HUMP DAY

Today feels like "Hump Day" on our journey back to Las Vegas.  All downhill from here.

We left East Oklahoma City this morning and with only one wrong turn we (eventually) made it through the city and were on our way west towards Amarillo, Texas where we arrived about 2 pm local time - 271 miles.  I regret I did not get a picture of the impressive underground bunker at our Oklahoma City campground that was their storm shelter.  Norman, Ok, site of a terrible tornado a few years ago, was not very south of our location.

For the most part I found the road surface on I-40 pretty good.  There were sections with construction but that was not too bad either.  We we got into Texas the speed limit went to 75 mph.  We got nowhere near that..... and surprisingly not too many other people were going that fast. What we found different both here and on I-90 when we were headed east, is the way they handle areas where you can stop for a break.  I think most of us call them Rest Areas and we are used to places with bathrooms and picnic tables and places for big rigs and cars to park.  What we have found is that frequently, in the place of a rest area that meets that description we find areas that are sometimes called "Truck Parking" or "Check Stations" where you can pull off, parallel park, and get out but there are no facilities.  They are just places to safely pull off and stop and they are mostly meant for trucks.  That works well for us as we have all the facilities we need onboard.  The most disappointing surprise for me was how few of these places there were and  how many of them were closed.  My west coast idea of a rest area has been challenged.  I will also say that north Texas is the flattest place I have ever been.

We have been mostly dodging some weather coming up from the south.  We have dealt with a little rain and a little wind but all quite manageable and it seems like the worst of the weather has either gone north or south of us so we are grateful for that break.  Tomorrow's forecast promises more rain and wind but we will take that on as it comes.  As of right now here in Amarillo it is breezey but dry.

The KOA campground where we are tonight is located between a busy highway, an airport and a rail line.  It should be an interesting night for Arlyene.  I will just take out my hearing aides....  We are in a pretty industrial area here but the campground itself is fine and will suit our need tonight.  We will get out of here by 9:00 am tomorrow and start the trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico.   The famous balloon festival there starts October 3rd so maybe we will see one or two balloons warming up (pun intended).  That would be cool.  

Making our own rest stop on an offramp.

More from our improvised stop,

Our Greeting In Amarillo with our friend Red center front.