| I - 40 Westbound and Down, Good Buddy |
We finally got underway with
the trip after multiple delays.
One delay was caused when
our 27 year-old washing
machine needed Depends
just a couple of days before
we were to leave. We
decided to send it to
appliance heaven instead.
the trip after multiple delays.
One delay was caused when
our 27 year-old washing
machine needed Depends
just a couple of days before
we were to leave. We
decided to send it to
appliance heaven instead.
Our first stop was at one of our
favorite places to eat, the Bean
Pot, at Crossville, TN. We stopped
here for supper, and wound up
spending the night in their back
parking lot so we could eat
breakfast there the next morning.
favorite places to eat, the Bean
Pot, at Crossville, TN. We stopped
here for supper, and wound up
spending the night in their back
parking lot so we could eat
breakfast there the next morning.
The first tourist
attraction we visited
was the Clinton
Presidential Library in
Little Rock, AR.
attraction we visited
was the Clinton
Presidential Library in
Little Rock, AR.
Martha gets the credit
for remembering that we
would be passing close
by and suggesting this
stop.
for remembering that we
would be passing close
by and suggesting this
stop.
The library/museum
offers an excellent view
of the Little Rock skyline.
We arrived just in time
for the first heat wave of
the year. It was 91
degrees and about that
much humidity.
offers an excellent view
of the Little Rock skyline.
We arrived just in time
for the first heat wave of
the year. It was 91
degrees and about that
much humidity.
Unlike the Kennedy
Library that we visited last
fall, this one is loaded
with memorabilia from the
Clinton presidency.
Among the items were
one of the presidential
limousines that he used.
Library that we visited last
fall, this one is loaded
with memorabilia from the
Clinton presidency.
Among the items were
one of the presidential
limousines that he used.
The Oval Office as it
appeared during the
Clinton Administration
is recreated in minute
detail.
appeared during the
Clinton Administration
is recreated in minute
detail.
Terry checks out the
display and artifacts
from the Oklahoma City
bombing.
display and artifacts
from the Oklahoma City
bombing.
The Clinton Center is
located on the banks of
the Arkansas River.
Martha's great-aunt once
rode/swam across this
river on horseback to get
away from her abusive
husband. After hearing of
this, Martha's great-
grandfather rode a horse
from Rutherford County
NC and killed his son-in-
law. We would have killed
someone too if we had to
ride a horse that far!
located on the banks of
the Arkansas River.
Martha's great-aunt once
rode/swam across this
river on horseback to get
away from her abusive
husband. After hearing of
this, Martha's great-
grandfather rode a horse
from Rutherford County
NC and killed his son-in-
law. We would have killed
someone too if we had to
ride a horse that far!
We made a brief stop
in Sallisaw, OK. Martha
is walking in front of an
old stagecoach stop.
in Sallisaw, OK. Martha
is walking in front of an
old stagecoach stop.
As we travel farther west,
the land is getting flatter,
and the trees fewer. I-40
in eastern OK was pretty
rough, so our drinks were
thoroughly stirred when
we stopped for the night.
the land is getting flatter,
and the trees fewer. I-40
in eastern OK was pretty
rough, so our drinks were
thoroughly stirred when
we stopped for the night.
It is said that every-
thing is bigger in
Texas. This was a huge
underground rest area
east of Amarillo - not a
welcome center, just a
rest area.
thing is bigger in
Texas. This was a huge
underground rest area
east of Amarillo - not a
welcome center, just a
rest area.
We stopped at Clovis,
NM and spent the night.
Martha's cousin, George
Griffin, was stationed
here while in the Air
Force in the late 1960's.
NM and spent the night.
Martha's cousin, George
Griffin, was stationed
here while in the Air
Force in the late 1960's.
Clovis is remembered
best by Rock 'n Roll
enthusiasts as the place
where Buddy Holly
recorded "Peggy Sue."
best by Rock 'n Roll
enthusiasts as the place
where Buddy Holly
recorded "Peggy Sue."
We will remember
Clovis for the near-miss
we experienced with a
tornado. Fortunately,
we were just a few
miles west of the storm.
That was the darkest
cloud we had ever
seen.
Clovis for the near-miss
we experienced with a
tornado. Fortunately,
we were just a few
miles west of the storm.
That was the darkest
cloud we had ever
seen.
The next day we traveled southwest from Clovis
to Las Cruces, NM. We drove for many long
miles through desolate high-desert countryside
with little traffic, and almost no sign of
civilization between towns. We did stop at
Roswell, NM for lunch. It is most famous as the
spot where supposedly an alien spacecraft
crashed in 1947. We probably saw lots of aliens
there, but none of them were green.
to Las Cruces, NM. We drove for many long
miles through desolate high-desert countryside
with little traffic, and almost no sign of
civilization between towns. We did stop at
Roswell, NM for lunch. It is most famous as the
spot where supposedly an alien spacecraft
crashed in 1947. We probably saw lots of aliens
there, but none of them were green.
Places like this make
having a bathroom and
refrigerator full of cold
drinks right behind you
all the time very very
nice.
having a bathroom and
refrigerator full of cold
drinks right behind you
all the time very very
nice.
We are far enough into
the desert now that we
are beginning to see
cacti on a regular basis.
It is also blooming
season for many of the
desert plants.
the desert now that we
are beginning to see
cacti on a regular basis.
It is also blooming
season for many of the
desert plants.
Needless to say, it is hot
in the desert! This was in
Las Cruces, and yes, we
were able to get the
inside temperature down
to a more comfortable 74
degrees after a little air
conditioning.
in the desert! This was in
Las Cruces, and yes, we
were able to get the
inside temperature down
to a more comfortable 74
degrees after a little air
conditioning.
The next morning we took time out to
visit a city park on the banks of the
Rio Grand River and just hang out
for a while. It was very pleasant in
the morning and we enjoyed seeing
this historic river.
visit a city park on the banks of the
Rio Grand River and just hang out
for a while. It was very pleasant in
the morning and we enjoyed seeing
this historic river.
As we traveled across
I-10 into Arizona, we
began to see more of
the rocks in the Rocky
Mountains as
evidenced at this AZ
rest area.
I-10 into Arizona, we
began to see more of
the rocks in the Rocky
Mountains as
evidenced at this AZ
rest area.
In the desert, almost
everything sticks, pricks,
or has a poisonous bite.
This sign reminds us to
keep on the sidewalks.
everything sticks, pricks,
or has a poisonous bite.
This sign reminds us to
keep on the sidewalks.
The travel season
slows down here in
the hot summer.
Some campgrounds
close on May 1 for
the summer. This is
a resort campground
in Benson, AZ (near
Tucson) on Memorial
Day weekend. It was
almost deserted for
most of the time we
were there.
slows down here in
the hot summer.
Some campgrounds
close on May 1 for
the summer. This is
a resort campground
in Benson, AZ (near
Tucson) on Memorial
Day weekend. It was
almost deserted for
most of the time we
were there.
Our storm experience in Clovis was frightening for both of
us. The storm tracked through the area where we had been
only about an hour earlier. Fortunately, we had made good
time that day, and arrived at the campground early to set up
for the evening. With the TV urgently alerting us to the
tornado warning and encouraging immediate action by
those in the area, we were rightly concerned. Since the sky
was clear to our west, we determined that if the storm came
closer, we would hop in the truck and head west leaving the
camper behind. That idea was good until we realized that
Terry had inadvertently locked the keys in the truck when he
unhooked from the camper. The good news was that we
had an extra set of keys with us. The bad news is that they
were in the truck too. But, more good news was that Terry
carries an extra key in his billfold. However, more bad news
was that it was the key for his Dodge truck back in North
Carolina. We will always be thankful for a wonderful AAA
vendor who came out in the storm and unlocked the truck
for us. Sure glad we renewed our motorclub dues before we
left home! Thankfully the storm passed us by, and we only
got a good scare out of this incident. Note to self: Pay
attention - dammit!
us. The storm tracked through the area where we had been
only about an hour earlier. Fortunately, we had made good
time that day, and arrived at the campground early to set up
for the evening. With the TV urgently alerting us to the
tornado warning and encouraging immediate action by
those in the area, we were rightly concerned. Since the sky
was clear to our west, we determined that if the storm came
closer, we would hop in the truck and head west leaving the
camper behind. That idea was good until we realized that
Terry had inadvertently locked the keys in the truck when he
unhooked from the camper. The good news was that we
had an extra set of keys with us. The bad news is that they
were in the truck too. But, more good news was that Terry
carries an extra key in his billfold. However, more bad news
was that it was the key for his Dodge truck back in North
Carolina. We will always be thankful for a wonderful AAA
vendor who came out in the storm and unlocked the truck
for us. Sure glad we renewed our motorclub dues before we
left home! Thankfully the storm passed us by, and we only
got a good scare out of this incident. Note to self: Pay
attention - dammit!