Ash Cloud Strands British Family in Oklahoma

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

HENRYETTA, Oklahoma -- A British family vacationing in Oklahoma will have to extend their stay a little longer.

Kim Smith, his girlfriend Nicky Royall and their two kids are unable to return home because of the volcanic ash cloud hovering over Europe; the result of an erupting Icelandic volcano.

The family was spending two weeks at the Tiger Mountain Ranch east of Henryetta. Their flight was among hundreds that were canceled because of the cloud. Not that they're complaining.

"I should have been back at work today," said Royall. "But Tiger Mountain Ranch is definitely the place to be. The kids were doing cartwheels after finding out the flight was canceled.

Monday was the first day back to school for their sons, Jonathan and Oliver, so it's easy to understand their enthusiasm. Now, the boys are hitting the banks of the lake instead of hitting the books.

"We were supposed to be back today but now we get an extra week off, which is just amazing," Jonathan said.

Smith, a property manager, was also supposed to be back at work already. The couple called into their supervisors, who they say have been pretty understanding through all this, at least for now.

"If they did try to foreclose on our jobs when we got back, we have a good case to sort out," Smith said.

The family said they're scheduled to fly out this Friday, but that too could be delayed because of the ash cloud.

Even though the family hasn't left yet, they will be back in the Sooner State again at some point. They've purchased several acres of land and plan on building a vacation home.