decided not to duck to get into the car.   BANG, OUCH.   Rebecca had her sunglasses on top of her head, and they got squished between the car and her head.   Mike spent many minutes trying to reform them to wearable conditions, but he failed miserably.   The nose piece was all crooked and made Rebecca look goofy.

What is up with these trash cans?   Do you know?

A view of the flat Oklahoma plains.

Oklahoma has the strangest roadside attractions, this one at an intersection of two roads with a rundown gas station. "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore."

The last Oklahoma town before Kansas.

WELCOME TO KANSAS!!  Number 38 for Rebecca?

We had to make an appearance at an historic sight!   It was the Big Basin and St. Jacobs Well.  Notice the bison in the background.  As we were leaving, the weather radio alerted us to our first severe warning in northern Ford county.

Awesome picures from beneath the squall line.

Great pictures of a dust storm associated with the outflow.  Even went right threw us.   No tornadic weather, though, because it was only on the ground and not connected with the cloud above.  Dust-nadoes is the terminology.

Beautiful cloud cover and "vertical growth."   Brad said that phrase tons of times today!

But the day in general was picturesque.