BBQ and Vintage Motorcycles on Historic Route 66
At the end of yesterday my day looked nothing like it was supposed to when I woke up in the morning. I spent my morning excited for my second visit to the HoldFast Gear shop is Bixby, OK. If you have read my previous posts you will know I am an ambassador for HoldFast and they are truly an amazing company. I was scheduled to have lunch and talk about a Solo Money Maker Harness. I packed up and left my office in time to get to Matthew Swaggert’s shop (Founder of HoldFast Gear). Driving up the Turner Turnpike I was replaying all the different colored Money Makers in my head and trying to figure out what would be cool, no one else had and would make a visual impact when people saw it. Of course I need something different being an ambassador for them and needing everything I can get to make people notice a harness like they haven’t seen before. Anyway… the drive to their shop in Bixby, OK from my office in Edmond, OK is a little over an hour and a half. I get within 20 minutes of their shop and I get a deflating text from Matthew that he needs to cancel and reschedule as he has had something come up that needs immediate attention. Not a big deal outside of I was looking forward to talking with Matthew more now that I was onboard as an ambassador for HoldFast. Oh well I thought and started looking for the next exit to turn around and head home.
I decided as I drove the next 8 miles to an exit to get turned around to call my local Oklahoma photography buddy, Robert Trawick. If you know Robert you will know he travels the state and knows all the cool stuff around to shoot. I call and Robert answered. I give him the back story of what happened and asked if there is anything in Tulsa that is unique that I may have not shot before. We go through a few options but he reminds me I am in a boot with a leg injury so walking wouldnt be the best option. I agreed and we really didnt come up with anything. Then as I am exiting he said…. Turn Around… and proceeds to tell me about the vintage motorcycle musem in Wellston, OK. I have been to Wellston numerous times as it’s only a few hundred yards off the turnpike. I turn around and check out the link Robert sent me to the museum. Cool looking place, vintage, unique and what made it cooler is it is located on Historic Route 66.
As I am driving I remember that one of the restaurants I have always wanted to go to is The Butcher Stand BBQ in Wellston so I decide today is the day. I have never had a reason to drive an hour for lunch so I have never been to this place which I have been told you need to get there early or they sell out. As I pull into the parking lot its 11:52 and the line is out the door. I think nothing of it as there are only about 20 people in line so this should be quick. I get in line in the 103 degree summer day and it’s hot… Really hot.. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the door and as I step in for my turn I look to my right and there it is…. It’s like I am in the line for the roller coaster at Disneyworld. The line goes does the wall the entire length of the restaurant and then makes a 180 and comes back before you get to the front and the register. 52 minutes later I am ordering probably the greatest brisket nachos I have ever had. Was it worth it.. not sure.. They were amazing but I don’t think there is any food on the earth worth waiting in line for almost an hour for.
Fast forward I am done eating and head to my car. After waiting an hour and thinking about shooting old vintage motorcycles has me more excited than the original plan for the day. The day was going to be the business side of photography and now changed to the fun shooting side of photography which is where my true passion is.
I get in the car, type in the address and it’s two and a half miles down Route 66 to the east. Quick drive and I pull up in the small parking lot of the old what looks like a filing station. Old brick building with a lone truck in the parking lot. I think to myself…. why is the guy working the motorcycle museum not riding a motorcycle. Not sure.. I head inside and meet an older retired gentleman that owns the museum and does this in his retirement. And…. the admission price - FREE… We talk for a little while about him and the museum and he fills me in on a lot of history of the place. Really cool to say the least. Did I say there is no AC?? There isn’t and it was warm but that didn’t matter as it’s a cool little place. We wrap up our discussion and I go inside the rooms with the motorcycles and it was really amazing. I am not a bug motorcycle guy but these were really neat what I would call vintage works of art. It takes me about 45 minutes to get through all three rooms and get all the shots I want and I walk out and exchange a little more banter with the owner and I leave to drive home. It was truly a cool place and if you are on the Turner Turnpike in Oklahoma between Oklahoma City and Tulsa you need to stop in and see the place. It is honestly a 4-5 minutes detour to get to the place and it’s worth your time.. Trust me….
JBP
