WEATHERFORD TEXAS TO ODESSA TEXAS…FOG, RAIN, ICE AND COLD WEATHER, BUT WE’RE ALMOST TO OUR BELOVED GREAT AMERICAN SOUTHWEST:))

WE ARE GETTING INTO THE LAND OF PRICKERS AND STICKERS IN LITTLE DOGGY PAWS

I noticed when I stepped out with Pheebs about 5 this morning the air was not as icy cold as it had been the previous four mornings.  Our weather site said we were at 39F and that above freezing temperature was just fine with me considering what it has been.  However, it didn’t last long:((

IT WAS A MISTY RAIN DRIZZLE WE DROVE IN TODAY

MOUNTAINS??  NOPE, JUST A COUPLE TEXAS HILLS

Before we left Weatherford Kelly slipped into Walmart first thing and picked up a few groceries.  It was 7:45 when we wheeled ourselves out of the parking lot and up onto I-20 West a short distance away.  Had us a heavy overcast but roads were good and traffic was moderate.  Wasn’t long though before the clouds were on the deck and we had us a foggy drizzle going on and that lasted for a couple hours. No matter, we were both very glad we had put Dallas behind us Monday.  Had we thought to update our old GPS with all the new I-30 traffic route changes in the last bunch of years it would not have been as confusingly stressful for us. 

HEY IS THAT SNOW!!  NOPE, IT’S A COTTON FIELD

We were both feeling the need for a Cracker Barrel breakfast so we sauntered ourselves on down to Abilene and had us some eggs and fixins.  Will probably be awhile before we hit another Cracker Barrell now that we are this far west.  We are right on the edge of being where we really want to be and that will pretty much be the end of overnight Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, Interstates, etc.  We are only a couple days away from the tranquil deserts and mountains we truly love.  Our beloved winter home for going on the past dozen years:))

YES WE DO LOVE OUR CRACKER BARRELS ALRIGHT

Heading west out of Abilene the dull drizzle continued and it wasn’t long until my driver’s side windshield wiper wasn’t clearing the rain off the windshield.  I was convinced we needed a new wiper blade.  After a bit we pulled into a rest area and Kelly got and gave the wiper a snap.  We were both surprised to see a few small chunks of ice fall off.  The weather was wet, cold, and windy and a thin layer of ice had formed on the front of the Motorhome.  Only thing i could figure is we must have gained some altitude east of Colorado City.  Kelly checked her computer for the area and it said it was 30 Fahrenheit where we were.  Throw a wind chill factor on top of that and you know it was cold.  At a gas stop in Oil Springs later I could see my breath.

PICKED US UP A THIN COATING OF ICE on the rig

We didn’t especially want to Walmart ourselves for a third night in a row but we figured it was the most convenient thing for us to do before we slip through the mountains north of El Paso.  We’ve done El Paso 3 or 4 times going both ways years ago and it’s something we have any intentions of doing again.  Years ago we used to head west out of Roswell NM and slip over the Apache Pass and down the other side into Tularosa and Alamogordo.  That’s a nice way to go by the way.  We’re going to try a different route further south this time and as usual once we come down out of the Franklin Mountains our travels will slow down and our Southwest journey will truly begin.

GOT OURSELVES TANGLED UP IN A MANIC JAM PACKED WALMART PARKING LOT IN MIDLAND  TEXAS AND HAD TO DO US SOME FANCY SHUFFLING TO GET THE BIG EEE AND LIBBY AROUND ALL THE CARS THERE….I THINK WE SCARED THE PAINT RIGHT OFF A FEW OF THEM

MOVED OURSELVES ON DOWN I-20 TO ODESSA TEXAS AND FOUND US A SPOT AT SAM'S CLUB FOR THE NIGHT

It’s always such a grind  traveling between South-Western Ontario Canada and the great South-Western States of America and it’s never a favorite thing of ours but it has to be done to reach our destination.  In our early travel years we used to get off the Interstates and travel secondary roads.  We’ve been lost in the Ozarks north of Fort Smith and have temporarily misplaced ourselves on secondary roads way too often.   And we’ve had a few encounters with low overpasses on back roads as well.  I too once pooh-poohed the Interstates years ago but I don’t anymore.  They provide the quickest and cheapest way for us to travel between our home in Bayfield Ontario and the Southwestern United States.  And especially this time of year when weather is so unpredicable, cold, and treacherous.  Any northern traveler with a lick of sense is gonna get themselves as far south as fast as they can in the winter months.  No back roads, no dawdling or leisurely sightseeing, just get as far south into the warmer air as possible.  Thank heavens we have the Interstates that we do.  Can you imagine the total gridlock traffic crises we would have nowadays if we didn’t have the Interstates.  Good for Dwight D Eisenhower in foreseeing the future travel needs of the North American people.  He must have been an RV’er at heart.

PRETTY DARN NICE SEEING THAT LATE AFTERNOON SUNSHINE BEAMING THROUGH OUR WINDSHILED

For a fellow who rarely gets a cold I have myself a doozer at the moment.  My head cold started a couple days ago and I must have picked it up from Kelly.  At least it’s not in my chest making me cough all the time but it sure has altered my voice making me sound like Lou Rawls.

<<< PATCHES OF BLUE SKY OVERHEAD BUT IT’S STILL COLD HERE IN ODESSA TEXAS

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Two men have been sitting out on a lake all day long, ice fishing. One has been having no luck at all and the other has been pulling fish after fish out of his hole in the ice. The man having no luck finally leans over and asks the other what his secrect is.
mmmmm mmm mm mmm mmmm mmm mmm.
Im sorry, what did you say?
mmmmm mmm mm mmm mmmm mmm mmm.
Im sorry, I still didnt understand you. The successful man spits something into his hand.
Youve got to keep your worms warm.

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I asked my wife why there were so many dings on the driver's side of her Mercedes and she said the brakes must be bad on that side.

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FOREST CITY ARKANSAS TO WEATHERFORD TEXAS AND WE BATTLED OUR WAY RIGHT THROUGH DALLAS AND FORT WORTH TOO

HERE’S KELLY TRYING TO HAVE A SHORT AFTERNOON REST BUT WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS

We are still quite aways away from any warm weather as this cold front hangs heavy over this whole area.  We dropped to 27 in Forest City Arkansas last night and it looks like that trend will continue.  Warmest weather ahead we see is Tucson Arizona and beyond.

A quiet night in the Walmart parking lot with another Class A beside us and Super B off to our left.  We had the big wheels rolling by 7:10 this morning with a rather decent looking sunrise to the east.  At the risk of being repetitive I can tell you once again about the light traffic and absence of continuous big trucks heading west on I-40.  Very little traffic and we could have drove the southern bi-pass route around Little Rock Arkansas blindfolded.  We have done this bi-pass well over half a dozen times coming and going in the past years and have never had any trouble.  We’ve even done it in the early morning rush hour darkness and survived.  But just barely.

AND THIS ‘LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS’ SKYLINE IS FOR YOU JANNA AND TAKEN WITH THE D5000 I MAY ADD:))

About 9:45 we pulled into a Rest Area situated between the east and west lanes of I-40 west of Little Rock.  Kelly fixed us up some soup and coffee.  We haven’t made one McDonalds stop on this trip yet.  We’re doin good.  Of course had Cracker Barrel been open on Christmas Day in Texarkana we probably would have stopped in tor breakfast.  It was a favorite stop of ours years ago:))

OUR FIRST REST AREA STOP WHERE KELLY FIXED UP SOME SOUP AND COFFEE AND YOU CAN TELL HOW COLD IT IS OUT BY HOW SHE’S DRESSED

AND OF COURSE THE FURRY LITTLE KITCHEN HELPER IS NEVER FAR AWAY

Rolled out of the Rest Area about 10:30 and continued heading West.  A great driving day with bare roads and diffused sunlight.  No complaints darnit……well Okay except for the cold temperatures still upon us.  We rolled right on through Texarkana at high noon.

CHECK OUT THAT GREAT LOOKING ‘SUN’ SHADOW

DRIVING THROUGH ARKANSAS PINE TREES

It was somewhere around Mount Pleasant in Texas on I-30 we pulled into our second Rest Area of the day.  We had a decision to decide upon.  Do we make a full frontal assault on Dallas or do we make an end run north around Dallas like we usually do.  Seeing’s how it was Christmas Day and the traffic was already light I figured all the Dallasites would be in their homes eating big Christmas dinners and the roads would have much less traffic on them.   Ya right!! Despite knowing it would likely add another 3 hours driving time to our day we decided to go for it anyway so off we went heading straight into Dallas/Fort Worth.  Well I don’t think most of those Dallas folks stayed home to eat turkey today:((

WESTBOUND ON I-30 HEADING INTO THE EAST END OF DALLAS TEXAS

Kelly had programmed our Garmin GPS and also had Google maps up and running.  Having taken the southern bi-pass route coming the other way one time years ago we figured we would do the same route again so we barreled head long into the east side of Dallas…..and then I don’t know where we went.  Our old Garmin GPS and the newer Google Maps began disagreeing with each other  as to which way was the best way to go right of the bat so of course confusion reigned supreme and we had to start winging it trying to follow the overhead signs.  We were soon locked into the 65-70 mph soupy vehicle morass and the traffic was way heavier than I had expected.  We saw downtown Dallas skyscrapers far ahead on the horizon and twenty minutes later they were flying right by us  on our right hand side.   We had somehow obviously missed the bi-pass cut-off.   We had no choice but to stay with the speeding traffic flow being careful not to get swept off any exit ramps to oblivion.  We had no idea where we were except after a bit I noticed I had the sun on my left shoulder and that told me we were heading west so we just kept on going and going.  Traffic eased off after we passed the Dallas skyscrapers and I thought great, that’s it for Dallas.  But then I saw more skyscrapers ahead and traffic picked up a bit.  Damn, we were heading right for Fort Worth.  Luckily the majority of Fort Worth folks had stayed home today so it wasn’t nearly as bad getting through there but by the time we put Fort Worth in the rear view mirror we were both exasperatedly exhausted .

BY THIS POINT WE HAD ALREADY MISSED THE SOUTH BI-PASS AND IF YOU THINK TRAFFIC LOOKS A BIT SPARSE IN THESE PHOTOS IT’S BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY TIMES I DARED PICK UP MY CAMERA FOR A SECOND

AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF ABOUT 67 MPH HOUR IT TOOK US THE BEST PART OF AN HOUR TO GET THROUGH DALLAS AND FORT WORTH SO THAT TELLS YOU HOW BIG THIS SPRAWLING MEGAPOLIS REALLY IS

FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE DID NOT KNOW JUST EXACTLY WHERE WE WERE GOING TO END UP BUT LUCK STUCK WITH US AND WE SOMEHOW ENDED GOING WHERE WE WANTED TO GO

It wasn’t until later tonight when I sat down with my Benchmark Atlas and had a good look at Dallas that I realized that yes indeed we had missed the southern Dallas bi-pass and rocketed right through downtown Dallas on I-30.  Kelly thought it all went pretty smooth but of course she wasn’t driving. But hey, we didn’t have to blast our horn at anybody and nobody had to blast their horn at us so I guess all in all we did Okay for ourselves.

HERE’S PHEEBS HELPING KELLY TO PROGRAM OUR GPS BEFORE WE TACKLE DALLAS

NOT SURE WHAT KIND OF JET THIS IS

Kelly determined there were a couple Walmart’s ahead in a place called Weatherford Texas on I-20 so that is where we headed for and that’s where we are for the night.  With today being a holiday we pretty much have the whole Walmart parking lot to ourselves.  Post is later tonight because I fell asleep in my chair earlier while putting it together.  I have no idea where we’ll be tomorrow night………………….

THAT’S A PRETTY EMPTY LOOKING PARKING LOT

Have you ever been ‘tickled to pickles’?  Well Barney was last week.  Now I’m not sure if he was pickling tickles or tickling pickles but tickled to pickles he was and he said so in a comment on my December 22nd post and I haven’t been able to get that cute ‘tickled to pickles’ saying out of my mind ever since.  There, now it’s stuck in your mind too.  Tickled to Pickles Tickled to Pickles Tickled to Pickles………………………..

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Kathy began a job as an elementary school counselor and she was eager to help.  One day, during recess, Kathy noticed a young girl standing by herself on one side of the playing field while the rest of the kids were playing a game of soccer.  A while later, Kathy walked over to the young girl and offered, "Would you like me to be your friend?"  The girl looked at Kathy suspiciously, then said hesitantly, "Okay, I guess so..."  "Why are you standing here all alone?" asked Kathy. "Because," the little girl said with great exasperation, "I'm the goalie!"

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“What do you call it when cafe customers joke about their coffee? A brewhaha.”

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EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS TO FOREST CITY ARKANSAS: A MUCH BETTER DRIVING DAY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

It was the beating blades of an Air Ambulance helicopter that woke me up at 3 this morning.  After all we were in an Air Park for the night and this is where the area’s Air Ambulance helicopter is based.  Three and a half hours later while Kelly was brewing up our morning coffee we heard it coming back and a couple minutes later we watched as it landed in darkness not far away with all it’s landing lights on.  I bet Joe would have liked that one Betty.

THE HELICOPTER LANDED JUST OUT THERE BY THAT BUILDING YOU SEE PAST THE RIG……THE  AIR PARK’S GRASS LANDING STRIP IS OFF TO THE RIGHT

It was a 28F degree start to our day but didn’t feel too bad when I stepped out with Pheebs.  No wind, no rain and no snow.  Despite the ever present cloud cover it was an Okay start to the day.  We were roasty toasty in the rig and all systems were working.  Nice when that happens.  We had the big wheels rolling by 7:35 Illinois time or 8:35 Ontario time.

WHEN DRIVING AN RV ONE HAS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO LOOK UP…..WE MADE IT THROUGH JUST FINE

THIS PHOTO SUMS UP HOW LIGHT THE TRAFFIC WAS AGAIN TODAY

Couple more things about the Air Park, they have hot showers and laundry facilities there as well.  Forgot to mention how our 10 year old memories had forgotten just where exactly the Percival Air Park was so slowly rolling south of Effingham on highway 45 Saturday afternoon I saw a couple cars coming up behind us so pulled over onto the narrow shoulder so they could pass.  First car went by but the second didn’t and pulled right in behind us…….with red and blue lights flashing.  Oh-Oh it was a State Trooper!!  Took him a minute to exit his car and walk up along the passenger side of the coach.  Our in-house good will ambassador Kelly quickly engaged the fella with her cheery manner telling the officer we were looking for the Percival Air Park.  We were only a mile from it and he was only too happy to give us directions and wish us a Merry Christmas.  Whether he pulled in behind us for any other reason we don’t know.  Maybe he just saw a grumpy old guy going by that needed some Christmas cheering up.  So a very Merry Christmas to you too Mr. nice Illinois State Trooper fella:))  

 

IT WAS QUITE A TIME THESE TWO BAYFIELD BUMS WERE HAVING WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD

 

‘ARE WE THERE YET MOM’

‘What a difference a day makes’ I kept thinking to myself as we motored south along I-57   Bare and dry roads, no precipitation and visibility was excellent with cloudy skies overhead.  Interstate traffic was the lightest I’ve ever seen  East of the Mississippi so what a great driving day it was.  Pulled into a Rest Area somewhere north of Cairo Illinois where Kelly whupped us up a couple hot dogs and fresh coffee. And by golly if we didn’t see Elvis there.  Kelly even got a picture of  him while I cleaned the rig’s rear view mirrors and checked the oil and tires, etc. (and a correction about Saturday’s rest area lunch, it was turkey salad sandwiches Kelly made, not tuna)

I FIGURE WE MUST  BE GETTING CLOSER TO WARMER WEATHER EH

After writing the above paragraphs at the rest area stop we were back on I-57 heading south and within minutes we overtook a big yellow snow plow salting the road.  What the heck!!  We weren’t half a mile past the plow when I noticed sprinkles on the windshield.  Yep, we had driven ourselves into a light misty rain and I figured that plow driver knew a lot more about the road conditions than we did so with intermittent wipers on and a close watch of the road we throttled back our speed.  Luckily we didn’t have any problems.  That light rain stayed with us all the way to Missouri (which wasn’t too far) and only quit once we crossed the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri.  Nice to be back on dry roads again.  Hooked up with I-55 and hung a left for Memphis crossing into Arkansas along the way.  A big wave later to Elvis as we swung off I-55 on Memphis’s west side onto to I-40 heading West.  From here on in most of our travels will be Westward-Ho to the land of enchanted mountains and deserted desert sands.  ‘Yay team’.

KELLY CHECKS HER CRACKER BARREL MAP

A belated Happy Birthday to Kelly’s Mother who turned 93 December 23rd.  Her Dad was born on the same day as her Mother……Kelly wrote on her Facebook:: Today I celebrate my Mom who turns 93 . She continues to live in her own home. She drives, loves to read and best of all Shop !.... Go Mom

We don’t have any presents to open Christmas morning because we opened them before we left home.  Pheebs got a new Olly the Ollyphant which I must remember to take a picture of.  Santa brought Kelly and I a neat-o Himalayan Salt Lamp which I also forgot to take a photo of before we left.  It’s as heavy as a rock so we couldn’t bring it with us but Pheebs brought Olly and those two bums have been having a blast.

A FEW PHOTOS ALONG THE WAY TODAY

AND A COUPLE PHOTOS FOR THE CAVE PEOPLE DENNIS AND DONNA WHO I KNOW LIKE TO STOP HERE ON THEIR TRAVELS

And by golly Paul over at R Sanity RV Adventures was able to save Christmas again this year and it had something to do with Santa Claus and nothing to do with being shot out of a cannon wearing a ballerina costume.  Well not yet anyway.

BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI BETWEEN THE STATES OF ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI

KELLY GRABS A FEW PICS OF THE BRIDGE

 

AND WE BROUGHT THE AMARYLLIS  CARON AND CHRIS GAVE US AND ‘HEY’ WE HAD US AN ELVIS SIGHTING NORTH OF MEMPHIS

A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION ZONES WEST OF MEMPHIS ON I-40

It was about 2:30 when we decided to call it a day.  Kelly, on her map found us a Walmart location in the town of Forest City Arkansas and we happily pulled ourselves into a corner of the large lot and shut er down.  Lots of busy Christmas shoppers bustling about and I’ll be darned if the Sun didn’t pop out for awhile an hour later.  Now some folks might think spending Christmas Eve in a Walmart parking lot would be kinda gruesome but not us.  We’re quite happy to be here and even went in and mixed it up with all the local Christmas shoppers.  And my oh my what an animated bunch they were too.  Lots of Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.  Yesireee we were in the Spirit alright.  After all, we had been listening to Christmas music all day on our Sirius Satellite radio.  Christmas music that reminded us of our younger years.  Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Johnny Matthis, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and the list goes on…………..  

OUR OVERNIGHT SPOT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE 2017

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and thanks to one and all for your many warm Christmas wishes:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  You Know Your Overweight When:: 

* You dance and it makes the band skip.
* You are diagnosed with the flesh eating virus, and the doctor gives you 22 more years to live.
* You put mayonnaise on an aspirin.
* You go to the zoo and the elephants throw you peanuts.
* Your driver's license says, "Picture continued on other side."
* You ran away and they had to use all four sides of the milk carton for your picture.
* You learn you were born with a silver shovel in your mouth.
* You could sell shade.
* Your blood type is Ragu.

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Christopher Columbus was the best deal maker in history. He left not knowing where he was going, and upon arriving, not knowing where he was. He returned not knowing where he had been, and did it all on borrowed money.

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