We've been everywhere

Last day was a long drive through KY and IN into MI. Finally a breakfast at a Waffle House! Best part of today's travels was 4 antique malls one outside of Bowling Green KY and 3 on the square in Scottsburg IN. While in Scottsburg as the county courthouse was chiming the hour, My Old Kentucky Home was playing,

Wind still very gusty and then rain as we came into MI and what a temp drop once we made or last gas stop at a BP in northern IN off I-69

Didn't realize how many towns have the same name in one form or another--Memphis, Adrian, Goshen, Las Vegas, Boston, Flat Rock, Mason, Canada, N. Canada,Windsor, Bowling Green, and more that my tired mind can't recall.




Adios amigos!

Where in the United States are T&L+C?

As we hit the road in the rain--and dodged tornado warnings, sirens going off an roads we couldn't see
--A. we saw the favorite estate of a king
--B the strip where it happens
--C. Music highway
--D.legend in radio and music history
--E. another nightlife strip


The pictures tell the story for today

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North, south, east, west

Crosswinds all day until we got rain. 3 hours at dealership to say can't find a brake problem. On the road and after a misread of the map headed the opposite direction on a turnpike,
we made the decision to skip the museum. Stopped briefly at 2 antique places and the Seminole Nation Crosswinds casino. None of the stops were productive.
Louise decided the vehicle was acting up since it knew we were on the way home and didn't want to go.
Passed one lake in OK that looked like the red sea with white caps. Once in AR we got sneak peaks at lakes.
Another day of doing nothing but road warrioring. Next trip willl need a pre-req of a passing grade in map reading 101.
The pix tell it all.
The lady at the reataurant asked if we were in town for the Toad Suck Daze in Conroy AR! What did she say?
It's a fund raiser for scholarships.

Weather channel has a rain forecast and hopefully we will be on the edge and miss most of it.

I brake for ...

I was aware of the sweeping winds in OK--but also AZ, NM, and TX all had signs about gusty winds, dangerous crosswinds, etc. but in OK it was consistently strong! Unfortunately the morning started out with ABS light coming on, Stopped at Terry's in NM to have it checked out--just a sensor ok to go. Dust storms all around with these high winds.
Lunch for bbq at Dyer's in Amarillo after an antiques fix, Back on I 40 to Oklahoma City.
Passed another large cross on I-40 that said it was the tallest cross in the western hemisphere, now how much bigger is it than the one we saw on the 19th?
Stopped near Sayre for gas and the brakes check light came on as we pulled over to check the map. Sent back west for a place to repair brakes--nope no openings, go down to Elk City to L&R, back on highway at only 60mph found place in Elk City--they
could give us an appt on Saturday, then relented to 11 on Thurs. We drove downtown and found a dealership that will take us in thurs at 7AM.

The pictures show what we could see--not much as it was mostly flat as far as the eyes could see. We did stop to see the cadillacs nose down in a field outside Amarillo.

Gas prices are up and down today from $3.67 to $3.45. Gas station pumps have been an experience. In Kansas and CA the nozzles have tube collar to stop fumes etc. and have to be put on just right.
One station in CA didn't have a pay at the pump but at an ATM type of machine between the pump islands. Prepay with cash--just slide bills in or use credit.

Gas has had ratings of 85 or 86 in the higher elevations and then up to 87 at the lower elevations.
We've gotten best mileage ever at the higher elevations with 85 rating.

Dinner in Elk City at Ed's Katy Diner, an old train station for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad. Katy, there's even a book on the Katy line. A few windows with the opaque stained glass, gingerbread fretwork and the drawers and cabinets for the ticket seller.

Drove around to find the old carnegie Library with the youth library in the basement.

I-40 and Route 66

On the road heading east on I-40 Passed several hitchhikers but none came close to a Brad Pitt, maybe his father would be more compatible.
We got bogged down toady with a stop at Ortega's souvenir, gas stop, and CASINO visit. We got our kicks on Route 66
or at least a free t-shirt at the Route 66 Casino. Carol finally broke even-- for one visit. T&L went off in search of antique malls and found 3 stores where we could leave some
money to help the local economy along. Though Albuquerque looks more prosperous that some other places. One shop is owned by a woman originally from Detroit
and she spotted the Woodward cruise shirt right away.
Had dinner at the Silver Moon Restaurant to feast on Mexican American in Santa Rosa NM and imbide a Roswell Alien Amber! Salsa and sauces were very spicy and they
were out of sour cream!

If we had room Thelma saw an old coke machine we could have tied to the
roof if we could have lifted it up there.

On the road again!

Monday was a day for driving, driving, driving! Backtracked along highway 58 past Boron and the 20 mule team road and borox road. Caught up with I-40 at Barstow and headed to Needles. Lots of motorcyclists on their way back from a river run at Laughlin. Finally a restroom where the men were standing in line.
Drove through Needles which needs a whole urban renewal of "downtown". The old train station looks like it might have been the glamour spot along the Santa Fe lines. It is a skeleton now but fenced in so perhaps plans are underway for renovation.
Traffic has been light and we shared the countryside with the rail lines pulled by BNSF, Santa Fe and Union Pacific engines. Most were pulling flatbeds full of containers.
Drove through downtown Williams Az which is in much better shape than Needles--at least it had stores that were open.
Now at the hotel where some amigos are kicking back with "blue kool-aid"
Back on I-40 tomorrow to as far as we can get with a stop at another casino and some tourist traps and hopefully an antique store.

Do you know the way to San Jose?

We certainly do as well as a ton of other locations and restaurants in California.
Brunched in a nice cafe with a young couple from Mountain View and their son. Great company and food. Herbed potato omelets and scrambles.
We headed across the San Joaquin valley through Gilroy the garlic Capitol and past Selma the raisin capitol.
Stopped at 3 antique places and in Gilroy got a free head of garlic with purchase. Now we are safe from vampires.
Gas prices from $3.79 to $4.05
Arrived in Bakersfield and after a search for a motel room and a coin laundry we ate a Marie Callendar's restaurant.
Food was good and great margaritas!
We are on the way home--sigh. Will backtrack part of the way and Carol's on the lookout for a Native American casino along the way.
Today was the best weather--clear, sunny and HOT! We saw actual water at the San Luis reservoir. One crossing of the
San Joaquin river was all sand. When we recrosses down the road it actually was wet. The California aqueduct was full!
We really needed to have a copy of "Gunk" for our new insect collection.