November 16, 2015
When it comes to travel by motor vehicle, boring is good. In part
that involves proper preparation and packing. Certainly there are
always those little things. Having to jump start the battery before
departure and having to repair the battery tender connections before
getting off, at least the generator started. American Customs was
routine, I'd shaved my beard to ensure my physiognomy matched the
passport photo. Driving through Buffalo and Lackawanna in the dark is
not pleasant but preferable to rush hour traffic. I paused at the
Erie Welcome Centre to make coffee considering myself lucky that I
wasn't seeing white stuff flying. Before heading due South I skirted
the edges of Cleveland Ohio.
In Ashland, Ohio stopped for fuel ($1.99/American Gal) and brunch at
Dennys where I took the opportunity to read the day's comix. An hour
later I found Cross Creek Resort in Delaware, OH without incident.
After a few miss-steps I've figured out the difference between South
and North Old State Road—a difference my guides failed to mention.
The park is already celebrating Christmas. I caught up online and
went to bed.
Decided I deserved to sleep in and so miss rush hour traffic in
Columbus, OH and Indianapolis, IN. Stopped at a travel centre for
fuel and brunch at Dennys once more. Since I visited Terre Haute last
they commenced highway construction hostilities making finding the
KOA there a challenge, not something one appreciates after a long
drive. The donkeys welcomed me with a nibble at my coat tail.
Day three began with fueling north of the highway. Gusting crosswinds
and early morning heavy showers made this the worst day for driving I
had in my travels. This day I encountered the other bugbear of
driving, mile upon mile of highway construction and rough roads. I
got through St. Louis, MO without incident and continued the long
drive to Lebanon, MO. There was a sale on traffic lights when the
city was built, they have one every block. Fourteen miles out of town
in the boonies the campground was obviously closed for the
season—their web site made no mention of fall closure. Drove over
to my fall-back position, the Bennett Spring State Park. Their
campground was open for self-pay. Oh Joy! After finding a site that
had working electricity put the money I had in an envelope, wrote up
the required info and dropped it in the vault. I considered it a
minor miracle that their Wi-Fi was up and working and since I was the
only person spending the night there I enjoyed excellent service. The
warnings about bears proved an exaggeration, expect they'd trundled
off for hibernation. It was one very quiet night.
Next day I took the north exit from the park which crossed a canted
Bailey bridge that gave me cause for trepidation before I gingerly
crossed it. The detritus from recent flooding had been pushed to one
side. Got gas in town and headed toward Tulsa, OH. This day's drive
seemed long and involved a toll highway for part of the trip.
Hoardings along the highway remind one that one is entering the Bible
Belt culminating in the sign for Oral Roberts U. For once there was
someone in the office at Warrior Campground when I arrived.
Most of Day 5 was spent in Oklahoma State which lived up to its rep
with a steady headwind blowing across the plain all day. The sunshine
reflecting off the soil gave it a fluorescent Orange cast. The
Oklahoma Welcome Centre provided half-decent free coffee. Little but
prairie farmland to see save for the passage through Oklahoma City.
I pulled off the highway there for gas. West of there farmland gives
way to open rangeland dotted with scrub. Entering Texas one begins to
encounter their countless wind farms. I stopped in a few miserably
small towns before I found a place to stop for lunch made in my RV.
The Overnight RV Park in Amarillo proved to be at the end of the
airport runway and had non-working Wi-Fi as had everyone else in the
area.
I did break down and accept a limousine ride complete with longhorn
hood ornament to the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Staff were accoutered in
Stetsons and cowboy boots. Christmas tree and decorations already in
place. A plaster model missing a thumb was seated at one of the long
tables. Did he complain about the service? I did not order the 72 oz
steak. After overeating I took a look at the rattlesnake in the gift
shop and the facilities for “Cowboys” and “Cowgirls” before I
caught a ride home. Overnight the temperature plunged to 28.
Next day it dropped as low as 24. I wore winter coat and gloves as I
gassed up. The wind turned during the night pushing me West to
Albuquerque, NM. The terrain was flat and dusky until a dark patch of
cloud proved indistinguishable from the foothills ahead. A cold front
was plainly visible as I passed through it. After the height of land
I entered the basin that holds Albuquerque at 5000 ft. No word from
the gentleman I went there to visit for the next 24 hours. American
RV Park was welcoming as ever. After several visits to the area I
finally got to drive old Route 66 into Old Town. Finding parking was
a challenge. Haggling is expected in the many gift shops and sidewalk
displays where turquoise and silver jewelry, ceramic pots, along with
Copper Arm bands bear prices in the $500 range. I did break down and
buy a nativity collection with a Pueblo inspired theme for a price
that would have scandalized my mother.
Monday, November 23rd I got ready for travel and took in
the complimentary continental breakfast provided by the Park before
leaving. For the first 125 or so miles I retraced my route toward
Texas before turning South on Hwy 84 at Santa Rosa. In Fort Sumner
which may or may not be the burial place of one Billy the Kid I
stopped not at the museum/fort but at the local grocery store. Just
East of Clovis I crossed back into Texas and the Central Time Zone,
Albuquerque is on Mountain Time. Here one enters the cotton belt
where half the crop is yet to be harvested and the fields are dotted
with pumpjacks. Highway here is a two-lane rated at 75 mph with
slower zones through small cities. The KOA in Lubbock is North-West
of town just off HWY 84 too near a railway track. There's a ring road
surrounding Lubbock, a 'town' famous for country music, government,
education, and medical facilities—shopping.
Tuesday Morning got off early to beat traffic gassing up first. The
four hundred mile drive was through rolling countryside on two-lane
and four-lane roads sometimes divided headed in a generally
South-Easterly direction. Somehow I'd forgotten how miserable it is
to drive into the rising sun. Albuquerque was 5000 ft, Lubbock 3000
ft so it was essentially downhill to Austin at 700. A slight
crosswind and unstable winding roads made the posted 75 a might too
fast for me. All was well until I reached a large gathering of
emergency vehicles 10 miles North of Leander 30 miles from Austin
blocking 3 of the four lanes. Lots of mangled cars. Made Austin
without a fillup but the low fuel light came on as I backed into the
driveway here in Austin.
I got here just in time, a few days ago Chicago got 12 inches of
snow. It's greener in Austin:
