Bad Brad's

Believe it or not, the URL for Bad Brad's Bar-B-Q appears to be broken. I've posted it anyway, and will update it as needed. They have refreshed their logo, and the menu, but everything is the same down to the multiple police vehicles in the parking lot. An officer was pulling in after me. I know I was doing the speed limit. He was making a bee-line for the door.



I had to fire the flash to get this shot. There is the fireplace that I shot from the outside yesterday. There is a second dining room as well. If the parking lots a full, just wait for a parking spot to open and there will be a seat inside. There are also picnic tables outside for extra nice days, which are coming on fast.


No blue plate. Just a wrapped sandwich and a bowl of beans. No need for an appetizer and the drink is a root-beer. Cold bottle beer is available too. There are three police cars in the parking lot. If it is noon, there is contingent of lawyers in the forward dining room. This restaurant is 1.0 miles from the county courthouse. Ergo, the one and done policy for beer and the strong preference from the root variety.


This is the original home-brew smoker. This is where the magic of BBQ happens. They let it run for a very long time, based on how deep the smoke reddening goes into the brisket. Take a really close look at the sandwich. It's sliced brisket. The shed for this smoker is new. Here's why:

There is a second smoker in the shed now. It's nearly identical to the first, but slightly updated and improved. This is where the liquid smoke for the BBQ sauce is produced. Without the magic in these two crucibles of BBQ perfection, you'd never get the sauce that comes from this place.

It is all in the taste, and the fact that I saw the liquid smoke collection system in years past. I happen to believe that the liquid smoke is more valuable than the smoked eats of all kinds that come from these kettles. Of course, the two go hand in hand. After eating here, I could qualify for a case of smoke inhalation at any hospital emergency room, and all I've done is eat BBQ. I will be tasting Bad Brad's for days.

It is in this chamber that more magic happens. Outdoors, it is here that the smoked meat finishes it's cooking. Very slowly. This place is locked up at night, as it takes well more than 24 hours for a new piece of flesh to make it's way to you your table, and it's never chilled as far as I can see. In fact, there are stacked warmers in the prep room. Literally, this place is a continuous bar-b-q operation, as are many other pit BBQ places. Brad's has three locations in Oklahoma.

If you call ahead, they've got a drive through. There's no cord to drive over, so you have to honk. They're more likely to come out the door to do business.

But if you ask, they'll do the drive-thru thing with the little window and all. Seems a bit rushed after 1600 miles of driving, but if that's your only reason for coming, I suggest you buy a few gallons of sauce and as much smoked brisket as they will sell you. Call ahead if you need allot, an they are happy to oblige. I plan to save room for some brisket and other smoked goodies, time permitting.

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Closed Sunday

Yup. I drove all the way to Pawhuska for nothing but a snapshot from across the road. At least you can see that it was snowing on my favorite BBQ place. This is the original Bad Brad's BBQ joint. I had planned to sit by the fireplace. Bummer. You will get to go here. I promise.

I decided that the Icicles hanging from the awning of a pale shopfront were worth stopping for. Good thing, because while breaking to park, all the snow from my hood finally lurched off landed in front of the car. It would prove to be a wheelspinner when I took of from the photo op.

Not to be un-BBQ'd, I resorted to the best Sunday BBQ on the planet. Dink's Pit BBQ on Frank Philips Blvd. in Bartlesville. Above, you have their signature appetizer (as far as I am concerned). They are called Onion Strings, and pair well with Beer and BBQ Sauce. You can eat them plain. Please note that it is a half-order that is pictured here. It will serve as a appetizer for four (4) people.

I opted for the Solo Plus which is a chopped beef brisket sandwich with the side of your choice. In this case it was the baked beans. Brisket and beans. These are the two things that I forever define a BBQ place by. I've tried dozens over the years, and this dish is always unique from place to place. Having seen all of the changes over the years in Bartlesville, it's nice to know that Dink's remains the same.

Sun Day?

The blue is snow. Bartlesville is at the center of the map, and the rotation of the storm has us on the back side. The wrap-over as I call it. While there is a good 4" of snow on well insulated rooftops, the wind has done a better job at removing snow than anything else. The roads are clear but slushy. Today will be a good day to take a scenic trip over to Pawhuska for a nice afternoon meal by a warm fireplace in an old stone house.

Snowing in Barttlesville

I did run a check on the weather for the first week, and it was pretty accurate. I brought my umbrella anyway, since I know the weather in northeast Oklahoma can be very changeable. Tomorrow is supposed to be the first day of spring. I wonder if the birds know something.

This tree is on the lee side of the conference/restaurant section of the hotel. My view is left of center and of the rooftop of the extension. The rail in the photo is the wall extension that makes the building look like it has a flat roof from the ground. It hides the peaked roof and HVAC equipment so you don't see it from the road or parking lot.

There is just a bit more that 1" of snow on the rail. They are saying up to 6" total may fall over the next 36 hours. Then it will be cold. Good thing about this is that I will not overheat moving my items from the garage to storage. I brought my light gloves that will help, but will not be perfect. Nothing is. The worst part is that my snow shovel is missing too.

I can hear the maids making their rounds, and I will give them the day off today. It's time to rebuild my macros and do some campaign battle. Internet connection stress test time.

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Friday Wrap

For whatever reason, my stomach feels as twisted as the hasp above.

Weather Channel says snow tomorrow. It would be Winter's last spit.

This is the view from my back-yard. The six-foot fence is gone. A remnant remains to the right of the frame. Yes, those are railroad tracks. The centline of the tracks is 75' from my back property line. That is a total of 108' from the fenceline. The 33' in the middle was an alley that was abandonded and deeded back to the landowners. That means that I need a bunch of new fence.

By the way, that was as close to a sunset as we got today.

I got to sit in an Engineer's chair, and what was below?

I would have to say that this qualifies as the first heated seat.

There were three more such u-shaped pipes on the other side of the cab.

The middle seat did not need a heater.

It was reserved for the fireman.

The other chair in the cab is for the breakman.

Where was I?

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scroll down for the answer

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It has 10 wheel drive.

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Give up?

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Keep scrolling.

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Yup. A Santa-Fe 2-10-2 Freight Hauler.


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Case #1266

The title says it all. There is now an open case on the forced entry burglary that occurred in my absence. Aside from that, I am somewhat depressed over the discovery and the loss. I actually needed some of the tools that were stolen. That's why they were there.

Even my chess board was gone. It's at the neighbors, as a set of stepping stones. I must have word with the work crew. Pitty.

Luckily, I have some support from a new neighbor, who likes the idea of having a neighbor. I get to use his truck to move items that won't fit in the beast.

Perhaps a photo when I wrap the day.

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Thursday Wrap

It was neat to see more wind power.

These were the same kind of units that appeared on Dirty Jobs.

They are half way to Oklahoma City on US 40.

If you don't know this logo, Good. More for me.

It has to be Oklahoma's best kept ... Shhhh!

This looking back at Ponca City, across the Arkansas River.

Float downstream, and you end up in Tulsa.

The photo is taken from inside the Osage Nation.

I felt a little dark after getting to the homestead, to discover twisted hasps and missing property.

I will be busy for the next few days securing what remains of my belongings.



I will update accordingly.



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