We are in Sayer, Oklahoma

 

We arrived on Easter Sunday, April 5. 2026
Though it was not the first time this year we also stopped on April 4, 2026

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Saturday we pulled out of the New Mexico Welcome Center, where we had spent a restful night, merged on to I-40 and headed West, yes West. After just a few miles we were at an exit which we took, then crossed over to the entrance back on to I-40 going East.

Back on I-40 going East we soon passed the New Mexico Welcome
Center where we were parked among the Semis.

Then we again said goodbye to New Mexico
and 
Hello to Texas

In Texas and on our way.

We say a lot of semi-trucks today.
What a great message on the back of the middle truck.

We went by grain elevators 

and my favorite, windmills.

There were turbines in the distance and cattle.

We passed by the Cadillac Ranch. 
We have stopped here in the past but not this time.

Then we were going through Amarillo.
We actually had dinner at the Big Texan last Easter.

Then we spotted the Cross in Groom, Texas

Built in 1995 by Steve Thomas of Pampa, Texas, this impressive roadside structure (often called the Groom Cross) took eight months to complete with the help of 100 welders working in two locations. Once finished, it took seven flatbed trucks to move the giant steel pieces from Pampa to Groom, where they were assembled into what would become one of the most iconic landmarks on the Mother Road.

The stainless steel cross stands 190 feet tall, weighs a staggering 2.5 million pounds, and was specifically engineered to withstand the harsh winds that blow across the Texas Panhandle. While it’s often dubbed the “Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere,” it’s actually the second-tallest cross in the United States—just a few feet shorter than the 198-foot “Cross at the Crossroads” in Effingham, Illinois, which was directly inspired by the one in Groom.

Since 1995, Cross Ministries has grown tremendously. Starting with the Cross and a small building for greeting visitors, the grounds now has over a dozen life-sized bronze sculptures that portray Jesus’ journey to the cross. There is also a replica of the Shroud of Turin, the Empty Tomb, an Abortion Memorial, a bronze sculpture of St. Michael the Archangel, and The Ten Commandments. They have also moved from the little building to a much larger building, which houses their Divine Mercy Fountain, Gift Shop and Restrooms, Reception Room, Offices and Counseling Center, and Theater.

After looking up this information I hope we will come back this way and the next time we will be stopping.

The Leaning Tower of Britten.
Not my best picture of this. 

In Groom there is also a leaning water tower, sometimes called The Leaning Tower of Texas or The Leaning Tower of Britten, which currently serves as a decorative item and roadside attraction. The leaning tower was originally a functioning water tower which was slated for demolition until Ralph Britten bought it and moved it to serve as a sign for his truck stop and tourist information center (located on a stretch of interstate that was once a part of U.S. Route 66). This truck stop can still be seen, set back off the road behind the tower, now boarded up and in disrepair following a devastating fire decades ago.

Eventually we crossed into Oklahoma and stopped at the Welcome Center.

A few more miles and we were in Sayer, Oklahoma

In our Easter blog I mentioned we felt like life had thrown us a small "storm". Looking back it was more like a tiny "storm" but when it is happening it always seems a little larger. When we pulled out of Meteor Crater RV Park back on Thursday, April 2nd, there was a plan in place. By Friday night we had already put into place a Plan B. Not that big of a deal just another hour or so of driving and Tom said he was up to it. Then Saturday happened. I am not going to name the place or its location because just because it was not the right choice for us that does not mean it would not be for the next person. One thing we learned the hard way is when you do not feel comfortable pulling into a place do not do it. It only took once and that once resulted in damage to our 5th wheel and a popped out back window in our truck. Since then we trust our gut instincts and do not do it. We had planned a two night stop that would include going to Mass on Easter and enjoying a nice dinner I had planned. When we got to the stop we immediately did not like the entrance into it or the parking space made available. We did walk it to be sure but decided it just was not a place we would feel good pulling into, being parked at, or pulling out of. The corners and drive in were all tight. So we kept going and another Plan B developed, The Sayre City Park. We have stayed there several times and it is always half empty. It is not anything fancy but the sites are long with water and electricity (50amps) along with an available dump station. On this Saturday we pulled up to a totally full park. Checking there website later that evening we found out they had a Alumni golf thing going on. So now it is late in the day and we are not going to start searching so the decision was to head back the 17 or so miles to the Oklahoma Welcome Center, where we spent the night.

In the morning after I posted the blog we decided not to go into Elk City, look for the church and try to find parking for the rig. So we watched Easter Sunday Mass online, had our coffee. We talked about it and decided that with any luck people would be pulling out of the Sayre City Park and we would find a site. Regardless, we could use the dump and move on if we had to. Well luck was with us and while Tom was dumping our tanks I took a walk down into the park and the site we have always been able to pull in to was open. When we leave in the morning we will have spent five nights here and enjoyed the stop. At $12 per night we feel it is a very good deal. (You may feel like I put way to much information into this but it is about our memories of the journey.)

Heading back to Sayre again. When we turn onto the road to the
park we could see the dome on their city hall.

The entrance in and our site in the distance.

All is well that ends well is a good way to put these days. Yes, we had a few glitches or a tiny "storm" but in the scheme of things we had a good spot at the two Welcome Centers and were able to rest and move on.  Those new plans, B, C...etc...are just part of the journey. 

If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 

or the words I have added that makes me smile. 

If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 

No matter what I am glad you stopped by!