Hampton Inn Clovis, Nm

... boards).

Two more days before arriving in our second home. The door to the propane tank decided to stay closed. We will have to do without propane until we land. We made an executive decision not to try opening it in case it would not close... The temperature is now warmer and we have electric heater. Time for cold water treatments.

... of what I just found out are called "pump jacks". Those are those things that look like a nodding dog that pump oil out of the ground into holding tanks, see photo.

Also hundreds, maybe thousands, of wind farm power windmills dotted the horizons as we came south on 84 approaching I/S 20 near Sweetwater.

Tomorrow we have a bit over 200 miles to go into Austin to stay with Bob & Mary Sue for a few days.

... still there?? Forgot to clarify the full reason for the co-pilots petulance, total mileage for the day, just short of 410 miles about 640 k's So thats where we are, in a Super Eight motel, missed the next downpour by about 15 minutes and very comfortable. Wandered across the road for a steak & chips and now settled in for the night. Hoping to get near Abilene Texas tomorrow and Austin on Thursday.

... today along I40 through the Texas panhandle.

Just a word of warning to anyone traveling along this route, stick close to the speed limit. 10 miles over will easily earn you a ticket. The state trooper was so overzealous, he even tried to wave over a light blue pick-up while in the process of soliciting my ticket. The truck did not stop. On the bright side, I did a favor for the van in front of me that I had been following.

... I guess. Even their roadside crosses. Texas is home of the Western hemisphere's largest cross. Tonight we have settled in at the Palamino motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.   We will be arriving in Santa Fe tomorrow. My best friend, Elania, used to live out there and so we will be staying with her folks(who are probably the nicest people on the planet). I haven't seen them in years so I'm very excited! 

... seeing was infamous "Cadillac Ranch". Too cool. A local told us this guy also has a pool table you can only see from the sky, but complete with sticks and balls. oookay... Tucumcari, NM hasn't changed much in a lot of years, other than a truck stop on I-40. Many businesses still closed for season. A very good look at how things were, once upon a road.

... interesting. I don't know what on earth made stanley marsh decide to bury those cars but it was cool. The sad part was that people have been leaving their empty spray cans all over the place. Then it was onto the mid point cafe in Adrian which was also closed. Then it was into Tucumcari new mexico which looked like it was a ghost town. The one store that I know should have at least still been in business was closed ...

Leaving SR after a good night's sleep and breakfast. Hope to be in Amarillo later today. The room art coordinates with the rm colors and if you like dull, dead leaf skeletons, you are in for a treat. The Western on the other hand is across from the Tower Service Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe, a gem of Art Deco styling which has been turned into a museum. Its neon lighting at night takes you back to an era you never really knew, but wish you did!

Rolled into Albuquerque to my favorite NM Kawi dealer and they obliged with an oil change for my return trip. Chatted with the service manager and a new employee who moved from VT recently. I could make Tucumcari if I really wanted to, but decided to take it easy and head for Santa Rosa. The winds were back a bit but not gusty and leaving the mountains that frame Albuquerque was so ...

... Wow am I going to have to get used to these prices. Before I left San Antonio I had not used the Ex for a month. Prices are up 1.20 since I had last filled up. Oh well. Clovis' claim to fame is an AFB, and a train stop. Dirt, scrub sized trees and brown grass. I can stay anywhere for a night, even in a corn field in Illinois/Missouri area. Glad I didn't opt to go up to ...