Someone told me long ago,
There's a calm before the storm....
The words to the CCR song just keep running through my brain as I hold the paper towels up against the seam of the truck cab, trying to catch the drops before they can damage valuable electronics. The storms that were predicted, came on with a vengeance as we made our way out of Arkansas and into Tennessee this evening. The lightening show was spectacular, vying with the city lights as we made our way through Memphis.
Our driving day started out quite beautifully, just before 1 PM Central time, as we packed up our gear, gassed up the truck and pulled back out onto Rt. 40 in Van Buren, AR. We didn't get far before the "check engine" light came on. Had Joe not JUST checked the oil when we filled up, he would have been more concerned. As it was, he decided to drive on, keeping an eye on the gauges, until we came to the first rest area. On our way we speculated as to the cause of the check engine light. This truck is a Ford. Could it be the infamous "computer" that periodically demands the engine be checked? Did Joe "touch" anything under the hood, while he was checking the oil, that could have disrupted the intricate balance of the Penske truck's engine? From my own experience, I recalled once taking my car in for servicing because the check engine light came on.... turns out, as the mechanic told me, "you have to put the gas cap back on properly..."
Well, sure enough, at the rest area, it was the gas cap that had not seated right when put back on... check engine light has not been a problem since. However, the stop at that rest area afforded us a nice photo opportunity~
Fall Colors Starting in AR
Joe, capturing the scene
Purely Picturesque
Zoomed into a Lazy Sunday afternoon Cow Gathering
Fall Colors under Fall Sky
Helicopter flies overhead
Baby Snake, enjoying a Fall Day
Our next BIG adventure came when, we literally ended up making an emergency stop at a hospital somewhere in AR.... I walked "briskly" into the emergency room entrance, asked the guard at the door if I could use the restroom.... and he nodded, as I made my way, with or without his permission.... I had to go or I was going to pass out, and then I would REALLY need the emergency room! And then we were back on the road and stopped at the VERY NEXT EXIT.... (the one we THOUGHT we were exiting on when we ended up at the hospital emergency room) where we enjoyed a leisurely fast food lunch.
Once back on the road, the trip was uneventful until we hit the Tennessee border and the torrential rain. Before long we realized, despite our windows being closed, we were getting wet. And so we discovered that in driving rain, the cab of the truck has a failure. We have not located to precise point of that failure, but it seems as long as I hold wads of paper towels up at the seam, behind my head, I can catch the majority of the water. Riding for several hours with my arms extended over and slightly behind my head gets just a wee bit tiring. Still, a small price to pay for not having to DRIVE in this stuff! Thankfully, the rain has let up for the moment.
Arkansas colors under Stormy skies
Rain Approaching as we near the TN border
Somewhere in AR
AR Fall Colors
Political Message
AR Late afternoon sky
We have just passed through Knoxville... I have seen essentially nothing of Tennessee, as it has been dark and raining the entire time we have been traveling through. Next time, we should really travel through during daylight hours. In Arkansas I saw the leaves were starting to turn colors, and I imagine here in TN they are hitting that peak color...but, it's dark, so I really have no idea.
And every time it starts to rain, I grab that paper towel, reach above my head and think of the CCR song.... I wanna know...have you ever seen the rain....comin' down on a sunny day?
It's Sunday morning as I sit here in the motel room in Van Buren, AR. While Friday we managed to outrun the majority of the rain, we were not so lucky Saturday. The drive through New Mexico and Texas was made in the dark of night, without rain, which was a blessing, considering the last time me made this journey, in January 2009, we drove through the night with icy rain making the journey particularly treacherous. See those pictures in my post from January 6, 2009. http://judyscornerstore.blogspot.com/2009/01/no-it-wasnt-what-id-expected-jcarolek_14.html
This time, we did not have to deal with the rain until the daylight hours, and not until we approached Oklahoma City, OK. We saw the sun come up at an OK rest area, though, to be honest, it was threatening rain and the moon was still full....not a spectacular sunrise, but it was a much needed leg-stretch, nonetheless. And we tried to catch a little nap in the cab of the truck...
Rest Stop OK at dawn
Saturday Sunrise? Ummm... the MOON is still out!
OK Dawn
Napping in the Cab
By late morning, the rain was pouring and photography took on a new challenge. It was interesting to witness some of the vehicles on the road, as it seems Saturday is the day of choice for moving odd large objects, in precarious ways. There was the large freezer in the bed of the white pickup truck...no tailgate, no tie-down for the freezer ... driver maneuvering in and out of lanes in the pouring rain in what could only be characterized as a "reckless manner." There was the GIGANTIC, "we don't know what you are" piece of machinery that was being hauled eastward, with a "Oversized Load" sign which was redundant... I mean, this thing was HUGE and dwarfed the sign!
Name That Load
And then there was another GIGANTIC "we also don't know what YOU are" "thing" being hauled. For the latter, however, there was a "pilot" vehicle which seemed to have forgotten he was leading the way for the monstrosity behind. For the pilot vehicle was WAY ahead of his cargo truck, and was fast approaching the "left lane closed ahead" area where the remaining right lane and shoulder would prove too narrow for the wide load to pass....
Oversized Load 2
Thankfully, we were ahead of these vehicles by the time we reached the narrow passage, and moved through without issue...... it did not escape us that we had NOBODY behind us for quite some time thereafter, and we speculate there may have been a "little" traffic tie-up when that oversized load reached that construction zone.
The skies, by this time, had completely opened up and were dumping rain and hail without mercy. We knew it was time to get off the road and find a hideout for the night. We passed a vehicle whose driver had decided to try to wait out the storm under a bridge...perhaps a drier location, but VERY dangerous in the reduced visibility and standing water conditions. We thought a motel stop would be a better choice and found just what we needed shortly after crossing the border into Arkansas. Within a few minutes, we'd checked into the motel, where, we were informed, the rooms had all been flooded in a storm a few weeks ago and in which new carpet had JUST been laid throughout. In fact, the carpet layer was there, completing the work in the office area behind the main lobby. He and Joe got into a little "carpet laying" conversation and it turned out he had recently relocated to this area, after living in an area very near Yosemite for the past ten years... interesting, small world.
Micheal, the carpet layer, recommended the Italian restaurant next door when asked where we could get a good meal. So, after getting our necessary gear unloaded from the back of the truck, we walked through the drizzle (the downpour let up for a little while) to Frank's, where we enjoyed a very good, well priced meal. Then it was back to the room and SLEEP!
OK Farm
I dunno....looked interesting
Oh, NO! Don't let the rain come down!!!
Rainy OK
A Warm, WET AK Welcome!
Checking into Motel as More Bad Weather Threatens
Well, it FEELS like we are driving a big truck!
Today we will begin, what should be the final push home. We have (according to the Mapquest and Garmin predictors) about 1200 miles yet to travel. We are shooting to pull into the old farmhouse by early morning Tuesday.... we shall see. One thing is for certain, we have enjoyed EATING along the way!!!
Eating at the Truck Stop
Eating at Frank's
Leaving with Doggie Bag
And then, this morning's breakfast... included in the price of the room. But who would've predicted we'd have such a colorful breakfast "companion." YEESHHHHH.... apparently this establishment is not restrictive to those wearing shirts and shoes... or perhaps they just didn't want to challenge this one! (Though it is not captured in the photo...he WAS barefoot!)
Ummm.... Overalls take on an entirely new image for me!
Kingman, AZ greeted us this morning with a pretty decent downpour. We took our time waking up from a refreshing sleep in a comfortable bed and found our way to the "full hot breakfast" included in our room price. I wouldn't stay there just for the opportunity to eat the breakfast, but it wasn't bad. After showers, sending a few emails, and addressing a few postcards, we checked out, just after the noon check-out time. Next was fueling up, and then we were on our way for Day 2 of our cross country trek.
Rainy Drive Day AZ
Kingman, AZ Police Car
The rain had subsided to a mere threat by the time we'd been on the road about an hour. For most of the rest of the day we ran parallel to the rain, knowing it was only a matter of time before we'd be in the rain again. A few times Joe had to deal with the drizzle on the windshield with a few slaps of the windshield wipers. It was a fairly quiet, perfectly comfortable ride, in the passenger seat of the 16 foot box truck.
Windshield Wipers Slappin' Time
Near the New Mexico border, my comfortable ride through the drizzle melded with Janis Joplin's voice of yesteryear as the radio offered up her rendition of "Me and Bobby McGee." I looked ahead at the dramatic skyline, the variety of colors and shapes of mountains against clouds and skies.
Dramatic Skies
I looked to my right and watched a train making its way westward along the track running parallel to the Rt. 40 on which we were heading eastward. I looked to my left and saw Joe, eyes on the road, with the dramatic sky behind him causing him to appear silhouettish in my view. And I thought how very comfortable and happy I was at that moment.
Dramatic Sky Silhouette
There were the requisite "crazies" on the road, to be sure. I have certainly seen some interesting maneuvers by semi-truck drivers, and by drivers of little cars who seem oblivious to the world around them.
Truck on Left was seriously "all over the road"
Trucks, Trucks, and More Trucks
I saw an elk that appeared to be sitting comfortably on the shoulder of the highway, but who, in reality, was undoubtedly in excruciating pain. For I also saw the police car, lights a-blazing, speed past us to the site, just beyond the elk, where two cars, hoods dented, rested after their encounter with the elk. And I saw the patrolman, as he walked past the wrecked vehicles to the poor elk... I did not witness the inevitable, but hope the elk was put out of his pain quickly. Despite the fact that Joe and I ALWAYS have our cameras ready for the most mundane action, neither of us managed to capture a shot of ANY of that.
As we neared the New Mexico border, the sun was setting and we were ready to stop for supper. We decided on a truck stop in Gallup, NM.
Sunset, approaching Gallup, NM
We enjoyed a relaxed meal, despite the charming "screaming, spoon pounding" baby who entertained herself as her parents took full advantage of the "all you can eat" offerings....seemingly oblivious to the irritation the child was causing to other patrons. One by one, others gave up and left, probably sooner than they'd have ordinarily. But we managed to outstay the child, as her parents did eventually have their fill and the threesome left. The food was decent and the break from driving a needed one.
We just passed by Albuquerque, NM, rolling through the night toward our eventual destination, back home in VA. We share the road with the semis at night and cannot enjoy the beautiful views of the landscape, but we make reasonable time, even in this heavily laden truck. And, we will get to see the sunrise in another state tomorrow, as we do not plan to make another hotel stop until tomorrow afternoon.
It's been a good day, and has held some exceptionally good moments, when past and present melded together in the perfect setting....with those windshield wipers slappin' time.........
Finally... finally, we got our cross-country trek underway this morning....at 2:15 AM Pacific time. Our final day in Mariposa was almost non-stop work. Save the time we took to savor the sunset (always a delight there), we spent the day packing the final boxes, a job that for some reason seemed to grow with every box we packed... the end, while ever "near" seemed determined to test our tolerance.
Just One More Box... REALLY!!
Final Mariposa Sunset
Stovepipe at Sunset
Still, we did finally batten down the last hatch, and set out on our journey...easily two days after our targeted departure date/time, but with more good memories woven in the process.
I, for one, was tired. I had not slept well Tuesday night, lying awake most of the night reminding myself of how little time we had to complete this maneuver. The redundant reminders served little purpose and only managed to tire me further. Joe, who at least slept through the night Tuesday night, albeit, a short night, waking and starting the final packing day at 8 AM, assured me he was fine to drive. So, even at that ridiculous hour and with so little sleep, we took the plunge. Predictably, within an hour, I was snoozing in the truck, taking advantage of the pillow and blanket Joe's mom insisted I take. Joe drove the truck, now heavy with all of the boxes, down the steep grades and back up the next steep grades... something I am just as happy to have slept through!
Judy, Refreshed Feeling After a Nice Truck Nap
The dawn was quite spectacular, and we were offered a variety of picturesque landscapes to capture, though through the dirty windshield of the truck, our cameras met some challenge. Still, when day ended, between the two of us, we'd happily snapped more than 900 photos.
Windmills on the Hill
Judy and Joe -- On the Road
Windmills at Sunrise
California Skies and Mountains
Now, even though I am on "vacation" from work, I am still expected to attend meetings, make presentations, etc.... (I ask you, what IS a vacation these days?) So, with the MANDATORY meeting/presentation time approaching, and the next steep grades shortly ahead, Joe decided the gas tank, then reading 1/4 full, would do well to be filled. He pulled off in the "quaint" little town of Needles, CA.... a stop we immediately regretted. Though he drove the oversized truck around the town, checking ALL of the gas stations, we discovered the LOWEST price for gas was $3.69 a gallon... highway robbery, even when compared to the $3.09 we'd paid outside of Barstow, CA.
Still, not knowing whether we had sufficient fuel to make it up and over the next grade, or to the next available gas station, we poured 18 gallons of the liquid gold into the tank. True to form, when the time came to get the receipt, the printer at the pump was not working and a trip inside to the attendant was required. And even then, as it turns out, the receipt given was not ours, but the previous customer's. It seems the happy gas station owner/operators were too busy laughing and chatting with each other about how the customers were complaining their prices were too high, to actually pay attention to minor details such as giving the correct receipts to their highway robbery victims. All said, by the time we pulled out of that miserable little town, whose the MOST memorable feature BESIDES the overpriced gas was the ridiculous number of FLIES, we agreed there was nothing there that would inspire us to EVER stop in Needles, CA a second time.
Just Say "NO" to Needles, CA
Since time was now running very short, Joe found a place where I could hope to enjoy a bit of quiet and shade, in the middle of the desert, while taking the conference call for work...my boss had ASSURED me it would only be about 10-15 minutes for the call.... One hour later, with more flies trying to make their way into the cab of the truck, and the cell phone battery, in constant "roam," just about to give up the ghost, my part of the presentation was complete, and I was allowed to return to my "vacation." (Of course, they also gave me an assignment to complete tonight, but I suppose "vacation" means different things to different people.)
Shady Desert Mobile Work Spot
On Our Way Back to Rt. 40....Truck
Having Trouble Making the Turn onto Rt. 66
Classic
Lake and Mountains
Joe, Taking a Shot
And so we were back on the road. Hard work and long hours of driving were finally catching up with Joe. It was time to locate a place to eat and a motel to catch some shut-eye, before the next long haul. We started our exploration for the motel first, opting for inexpensive....in the fine town of Kingman, AZ. It appears that "inexpensive" and "clean" are mutually exclusive, as not only the first motel we tried, but the second as well, offered us rooms at 150% of the price advertised on the marquee outside, and BOTH featured DOGFOOD on the bedspread and floors. I am completely serious! Apparently motels that are "pet friendly" are also "cleaning optional." The first was, admittedly, worse than the second, with the additional feature of a WORM on the animal hair covered carpet, but the second room was still unacceptable, and we went to motel number three, where, like Goldilocks, we found the room to be, "just right."
An added bonus to the room we rented was the discount at the local diner just across the parking lot. The food was good, the service was decent and the price was acceptable...all's well that ends well! As I write this, Joe is snoozing. I will complete my work assignment before turning in, but decided I'd rather unwind with a blog entry BEFORE tackling the work project.
Good Food After a Long Drive
The first leg of our journey ended without mishap, and we did get to see a lot of interesting things along the way.
Donkey in Red Pickup Truck
Train -- Kingman, AZ
Joe is NOT Climbing on the Train....
Iron Horse and Joe
Beautiful Landscapes
I am looking forward to a good night's sleep, and hope the decent weather we have enjoyed today continues to grace our journey tomorrow.
