My Waltz Across Texas BACKWARDS started from Irongate Ranch in Palestine, Texas on December 25th. We had celebrated their son's birthday and Christmas on Christmas Eve.
It was cold, dreary and had rained on Christmas Eve with more rain expected. I decided to leave my friends early because it was colder than a witches tit and I had been freezing my cojones off since my arrival in Texas. I was concerned about traveling on Christmas day, if stations would be open, there are stretches of nothing through West Texas and New Mexico.
Since it was Christmas morning and no one had to work they were sleeping in {7 AM}. I snuck off without waking them or Pearl {dog}. So much for Al Gore's global warming theory. " I didn't see the sun until after 2 in the afternoon and by then I was glad I had left early." Temperatures were in the high 20's and low 30's according to thermometer in my car. At one point a warning flashed potential ice on road, drive carefully...Who knew a car could do that..
Traveling on FM645 to Tennessee Colony then west onto 287, I stopped at station at the intersection of 287 and I 45 N to get gas and coffee.
The first Karma sign driving on Christmas was not going to be a nail biter about gas. As I was getting money out to pay for the coffee an man standing behind..said to cashier I'm paying for her coffee.
Surprised I turned and asked WHY? He responded it's Christmas and I feel like doing something for a traveler, Merry Christmas.. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I said thank you and Merry Christmas.
Proceeding North on I 45 until I could pick-up 287 again heading west was uneventful. Took 287 to I 20 and picked I 10 east of Van Horn, Texas. Kept on traveling I stopped to spend the night in Las Cruces, New, Mexico I had driven 791.5 miles without an incident, other than cold and windy weather. Thinking all the while..Here comes the sun..and mulling over an e-mail I had received..
Hit El Paso, Texas at a time the traffic wasn't too bad, it's my least favorite city to drive through..It's across from Juarez and the Mexican drivers are lethal..but if you can get through at an off hour it's not too bad. Look out, ifs it's go to work or get home time you put your life in their hands.
By the time I got to Las Cruces, New Mexico I decided I would stop and get an early start the next morning. Stayed at the Hampton Inn, the best shower I have had in a hotel, the water pressure was like standing under Niagara Falls.. No I have never done that, but used my imagination.
After 22 miles west of Las Cruces the fun began, it was 5:30 in the morning when I saw the first Border Patrol Station. The BP agent said good morning have a nice and proceeded to wave me through. Not one to let a good opportunity go to waste I asked him how far are we from the border..BP about a 100 miles..Me, you just let a truck go through without looking in the back..BP..Yes
Me..And you are going to just wave me through.. BP ..Yes..Me.. Why don't you ask to see what I have in my trunk? BP.. I looked at you and your car..it's OK.
Me.. So you are profiling.. because I'm a white female driving a $65,000.00 car you don't think I could have 19 illegals in my trunk.. BP: I'll look in your trunk if you want me to..Now my friend Charles says good they are abiding by the 4th amendment of the Constitution..Hog Wash the murders along the border, the number of illegals invading the USA, I say it's protecting the border.
I got through Tucson which was a breeze, now that the road construction is complete..I had always hated driving through Tucson.
The best billboards were outside of Casa Grande,Arizona...Chick-fil-A and Burger King
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| STOP for a Chicken |
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| CHIP OFF THE OLE' WHOPPER Whopper Jr. |
