It was a pretty uneventful day. About the only unusual thing I can think of is the weird park names they have: ” Frozen Head Park” and “Toad Suck Park”. I’m thinking the guy responsible for coming up with these must have tied one on the night before he submitted the names.

The weather is still really mild, thank goodness. The RV is still running, the dogs are putting up with their jail time. Went over another series of mountains, with Winnie’s needle showing her speed starting to bounce around, rather than stay steady. Not sure if it means anything. Just hoping she lasts one more day.

I should be in Virginia tomorrow morning if all goes well. Have about 550 miles left total. Can’t imagine doing this too much longer. I’m beat.

Finished with Oklahoma by midday. It was a long state to travel. And parts of their Interstate desperately needs repair. There were quite a few miles of orange barrels and reduction of the road to 1 lane of traffic. I was very glad to get through all that on a Sunday without business traffic. And they still have plenty of other areas that need help. Poor Minnie Winnie was a rattlin’ and a rollin’ from it all. But she took it like a trooper. More oil, more gas and everything was a go. NO automotive issues.  However, I’m pretty sure I left my kidneys somewhere on Oklahoma’s portion of I-40.

There were a few disabled vehicles on the side of the road today. It’ reminded me how lucky I’ve been.  And although it was a chilly 30 degrees this morning, still easy weather. Just clouds all day.

Almost made it through Arkansas today as well. Only 70 more miles and I’ll be in Memphis, Tennessee. I’ve gone about 2/3 of the way home so far. I’m figuring another day or two max. as it is only 1000 miles to go.

The landscape has changed considerably. Arkansas became a series of gently rolling hills and the road is protected by trees and bushes along the sides, so the wind factor has disappeared except for the large rigs passing me from time to time.  So has the 180 degree view of the horizon disappeared. Yesterday was the last I think I will ever see of that kind of scenery. The East is so much more covered over, except for what lies directly in front of the road, which even then is pretty limited.

The dogs are feeling the wear of crate living. Only 2 more days and I can find someplace to let them run or at least walk at length on a leash. They have been so used to a life of total freedom and play without restrictions. this has been tough on them. It motivates me to hit the ground running when I get home to find a job, get a mortgage and buy a house. It’s all about the dogs don’t cha know.

Well, gonna hunt online for a job or two online that I can apply for. Then bed and an early start tomorrow.

Saturday 2/4/12

Zipped thru the rest on New Mexico today. Waved hello and goodbye to Tucumcari, little more than a truck stop from what I could see from the freeway. The next real town was Amarillo, Texas.

It was a really good day. Winnie was humming along without any shrieks, whines or other bizarre noises. All gauges were where they should be. I gassed up, added oil and we were on our way. A few stops for the dogs to be fed, watered and walked. I buzzed thru the Texas pan handle and began to see up ahead, what I thought was the major storm system shown on the weather channel last night.

But the clouds were a light gray-blue, almost periwinkle, not the dark ominous steel-gray that usually accompanies storms. As I got closer and eventually under the clouds I noticed they were wide ribbons of stratus clouds with equally wide strips of blue sky between that ran north/south. No rain, no additional wind. (Which was a good thing as the wind was already pretty constant. Probably due to the fact there is nothing to obstruct the wind for miles on either side of the freeway. Just flat land). It was pretty cold today compared to yesterday. maybe 40 -50 degrees. Eventually, the clouds close in on the blue sky and I am under a solid ceiling of clouds.

I notice that the emptiness of the landscape doesn’t terrify me the way it did 20 years ago when I first came thru. The desolation seems… relatively normal. Exits to nowhere don’t seem strange. There are stretches of time that I am literally the only one on the road. And while I know there are a million things that could still go wrong between now and getting home, I’m feeling much more comfortable with the uncertainty of each day. I should be more like my dogs. “It is what it is” attitude would go a long way.

We roll into Oklahoma and at first I set a goal for reaching Oklahoma City tonight. But I’m tired, and once again the idea of finding an RV park and having to plug in electric and hook up to water and turn on the propane just seems like too much work. I know, lazy, but nevertheless, I am once again in a Motel 6. Cheap with free wi-fi. The adult dogs stay in the locked RV after getting watered and walked. The puppy comes inside with me. She works at weaseling her way out of the motel room bathroom which is essentially puppy proof unlike the carpet in the main room. She is successful. I’ll get even and give her a bath!

I catch up on email, FB and apply for another job online. Time for bed now. Already halfway home.