Our Journey Back
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Our trip plans changed unexpectedly on June 5. We left Hemet
that morning bound for Las Vegas. A quick succession of phone
calls informed us that Martha's beloved cousin, Henry, had been
hospitalized and suddenly passed away. We immediately set out
to get back home. We arrived in North Carolina 2300 miles and
three days later, exhausted, but so glad to be in the company of
our family and friends, and thankful to God for protecting us on
our long journey.
that morning bound for Las Vegas. A quick succession of phone
calls informed us that Martha's beloved cousin, Henry, had been
hospitalized and suddenly passed away. We immediately set out
to get back home. We arrived in North Carolina 2300 miles and
three days later, exhausted, but so glad to be in the company of
our family and friends, and thankful to God for protecting us on
our long journey.
The heat was the
issue as we picked
up I-40 at Barstow,
CA. The temperature
was near 100 by
lunch time . . .
issue as we picked
up I-40 at Barstow,
CA. The temperature
was near 100 by
lunch time . . .
. . . and it kept climbing
thoughout the day.
thoughout the day.
The truck thermometer
reached 110 degrees
as we passed through
Needles, CA. The
temperature remained
above 100 until after
dark.
reached 110 degrees
as we passed through
Needles, CA. The
temperature remained
above 100 until after
dark.
Climbing back across
the Rockies in triple
digit temps required
careful monitoring of all
the gauges, and a few
speed adjustments, but
the Chevy passed with
flying colors.
the Rockies in triple
digit temps required
careful monitoring of all
the gauges, and a few
speed adjustments, but
the Chevy passed with
flying colors.
By the time we reached
Kingman, AZ the
temperature had started
to decline. We never
thought we would look
forward to seeing 100
degrees.
Kingman, AZ the
temperature had started
to decline. We never
thought we would look
forward to seeing 100
degrees.
We tried to stay on the
road 14 hours each day,
so that required Walmart
parking lot camping. We
stayed in the back lot of
this Walmart in Henryetta,
OK with the pallets of
mulch and garden
supplies.
road 14 hours each day,
so that required Walmart
parking lot camping. We
stayed in the back lot of
this Walmart in Henryetta,
OK with the pallets of
mulch and garden
supplies.
We out ran a line of
strong thunderstorms
as we left OK and came
into Arkansas. We
knew these were bad
storms, and pressed
eastward as hard as we
could. That night 20
campers were killed in
a flash flood in western
Arkansas.
strong thunderstorms
as we left OK and came
into Arkansas. We
knew these were bad
storms, and pressed
eastward as hard as we
could. That night 20
campers were killed in
a flash flood in western
Arkansas.
We spent our last night of
the trip in the same place
we spent the first night -
the Bean Pot parking lot
at Crossville, TN. We
were only 200 miles from
home, but we were both
exhausted and needed to
stop. We were up early
the next morning and ate
breakfast there before
making the final leg of the
trip back home.
the trip in the same place
we spent the first night -
the Bean Pot parking lot
at Crossville, TN. We
were only 200 miles from
home, but we were both
exhausted and needed to
stop. We were up early
the next morning and ate
breakfast there before
making the final leg of the
trip back home.
In Memoriam
| Henry Griffin June 5, 2010 |