Day 31 - We finally make it to Texas

When we hit Interstate 10 to take us to Texas, again we had multiple changes in scenery, from rocks, mountains, pecan tree farms, flat land desert, and lots and lots of trucks on the highway. Speed limit was mostly 75 mph, but construction slowed us down quite a few times all the way to the Texas border.

One of the things that really slowed us down was an accident in Los Cruces, NM. Don't know who cut who off, but the trucker pulling the twin trailers was either trying to avoid a compact car or the car swerved into the truck, and this is the aftermath of the accident. The driver of the compact car will be looking for a new car, but was standing alongside her car with a state trooper. The truck driver apparently had to be taken to a hospital by ambulance. Lots of rescue vehicles and police at the scene and we were at a standstill for almost an hour before they finally allowed one lane of traffic past the truck. The Vette WAS NOT HAPPY having to go around the wreck in the dirt, scrub brush, rocks, and sand in the median strip. Neither was I.

Interesting how the traveling public does things here when an accident occurs on the highway in New Mexico. People just drive across the median strip and go the opposite direction instead of waiting for the accident to clear. Saw some pretty fancy cars pull that trick and, of course, pickups and SUVs too. One guess as to who got stuck in the soft sand trying to get back in the opposite flow of traffic. Yup, it was some dude in an SUV with the typical cell phone stuck in his ear. Police didn't care, they just turned around in the median strip too.

We finally made it to Texas from Arizona. Maybe the title of today's post should be "Oh Gosh, More Rocks, More Construction, More Flat Lands, and What a hell of an Accident". Last night we were unable to post any photos, but today, I was able to post a photo of our dear friends Leo and Anna Wallace. For those Raytheonites that knew them, they are doing fine. They are still the same great friends we have known for over 40 years. It was so good to see them again after all this time. It was like we'd only seen them a couple of weeks ago instead of years ago. We met them at our motel in Tombstone and went out for dinner.

After dinner, Leo showed us around Tombstone, but Tombstone didn't know we were coming to town so they rolled up the streets before we got there. We left early this morning, so didn't get to see the town or visit a relative that is buried in Boot Hill. "Hand - Hung for horse thievin" was painted on a cemetery cross when Sheila and I visited Tombstone with our 4 year old son Brian years ago when we lived in El Paso.

We had a nice motel, and the desert landscape was really nice. As you can see, it is decorated in a "Gunfight at the OK Corral" theme. Nice theme change from the purple "Barney Inn" we stayed at in Sedona. K

Noticed while reading USA today that the federal government says the recession is over, now call it co-incidence that my shopping spree has been going full bore but I do feel as though I've done my part.
Today Ken and I are both tired, think we were so busy we've finally hit a wall. Out for a quiet supper tonight, then plan early to bed. So nice to see Anna and Leo, such dear friends. Tomorrow plan to drive to Midland, Texas to see other dear friends Ginger and Bob Ellwood, haven't seen them in 10 yrs. They were our neighbors in El Paso, then they came to see us in NH, I love being able to reconnect with friends.
Today is our daughter Nora's birthday, so bittersweet being away from her. Spoke with her on the phone but can't wait to give her a hug and a kiss!!!
Have done no shopping yet in Texas so hope we all do recover from the recession. If not, I saw an ad for a Tony Lama boot outlet, not that I really need a pair of cowgirl boots, but I do have the hat and a hat without shoes .......... bears thinking about.
Our motel tonight is very nice it's a Chase suite, and looks like a home, such a nice change from the other bed, chair, bathroom, and 2 drawers we have had. When we first started to travel just wanted an inexpensive, clean room. We then found out that meant no internet access, no access no blog, so upgraded to a better room with access. We then found out after driving 6 hrs in a car, we got out of the car like ruptured ducks, so opted for a motel with a gym or pool, to get the kinks out. Now here we are today in a room with a full kitchen, sofa, queen size bed, fireplace, not that we need it, and dishes, yes real not plastic. If we keep this up we'll be renting condos by the time we head home. Take care all, love you and miss you. S