Heart and History
The funny thing about setting specific goals for yourself is that you risk failing. Without goals, there is no clear success or failure, only good fortune and bad. If you go a step further and set goals that involve other people, the potential for things to not go as planned only increases.
As Laura and I began this journey, we made it our goal meet the people who live nearest to the heart of every state. Our desire was to listen to them with the belief that everyone has a story to tell. We also hoped to make this journey not merely about us, but about the places and people we come across.
Yet this goal obviously sets up the possibility of failure; sometimes people’s experiences make them hesitant or frightened to share with others. Unfortunately, such was the case with the family that lives nearest to the center of Oklahoma. Despite one phone conversation and a few messages left, they never did return our calls.
So Monday morning, we set out to the center of Oklahoma not knowing who we would meet or speak to. With GPS unit out, we homed in on a small neighborhood in north Oklahoma City, just east of highway 77.
The entrance to the neighborhood informed us that we were entering “Broadway Park”. As we wandered among the older but mostly well-kept homes, we noticed that the forces of fear and distrust have been at work in many homes here. Yard signs warned would-be intruders of monitoring by such-and-so security, and barred windows were in vogue.
Following the GPS unit’s lead, we happened upon, appropriately enough, “Oklahoma Avenue”. The street soon dead ended at a creek, where we followed a path across and out into a field of wildflowers and tallgrass. One solitary cedar stood in the middle of the field, and after fifty yards or so, we arrived at the geographic center of Oklahoma.
To our south was Broadway Park; to the north were an apartment complex and a self-storage facility. Yet the center laid in a lovely undeveloped field teeming with purple coneflowers, Indian Blankets, and many other wildflowers. One in particular caught our eye–it was short with bright pink blooms that looked like an exploding firework. Later we learned its name is “Sensitive Briar”. We took in the scene, then made our way back to the bike.
Back in the neighborhood, we looked around for another nearby resident to chat with, and after two unanswered doorbells, we spotted a group of guys in their driveway, apparently working on cars. We headed their way but were intercepted by a woman pulling out of her driveway. She inquired about our bike, and soon we were chatting away. In no hurry, Robbin Higbee pulled back into her driveway to talk more. In the back seat were her sons, Mikey and Chris, who were eagerly awaiting their trip to purchase a yard pool.
Robbin had moved to Oklahoma only five years ago from South Carolina, and despite a lingering love for her former home, she had come to appreciate what Oklahoma has to offer. When asked what she liked about the state, she quickly answered, “The people–everyone is so friendly here. And the community–if something goes wrong here, everyone pitches in to help.” Her least favorite part? “Tornadoes.” Robbin’s experience thus far in the Sooner State perfectly mirrored Laura’s and mine on our four day shakedown tour in Northwest Oklahoma.
From the heart of the state, we made our way towards Deer Creek to connect with our families’ history in Oklahoma. Just recently, Laura and I found out that the home that my grandparents and father grew up in is less than a mile from the farmhouse that Laura’s family had homesteaded in back in 1895. We visited both homes; the Beese house stands empty since the death of my grandmother, while the Cartmill farmhouse is inhabited and on the National Registry of Historic Places. The current owners were unfortunately not home, so after looking around we hit the road.
Staying north of Oklahoma City, we rode along Coffee Creek road for mile after mile. The pastoral and farm-oriented scenery soon gave way to sprawling estates of north Edmond. Despite being designed to clearly communicate “I have arrived,” these Coffee Creek castles instead proclaimed a profound lack of contentment to us.
Ever eastward we rode, and soon we were out of reach of Edmond sprawl. Traffic and homes became rare; open fields and rolling hills were the norm now.
For our first night of the trip, we headed down to Lake Arcadia to camp for the evening. We swam until we were hungry, ate until we were full, then slept until we were rested. It seems that “the profound lesson of reception” that we hope to learn from bicycle travel applies not only to our surroundings, but our own bodies as well.
This website chronicles the adventures of 
I love you both, and I am praying for you. I think about and wonder what you are doing often, and I can’t wait till the day (it seems so far off!) when I will see you again. Breakfast club reunion 2009!
Ich stimme absolut mit Abby zu! Ich bete für euch jeden Tag und kann einfach nicht warten bis wir wieder für Breakfast Club treffen können! Ich hoffe dass meine Deutsch deiner Website einen international Geschmack gibt! Ich liebe euch beide und freue mich sehr auf August in DC!!!
All I understood from Charlie’s message was Abby and Breakfast Club. So.. I’m agreeing with whatever the heck he had to say! The “welcome back!” breakfast club, 2009! I’ll bring the raisons and apple butter.
Hi Guys!
Laura, your mom is my son’s piano teacher (Matthew). I wanted to let you know that my mom has offered an invitation for a place to stay and home cooked meal if you are any where near Batesville, Arkansas (about 90 miles NE of Little Rock). If you decide to take a side trip to Batesville, you will not be disappointed!
Laura, your mom has my phone number if interested. We are praying for you guys and know you will enjoy this wonderful adventure!
Rick, Melinda and Matthew Church
Nevada, MO
Hey there! I just got back from trip to North Carolina and New Jersey and wanted to catch up with you guys. Things sound GREAT! I enjoyed reading your articles and agree with you that we don’t stop to take the time to do things without feeling like we have to move on. I sat for about 2 hours watching the sunset at Sunset Beach in Cape May. It was WONDERFUL! I know that it’s not the center of New Jersey but I wish you guys could experience, too! Take care and I’ll keep checking in on you guys!
Karen Riley
Allora, non possiamo permittere il tedesco vincere! Io, Laura et Aaron! Manete tuti et fruimini cursu. Narrationes cupide exspecto!