Loyce made a call to her medical professionals this morning and found out that she needs to be in KC on Thursday, nothing serious ........... uh, so much for our leisurely trip back to Kansas.......
Better get a move on it!! But my head still wasn't thinking in daylight saving time, so we weren't up very early... or the clock kept on telling us it was already late...... depending on your point of view.
We did manage to roll before 11, but not very much before... We had left the park, but had to wait in line at the truck stop to fill with diesel.. I like to start the day with a full tank... Besides, buying $400 worth of fuel all at once is painful..
Its a little over two hours into Albuquerque, and as usual we stopped along side the Route 66 Casino in the truck parking west of town... This is a large truck stop along with the casino and they have a lot to the East side that is mostly unused... We have had lunch there several times, and today it was sunny and about 69 degrees with a light breeze...
Albuquerque was reasonable with its Monday afternoon traffic as we never were slowed from highway speed.. We only stopped at rest areas to make potty breaks, and I was pushing fairly heavily as we were making about 70 in the afternoon...
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| New Mexico high country East of Albuquerque. |
That is until we went thru an obvious front... All of a sudden the rig was buffeted with wind and I was all over the road... The curtain next to me was sucked out the window which was only open about 2 inches...
Had to slow it down in a hurry from then on as we descended into Tucumcari... The temperature seemed to nose dive as well... We stopped at a favorite station and filled the tanks again... $125.. But the wind was rather cool as I waited behind the rig for the pump...
We had decided to push on to Dalhart, Texas since it was only about 5PM... but realized that that would be 6 PM the second we crossed the Texas line... The wind was whipping the rig around at 65 mph as I headed Northeast..
That was when I noticed that the thermometer was taking a nose dive... First in the low 50s and then right thru the 40s... It was in the high 30s when we got here about 8 PM Central....
The sign out in front here just says RV Park..... Perhaps it has a more formal name, but for $22 cash, I have never inquired... That's for full hookups including cable...
Rigs are mostly just parked in a row facing the center street, with the park wiring strung between telephone poles overhead... A few trees, but none with leaves yet.. The satellite dish locked right onto its bird.
But the temperature when I checked a moment ago was listed as 33 degrees... I never bothered with our water or sewer lines as it may freeze before morning...
The forecast for cities to our North along our path is for a freezing mix of snow and drizzling rain... It could get slick.. And if it gets too bad, Loyce's appointment in KC for Thursday might be in jeopardy...
We are travelling on US 54 Eastbound for Wichita, and we will take it town by town... I will fill the water tank in the morning and drain the sewers, so if Wally Docking it becomes necessary, hey what the heck!!
Yep, spring is way behind this year, and for those of you still in Arizona, wanting to come this way, wait a couple of more days............!
Retired Rod
I hope you don't run into really bad weather. I'd rather reschedule an appointment than take chances in snow or sleet. Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteI recall that section east of Albuquerque. They have a wind advisory warning sign along the road & last year we saw a semi on it's side in that open dangerous stretch of highway. Hope you remembered to hold your nose going through Dalhart. Cows, cows, everywhere!!
ReplyDeleteYou take care in that wind. I always worry about that. We only came 150 miles and that was far enough for us. Be safe and reschedule that appointment if it gets too bad.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing well, Rod. Just keep the pedal to the metal and you'll be in Kansas in no time. When you get there, you just might want to turn around and put the pedal to the metal all the way back to Mesa!! It's cold in Kansas.
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