Roadtrippin': Day Three

Got a late start hitting the road. Claire woke me up around 6:30 AM local time, but it was not until 9:30 when I finally loaded the truck and hit the road. I decided to make use of the Internet access and take care of some business online while I could. I had this feeling that I would not be able to access the Internet until I got to California, and only then if my hotel’s Internet service was working.

Claire and TxLobo have a couple of couches that they’re trying to sell. If one of them is the one I slept on last night AND I had room in the back of my truck, I would have bought it. That was a very comfy couch. I love couches I can just sit and sink into. It had lots of pillows and room for up to four people.

Traveling back to the interstate where Abilene was located, I was comtemplative about how the state of Texas allows the speed limit to be 70 mph on state-maintained roads. In Georgia, the speed limit was always 55 mph. I think it’s because the state roads in Texas are so remote and sparsely populated. In any case, I was glad I was able to travel at that speed.

Upon arrival to Abilene, I was surprised at how large the city was. For some reason, I had assumed it was a smaller city like Valdosta, Georgia. Before I got to the Interstate, I had seen a wide array of restaurants, stores, and other businesses … all looking like they had been built within the last five years. I saw a billboard for a restaurant that struck me as funny: “Buffet City, Over 200 items.” Talk about telling it like it is!

I started thinking about Soul Sister. She was born in Abilene. I don’t know what her work schedule is, and I’m so afraid I’ll wake her if she’s home because she’s usually asleep. She’s been on my mind a lot lately. I haven’t spoken to her in awhile, and I teared up when I was reminded yet again that I failed to call her. I miss her. It was easier to keep in touch when she had Internet service, but her current home doesn’t have adequate service yet. Still, I need to call.

As I got back on the Interstate, I started looking at gas prices again. In this area as of this writing, it was $2.07 for regular unleaded. I was told it was about that price in Waycross, Georgia. I hadn’t seen exuberant gas prices yet, but I’m expected it anytime.

Sweetwater, Texas has a wind farm south of I-20. A wind farm is a spot of land in which power-generating windmills are located to catch the wind and generate electricity. To the best of my knowledge, these windmills do not create hazardous waste nor damage the ozone layer. It is, to my understanding, one of the cleanest forms of energy we have available to us if we just utilize it more. It was a sight to behold.



I remember reading about how a company wanted to put up a wind farm at Martha’s Vineyard, and the residents protested, saying the wind farm would be an eyesore. I can’t speak for other people, but I’d much rather have a wind farm as a view than to pollute the environment by burning oil and coal to generate electricity. To me, wind farms are beautiful.

I approached a sign at the beginning of a bridge, displaying that the Colorado River was just ahead. I was expecting a large body of water. I was taken aback at how dried up this river was. I’ve seen water-filled ditches with more water than this “river.”

There was a refinery that I passed on my right; it was owned by Fina. OMG! I thought the paper mill in Brunswick, Georgia had a bad smell! Ewww! Note to self: never move close to an oil refinery.

Shock of the day: When I approached the city of Monahan, Texas, the speed limit on the Interstate went up to 80 mph. I had to do a double take. My first thought was that vandals changed the sign. There was a second sign right after the first one that said trucks and cars with trailers must go 70 mph. I was elated. I could drive 80 mph and do it legally! I set my cruise control and happily continued on my way. Of course, I had to call my good friend Pumooda and tell her about the speed limit signs.

One of the things I noticed about speed limit signs in Texas is that they have different speed limits for daytime and nighttime. The daytime speed limits are posted in black letters on white backgrounds. However, the nighttime speed limites are posted in white letters on black backgrounds. If the speed limit is 70 mph or higher, then a nighttime speed limit of 65 mph is posted.

About five miles before I-20 merged with I-10, I entered the first mountainous area of my trip. It was beautiful. Parts of the road were lined with landscaped jagged rocks and boulders. I started thinking about the freeways in San Diego where they had similar landscaping. A couple of tears ran down my cheeks before I was brought back to the reality that I was still in Texas. I still had a ways to go, but I was getting closer.

My cell phone reception up until I entered this area had been excellent. Once I got to the mountains, my reception was virtually nonexistent. It was a little unnerving at first. It’s funny how quickly we adapt to technological advances to the point that we become naked and vulnerable when they’re suddenly not available.

Approaching an exit around 169 miles from the New Mexico state line, I noticed the gas prices for regular unleaded were $2.69. I was wondering how long it was going to be before I approached these high-priced gas stations. At least it was a modern-looking station (from what I could see from the interstate). However, I wasn’t about to stop for gas. Luckily, I fueled up 100 miles ago when the gas cost $2.29 a gallon. Even then, I’ve got two five-gallon containers of gasoline in the back of the truck. If a gas station didn’t look safe, I wasn’t going to stop.

I did make a stop to take a couple of pictures of this beautiful rainbow:






Once I got to the El Paso county line, the speed limit dropped back down to 70 mph. It was a nice ride while it lasted.

Finally, I got to New Mexico. By then, I had been on the road approximately eight hours. I made a reservation at the Super 8 in Lordsburg, New Mexico, and it was going to be another couple of hours before I got there.

Dark clouds were forming overhead as I drove on. I was looking at the various shapes each cloud formed. One had a lopsided triangular shape to it. I wondered if it was the beginnings of a tornado, but I blew it off (no pun intended). I figured mother nature was playing her optical illusions again. By then, it was nearly dark and I couldn’t see the sky.

Then the wind hit the truck.

You know how when you’re riding in a vehicle you can hear the steady sound of the wind, and it’s a constant sound? The sound of the wind went from a soothing rush to a sudden roar. At the same time, my truck’s steering became more difficult to control. I immediately slowed down. I looked around and noticed other vehicles hitting their brakes at the same time. This lasted for about 30 seconds before whatever hit us died down. There was no rain, no hail. Was it a tornado? I honestly couldn’t tell you. Whatever it was, it was powerful.

Finally, I arrived at my hotel. I didn't feel like eating the food I brought with me. I wanted some comfort food, so I decided to treat myself to McDonalds. I got my food, brought it back to my room, and enjoyed my gourmet chicken nuggets and fries. I went to sleep shortly after.