Snow, Then Out Into the Open

Leaving Amarillo early the next morning we find ourselves traveling on a slick and dangerous road. The ice trucks are out, but the cold, the snow and the wind have made I-40 a long continuous path of ice. It's slow going at first, and only around 10 in the morning do we reach the Texas-New Mexico border and begin to break out into clear highways. We begin to accelerate to make up for lost time. We need to be in Holbrook, Arizona by the end of the day and we are already running behind. The blowing snow continues to warn us of the possible hazards along the way, but the pavement is no longer glazed over with ice, just wet and slippery in spots. Its best to stay in the right hand lane. From time to time a brave soul speeds around us in the snow covered left lane. Carefully fellow, that lane is still pretty slick.         

With careful driving its not too long before we cross over into New Mexico and the snow is more confined to the sides of the road. I grip the steering wheel with a little less stress, and Suzi drifts off to sleep, as she loves to do when we travel.

We are about to pass through the area I have been most concerned about... West Texas and the possibility of a major storm stopping our forward motion. I feel better as we pass over into New Mexico.

The highway is now clear, and the scenery is opening up into great broad vistas. I can see for miles, and the snow  seems to bring the scene around me into even greater focus.

With a clear highway we cross New Mexico without incident, and enter Arizona. It is well after dark when we reach Holbrook, Arizona, our destination for the night. We decided before leaving Indianapolis that we wanted to have our granddaughter experience the night in a wigwam, and Holbrook sits astride historic Route # 66, and is home to one of the famous Wigwam Motels. We check in after dark and head for our rooms. They are neat, clean and comfortable, though a little small. A quick look around in the pale moonlight promises a better view of the wigwams with the morning light. But for now, its been a long day, so its off to bed. See you in the morning. Tomorrow we want to get a better view of this historic place, and still make it to the Grand Canyon by around lunch time.

Catching Up With The Snow

Departing from Miami, Oklahoma early in the morning we have set our sights on reaching Amarillo, Texas by nightfall. That will only be about 450 miles, and after having made 600 miles the day before, this one would seem like a piece of cake. We are traveling in two cars, and headed for the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. For the past two weeks we have been watching the weather forecasts closely, and our biggest concern would be to have weather related problems is West Texas, and in the area near Grand Canyon, and Falstaff, Arizona. As of now the weather looks favorable, although they had storms west of Amarillo a couple of days ago that shut down the interstate. We are hoping the weather does not do a repeat performance as we reach that part of the country.

The trip is uneventful across the state of Oklahoma, and into Texas. Although the temperate is hovering a little below 32 degrees, the sky is relatively clear, and we are keeping our fingers crossed. Tulsa and Oklahoma City grow dim in the rear view mirror, and then disappears beyond a ribbon of double lanes of asphalt. Everything seems to indicate a good day ahead, at least until we approach Amarillo.

Snow Beginning to Fall

As we approach Amarillo from the east snowflakes begin hitting the windshield, and for a time, they are light enough there is no interruption or slowing of our forward progress. However, as we reach the outskirts of Amarillo the snow is coming down much heavier, and the road and streets are fast disappearing below a blanket of white. Traffic begins to slow on the interstate, and the big trucks begin moving to the right hand lane. We start thinking about where we are going to eat dinner. After all, it is Christmas afternoon, and we are unsure how many places will be open. We have reservations at a Hampton Inn for the night, so if we eat soon we can go directly to the hotel and settle in.

Big Texas Steak House

Giant billboards have been advertising the Big Texas Steak House for some time, and the women in both cars are familiar with the place from its appearance on the food channel. It is right on our way as we pass through the city on interstate 40, and both cars turn in for dinner. 

Open? 

That is for sure. The parking lot is full, and the crowd is backed up to the door waiting for a seat inside. It doesn’t take long for the line to dwindle and we are seated for dinner. 


What A Great Meal
It is a delightful smorgasbord of Christmas meal delight, and after we are seated we give  Christmas presents to a grand daughter. 

Then Suzi makes her decision and after filling her plate, shows off what she is able to get on a single plate. 

Cowboy Songs During Our Meal
While we are enjoying our meal two cowboys come over with their violins to serenade us, just like we are celebrities. They even do a good rendition of “Back Home Again in Indiana”. I’m really impressed, and feeling quite important, at least until they go over to the next table and do a song from their home state, and then the next, and the next, and on and on. Guess they do it for everyone.

Hampton Inn for the Night

After the meal we settle in at a nearby Hampton Inn for the night. Outside the snow continues to fall. From time to time I glance out through the window. This is not so good. It sure looks like there could be a fair amount of snow on the roads by morning, and we can’t loose much time or we’ll be too late reaching California.

Getting ready for another road trip. If you would like to go along, get your suitcase packed and meet us beside the red Prius. This will be a trip by car. No plane. No overseas travel. We're going to combine a pleasure trip with a work trip. We're planning to attend the Rose Parade in Southern California, then hold meetings that will hopefully obtain more supplies for Malawi, as well as some time to discuss some modifications to the Malawi Project website. 

The trip will take us through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona (with a stop off in Phoenix and one at the Grand Canyon), and on into California. Here we'll attend the Rose Parade, visit friends, and hold meetings. 

The return trip will take us up through Colorado, then out across the plans of Kansas, a stop off with friends in Missouri, then back to Indianapolis. So, without further discussion, the tank is full of gas, the Garmin is programmed for the trip, and we have the suitcases in the car. 

                                         Let's go. 

The first day takes us over 600 miles, and we stop for the night in Miami, Oklahoma. We will be following the route of the historic, famous Route 66. 

Our current route along I-40 will follow that famous route all the way west along the current southern route to California.

Blog Malawi Travel

The Malawi Project has a blog relating to travel in Malawi. Go to: http://www.malawi-travel.blogspot.com/