Friday, June 11, 2010

Day 2: Bloomfield


Texas Panhandle

I went to Wal-Mart and the lady told me she'd sell me tires if I was determined to buy them, but I didn't really need them yet.  I guess there was just a whole lot of water on the road.  I think it was the same storm that killed the campers in Arkansas.  (Shudder.)  I asked if I should rotate them and she said I had my best two tires on the back, which is where I want them.  I think I need to go somewhere to get them balanced, though, because I'm getting a lot of steering wheel vibration at highway speeds.  It's not the alignment, because I took my hands off the wheel and the car kept going straight.


I had nothing but beautiful blue skies for my second day of driving.  I have a deadline to reach my destination, so I only have photos taken from rest areas along the highway.  The one in the Texas Panhandle, outside of Amarillo, was beautiful.  It was like a miniature museum with historical exhibits, airconditiong, plenty of seating, and free wi-fi.  There is a tornado shelter here somewhere.  Outside are covered picnic tables, BBQ pits, a playground, and signs warning to watch for rattlesnakes.  They normally warn of their presence, but don't reach under any rocks or stick your hands in any holes, just in case...



The rest area in New Mexico wasn't as nice, but serviceable.  They did have a historical marker (why do people insist upon adding grafiti?), and I spotted a ladybug enjoying the facilities, as well.







In the middle of the afternoon, I heard a noise like a balloon expanding and then exploding and immediately thought of my tires.  It made my heart skip a beat, but it was just a bag of Tostitos I had on the back seat.  Apparently, it got really hot back there.

I made a stop at a casino along the way and played a little Texas Hold 'Em. I'm starting to get some respect at the tables. People are surprised I've only been playing a few months. They suspect I'm being coy when I say, "I'm learning."


After dark, I stopped for gas in the middle of nowhere and a woman approached me in the parking lot, asking for a ride.  What's up with all the people doing this lately?  Do I look like a taxi????  She said her boyfriend took off and left here there.  "Can I help you call someone to come get you?"  She said she only knew of one person and she didn't want to wake her.  My friend would be pissed if I was stranded somewhere and didn't call her.  My friends would come get me and then hunt down the boyfriend and beat his ass.  I did not give her a ride, but I made sure the guys working at the station knew she was there and they said they'd take care of her.  She had been in there earlier trying to buy alcohol, but they wouldn't sell to her because they suspected she was already intoxicated.      

I drove until almost midnight and stopped in Bloomfield, New Mexico at another Best Western.

P.S.  I have safely reached my destination for the race (not NM).  I'll post more after I leave.

18 comments:

betty said...

so curious where you are at; glad that you arrived there safely; do be careful driving with those tires of yours!

betty

Ronda Laveen said...

Girl, make 'em pay at the tables. Good luck on ya for all you're doing. You sure get around.

Brian Miller said...

nice. sounds like a great trip...and love the pic of the lady bug...have fun out there...went geocaching for the first time yesterday...we have one just down the road...much fun...

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Glad to hear you arrived safely, it sounds like a terrific trip. I love the photo of the ladybird on the tree stump.

Anonymous said...

I love travel and I love road trips! The photos are wonderful! The sky is indeed nice. Your beautifully captured horizon makes it even stand out more.

The rattlesnakes sound scary but the bug relaxes a tiring driving day.

Sage said...

Sounds like your tires need to be balanced. As for the rattlesnakes, I've seen those signs at a number of rest stops in the high plains--I wonder if there's been people bit as I've yet to see a rattlesnake while at a rest stop.

buffalodick said...

I won a Hold 'em tournament a couple of years back at the Stratosphere- one of those 25-30 people, over in 2 hours deals..Won $750!

Lucy said...

best of luck in wherever you go and how ever you get there. I bet it has been hot. Great pictures.

jack69 said...

I really hate dealing with folks 'who have been stranded'. That seems to be the pat story.
BUT, I can't believe you passed thru Bloomfield, NM. That is one of our planned stops in our next round the USA trip. I located a friend there, one I haven't seen in over 50 years. I had never heard of the place until I located him.

Take care and good luck in the race!!!!

Kelly said...

I love that ladybug picture!!

The flooding yesterday at the Albert Pike campground was horrible!!

Pseudo said...

I love road trip photos. These are great.

Anytime you want to link up your road trips on Traveling Thursday at my blog, I'd love to have you.

Vince said...

What are you to do if you DO see a Rattlesnake

RoseBelle said...

The rattlesnake warning sign just popped out of nowhwhere. I guess the region has a lot of rattlesnake..remembering that movie about snakes taking over an airplane right now...
Anyhoo, glad you reached your destination safely. You should definitely check or rebalance your tires before heading back home.

Anonymous said...

Love that pic of the lady bug!!
A sign warning about rattlesnakes?? That would freak me out!

A Lady's Life said...

Rattle snakes and stranded people. Hope she doesn't fall asleep somewhere by a rock.

Jen said...

Vince: If you don't pick it up and try to play with it, it won't bite you. Leave it alone.

Heather said...

Your so lucky to be out and about. Glad you didn't give that girl a ride, she should have called her friend. If she really had one!

Some of those rest areas are great and then you get the ones that seem to be neglected. Sad that folks do grafitti all over everything.

Love that pic of the ladybug!

Vince said...

Yeah, but why watch out for the Things. Is it so you can miss them or drive over them.

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