May 18

A bit over 500 miles again today.  Santa Rose, NM to Eastland, Texas.  Eastland is about 40 miles east of Abilene.  Today was much more a chore than yesterday.  To begin, it was 77 before 8 a.m., despite the signs warning of ice on bridges.  Of course, it should have been "Ice on Bridges May Exist" or "Icy Bridges May Exist and May Have Big Billy Goat Gruff Walking Over Them."  My hypothesis is that philosophy major undergrads who do not go on to law school, do go on to the sign departments in various transportation agencies.  I digress.

It was hot.  When it hit 94, I stopped, drank some water and shed the leathers.  It hit a high of 101, with strong quartering winds that really blew me around.  Of course, I stopped and drank water, but at one point I decided I needed more.  Spotted a gas station and C store on the other side of the interstate.  Took the exit.  Saw that the overpass I needed to use was completely removed.  Stopped at the next place, 20 or 30 miles away, got some Powerade and chugged all 32 ozs. 

Not only was today hotter than yesterday, it did not have the advantage of beautiful country for the first half of the trip.  Today, I saw northeastern NM, uninspiring, and the length of the Texas panhandle, which is even worse.  I don't recall seeing a real tree.  Flat, recently plowed and under irrigation.  Crossed a fork of the Brazos river that was old bone dry.  Looked like the last time it had seen water was when Noah took up yachting.  To be fair to Texas, once I got east of Abilene, the country improved greatly.  Lots of trees and green.  Still hot as hell, though.

All in all, this was just one of those get from point A to point B days.  No winner and little weirdness.  Except for a couple of Texas town names I will pass on.  Fluvanna.  Wildorado.  And when you pass through Justiceburg, you know you are miles from anything.  And one more tip.  I passed through Lubbock.  Google the Lubbock Lights for early UFO material.  I remember this from waaaaay back.

Dallas tomorrow.

One picture of my yard.  Much greener than Texas.