On the road, Virginia to California
Sep 10th, 2005, 07:02 PM
#1
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On the road, Virginia to California
I left from California on Sept 9. At least that is how it felt at 5:05 AM at the Red Carpet Club at LAX waiting for my 6AM flight back to Virginia. I had spent about a week in CA and found a nice temporary rental place to stay, so with that business done I felt like I had started my trip.
Slept through the entire flight to Dulles. Got a taxi back to my apt in McLean, packed the last few things into my car, and dropped of the keys and garage pass. I was officially moved out. Got my last haircut from Nader in McLean then stopped at Tachibana for one last dinner of excellent sushi.
I got on the road about 7PM, but I didn't get very far. Went out the toll road and Rt 7, ..., to West Virginia. I went to spend the night there and to say goodbye to my friends there. One friend declared that, in honor of my departure, she would set her tits on fire. I didn't think she was serious, but as this is a clothing optional resort, it turned out that this would not be difficult. I was playing bridge when she came over later in the evening. She had taken two matches from a matchbook and separted the cardboard base of each match. The base of each match was curled to form a clamp and she was able to position a match on each nipple so that the match stood up straight. She lighted them and I blew them out.
This morning I tried to sort out things in my car a bit more. The trunk was full, the back seat had stuff thrown in and the passenger seat was overflowing. Drove to Harrisonburg and visited my cousin. I hardly noticed the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley as I drove south on I-81 from Winchester. Had dinner with cousin Mary Kay who works at a food processing company in H-burg. They are processing beef from New Zealand that is used by Quizno's. Yes, from New Zealand to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to a Quizno's near you. Also beef from Australia and Uruguay is processed here.
Thank goodness for the FedEx/Kinko's over by JMU in Harrisonburg. I packed two boxes with stuff and shipped it to California. Now everything fits in the trunk of my Toyota Solara. It's much more manageable in the car now. Hated it with all the stuff around me.
So far in two days I have driven 200 miles but am only 100 miles from where I started driving. Tomorrow morning I will go past two more Harrisonburg exits on I-81 and will then be on highway that I've never been on before. Actually it will be new to me from that point all the way to Barstow (or Las Vegas).
100 miles gone, only 2565 miles to go
Slept through the entire flight to Dulles. Got a taxi back to my apt in McLean, packed the last few things into my car, and dropped of the keys and garage pass. I was officially moved out. Got my last haircut from Nader in McLean then stopped at Tachibana for one last dinner of excellent sushi.
I got on the road about 7PM, but I didn't get very far. Went out the toll road and Rt 7, ..., to West Virginia. I went to spend the night there and to say goodbye to my friends there. One friend declared that, in honor of my departure, she would set her tits on fire. I didn't think she was serious, but as this is a clothing optional resort, it turned out that this would not be difficult. I was playing bridge when she came over later in the evening. She had taken two matches from a matchbook and separted the cardboard base of each match. The base of each match was curled to form a clamp and she was able to position a match on each nipple so that the match stood up straight. She lighted them and I blew them out.
This morning I tried to sort out things in my car a bit more. The trunk was full, the back seat had stuff thrown in and the passenger seat was overflowing. Drove to Harrisonburg and visited my cousin. I hardly noticed the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley as I drove south on I-81 from Winchester. Had dinner with cousin Mary Kay who works at a food processing company in H-burg. They are processing beef from New Zealand that is used by Quizno's. Yes, from New Zealand to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to a Quizno's near you. Also beef from Australia and Uruguay is processed here.
Thank goodness for the FedEx/Kinko's over by JMU in Harrisonburg. I packed two boxes with stuff and shipped it to California. Now everything fits in the trunk of my Toyota Solara. It's much more manageable in the car now. Hated it with all the stuff around me.
So far in two days I have driven 200 miles but am only 100 miles from where I started driving. Tomorrow morning I will go past two more Harrisonburg exits on I-81 and will then be on highway that I've never been on before. Actually it will be new to me from that point all the way to Barstow (or Las Vegas).
100 miles gone, only 2565 miles to go
Sep 10th, 2005, 07:19 PM
#2
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Ahhh ,mrwunrfl, only you would have such an exotic (should I say hot send-off ) 
I fear that with that sort of memory lingering, you will be a bit bored on the road for so long.
Try our way, for a day and see how it goes...get up early, on the road early, drive til lunch. Have a nice lunch. Back on the road till dinner time, stop, stay in a decent comfortable place, eat a nice meal, go to bed after watching the news...
the days went fast that way- we made the trip in 5 days so I am hoping your trip will be easy in that way.
Do take note of what sights you see along the way- watch for camels, buffalo etc
Take care, keep in touch~
I fear that with that sort of memory lingering, you will be a bit bored on the road for so long.
Try our way, for a day and see how it goes...get up early, on the road early, drive til lunch. Have a nice lunch. Back on the road till dinner time, stop, stay in a decent comfortable place, eat a nice meal, go to bed after watching the news...
the days went fast that way- we made the trip in 5 days so I am hoping your trip will be easy in that way.
Do take note of what sights you see along the way- watch for camels, buffalo etc
Take care, keep in touch~
Sep 11th, 2005, 04:46 AM
#4
Original Poster
The Four Points Sheraton in Harrisonburg is nice. Nice room with free internet. The train went by at 1AM just as I was turning in so it didn't bother me much. Hard time getting to sleep, might have been because I am a bit wound up because of the major change in my life that I am making now.
After this stay gets posted to my Sheraton Preferred Guest account I will fax the webpage showing my SPG info to Marriott to try and get a complimentary status upgrade. I called a couple weeks ago and they said they could do it. I found my company's corporate rates along my route (I-81 to I-40 to I-15) and they are mostly Marriotts.
Knoxville is next. And then in a dash will make it to Nashville. Might have to skip Memphis since I can't think of anything to rhyme with it.
Scarlett, I am taking your advice and getting an early start today: 9AM.
After this stay gets posted to my Sheraton Preferred Guest account I will fax the webpage showing my SPG info to Marriott to try and get a complimentary status upgrade. I called a couple weeks ago and they said they could do it. I found my company's corporate rates along my route (I-81 to I-40 to I-15) and they are mostly Marriotts.
Knoxville is next. And then in a dash will make it to Nashville. Might have to skip Memphis since I can't think of anything to rhyme with it.
Scarlett, I am taking your advice and getting an early start today: 9AM.
Sep 11th, 2005, 04:57 AM
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Looking forward to your travelogue, mrwunrfl! Interesting about quiznos!
I'm not on line nearly as much as i'd like so i might have missed this, but do you mind if i ask why you're moving? Is this a corporate move or temporary or just for a change?
Have a safe trip!
I'm not on line nearly as much as i'd like so i might have missed this, but do you mind if i ask why you're moving? Is this a corporate move or temporary or just for a change?
Have a safe trip!
Sep 11th, 2005, 04:49 PM
#7
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Tennessee license plates are wrong. They show a silohuette of the state with a rising sun behind/above it. It looks as though the sun rises above the NORTHERN border of the state!
Tennessee drivers, like Maryland drivers, hog the left lane on the interstate even when they are only going the speed limit.
Southern Shenandoah Valley was much the same as north: low rolling hills with pasture land. I pulled off I81 at Staunton (pronounced STAN-tun) when I saw a sign for the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. After a quarter mile all I saw was farmland so I made a U-turn and got back on the interstate.
In "Southside" Virginia the land got hillier and forested. Eastern Tennesse was much like Virginia until about thirty miles outside of Nashville when the land flattened out. One part of the drive was along a ridge with a great view of a valley to the east.
Listened to tango music in the morning and nothing in the afternoon. Lots to think about. Only a couple of minor amusements along the way: in Virginia they have Hungry Mother State Park. In Tennessee I saw an old green station wagon with "Shaggin Wagon" painted above the tailgate and it had a surfboard on it's roof. A surfboard kept handy in middle Tennessee (it is "middle" not "central" TN).
The Sheraton Music City is nice. It is near the airport east of the city so I will be heading into Nashville rush hour in the morning, I guess.
Have an as yet vague plan to stay in Memphis on Monday night. Then Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a night. A stop for pie in Salislaw OK as advised by a Fodorite before staying overnite in Oklahoma City. Then Amarillo. My definite plan is to make it to Albuquerque by Saturday nite and then go to the New Mexico State Fair on Sunday the 17th (rodeo, baby!). Then the G.Canyon and Las Vegas.
This is a corporate move. On March 29, 1982, I joined a company of 72 people. On August 1, 2001, we were 500 people and the company was sold to a really big company. So, I am leaving a place where I have worked with some of the people for over 20 years. I do know a couple of the folks in California, and have visited there for work several times, so it is not entirely foreign. It is going to be an intense job, so I am taking advantage of as much of the relocation benefits as possible.
Tennessee drivers, like Maryland drivers, hog the left lane on the interstate even when they are only going the speed limit.
Southern Shenandoah Valley was much the same as north: low rolling hills with pasture land. I pulled off I81 at Staunton (pronounced STAN-tun) when I saw a sign for the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. After a quarter mile all I saw was farmland so I made a U-turn and got back on the interstate.
In "Southside" Virginia the land got hillier and forested. Eastern Tennesse was much like Virginia until about thirty miles outside of Nashville when the land flattened out. One part of the drive was along a ridge with a great view of a valley to the east.
Listened to tango music in the morning and nothing in the afternoon. Lots to think about. Only a couple of minor amusements along the way: in Virginia they have Hungry Mother State Park. In Tennessee I saw an old green station wagon with "Shaggin Wagon" painted above the tailgate and it had a surfboard on it's roof. A surfboard kept handy in middle Tennessee (it is "middle" not "central" TN).
The Sheraton Music City is nice. It is near the airport east of the city so I will be heading into Nashville rush hour in the morning, I guess.
Have an as yet vague plan to stay in Memphis on Monday night. Then Hot Springs, Arkansas, for a night. A stop for pie in Salislaw OK as advised by a Fodorite before staying overnite in Oklahoma City. Then Amarillo. My definite plan is to make it to Albuquerque by Saturday nite and then go to the New Mexico State Fair on Sunday the 17th (rodeo, baby!). Then the G.Canyon and Las Vegas.
This is a corporate move. On March 29, 1982, I joined a company of 72 people. On August 1, 2001, we were 500 people and the company was sold to a really big company. So, I am leaving a place where I have worked with some of the people for over 20 years. I do know a couple of the folks in California, and have visited there for work several times, so it is not entirely foreign. It is going to be an intense job, so I am taking advantage of as much of the relocation benefits as possible.
Sep 11th, 2005, 05:31 PM
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Here's hoping you have a safe trip and enjoy SoCal.
I'm going to miss the rendezvous at the Cinema N Drafthouse on Columbia Pike to pass off one of the Fodor's Pins we get from this October's GTG.
I do get to San Diego on occasion. 
I'm going to miss the rendezvous at the Cinema N Drafthouse on Columbia Pike to pass off one of the Fodor's Pins we get from this October's GTG.
I do get to San Diego on occasion.
Sep 12th, 2005, 09:10 PM
#9
Original Poster
We will have to reschedule the time and place, then, Budman.
I'll add that to the long list of things that I planned to do in D.C. but didn't. Like visit the White House, Holocaust Museum, WWII Memorial, and the Udvar-Hazy Center (even though I drove by it every workday for the last 6 months).
Yesterday, I averaged somewhere between 70 and 72 mph, including a couple of stops during a 540 mile drive. Today I probably averaged closer to 75. Only drove from Nashville to Memphis.
Got lost in Memphis and wound up in Arkansas (across I-55). Turned out ok as the approach to Memphis is much better on I-40 heading east. Crossing the Mississippi you see the pyramid to the left and the downtown to the right. The downtown is much smaller than I imagined it to be. Before I got on the bridge heading west I thought that I was headed toward the center of the city but was on the south edge of it.
The Doubletree Memphis is ok. The staff is nice but they just seem inexperienced. But it is close to Beale Street. It is across the street from a AAA baseball park though their season ends with August.
Had a rack of ribs for dinner tonight at the Blues City Cafe tonight. There are some interesting cha racters there. Like the host with the black boots, black pants, black shirt with rolled up sleeves showing several tattoos on forearms. Slicked back blond hair, earring, and a hard face that has probably seen the wrong side of some prison bars at least once. Seemed like an ok guy. The ribs were great and I enjoyed the place immensely.
Beale Street has several bars and restaurants along with shops selling records and/or tourist trinkets. Pretty good music even for a Monday night. I stopped in one nightclub to listen to a very good band and have a Diet Coke. This must be quite the happening scene on a summer Saturday night. There is a band that set up on a small stage in a park. They were quite good, for the price.
Tomorrow, I'm going to Graceland, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee.
I'll add that to the long list of things that I planned to do in D.C. but didn't. Like visit the White House, Holocaust Museum, WWII Memorial, and the Udvar-Hazy Center (even though I drove by it every workday for the last 6 months).
Yesterday, I averaged somewhere between 70 and 72 mph, including a couple of stops during a 540 mile drive. Today I probably averaged closer to 75. Only drove from Nashville to Memphis.
Got lost in Memphis and wound up in Arkansas (across I-55). Turned out ok as the approach to Memphis is much better on I-40 heading east. Crossing the Mississippi you see the pyramid to the left and the downtown to the right. The downtown is much smaller than I imagined it to be. Before I got on the bridge heading west I thought that I was headed toward the center of the city but was on the south edge of it.
The Doubletree Memphis is ok. The staff is nice but they just seem inexperienced. But it is close to Beale Street. It is across the street from a AAA baseball park though their season ends with August.
Had a rack of ribs for dinner tonight at the Blues City Cafe tonight. There are some interesting cha racters there. Like the host with the black boots, black pants, black shirt with rolled up sleeves showing several tattoos on forearms. Slicked back blond hair, earring, and a hard face that has probably seen the wrong side of some prison bars at least once. Seemed like an ok guy. The ribs were great and I enjoyed the place immensely.
Beale Street has several bars and restaurants along with shops selling records and/or tourist trinkets. Pretty good music even for a Monday night. I stopped in one nightclub to listen to a very good band and have a Diet Coke. This must be quite the happening scene on a summer Saturday night. There is a band that set up on a small stage in a park. They were quite good, for the price.
Tomorrow, I'm going to Graceland, Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee.
Sep 13th, 2005, 08:21 PM
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>>My definite plan is to make it to Albuquerque by Saturday nite and then go to the New Mexico State Fair on Sunday the 17th (rodeo, baby!). <<
Not only do you get the rodeo, you get a Three Dog night concert thrown in!
Have a good time at the fair. We're going Tuesday on Mr. Pickle's day off; dd is buying her first car tomorrow so I won't be entering the bread contest this year, unfortunately.
Lee Ann
Not only do you get the rodeo, you get a Three Dog night concert thrown in!
Have a good time at the fair. We're going Tuesday on Mr. Pickle's day off; dd is buying her first car tomorrow so I won't be entering the bread contest this year, unfortunately.
Lee Ann
Sep 14th, 2005, 12:42 PM
#13
Original Poster
Graceland was wonderful, I really enjoyed it. The shuttle bus lady said she was going to take us to Griselund, but she got us to the right place. Saw the mansion and the gold records (no flash photos, please, the better to preserve the "artifacts"), and of course the gravesite. Also stopped in for the car collection and the walkthru of the airplanes. It was about 2hr 10min for me.
From there I drove to Tunica, Mississippi. Lordy, the NW corner of M..ppi is really flat and not many trees so you can see for miles all around. There are a half dozen casinos north of Tunica (this is a half-hour from Memphis) spread out over a large area. I played at Bally's and lost a bit. I wasn't looking forward to driving into the sun at 5-6PM so I asked and they comp'd me a room. The room was fine.
I drove into Tunica to do a bit of shopping at a Piggly Wiggly and then stopped at the Blue & White Cafe for dinner. Had country fried steak with gravy and onions on top. Sides of baked potato salad, "okry", and turnip greens. Never had the greens before and it does not look very appetizing. Looks like dull green spinach. Tastes good, though, I was surprised.
Got to practice a little bit of Japanese at the B&W Cafe. There were 3 young women and a guy (Japanese from Chiba) who were visiting a guy from Tunica who apparently lived over there for a while. Was sure they were Japanese descent but not certain that they were from Japan as they spoke softly, a sign that they were probably Japanese and not loud Americans. When the one woman covered her mouth with her hand when replying to the waitress then I was certain where they were from.
It was just after sundown when I drove back to the casino area north of Tunica. Must have killed 50,000 bugs in that 10 mile drive, estimate based on the number of bug splats on the windshield. At one point I could hear so many little splats that it was as if somebody had thrown an (small) handfull of sand in front of me.
Won big at the Horseshoe Casino. The people at Bally's, in Tunica, and at the Horseshoe were very friendly and nice. The casinos are relatively new there. Give them 10 years or maybe one generation and they will be as cynical and jaded as Vegas, I would suppose. the Beach Boys are playing in Tunica two nights this week.
Have made it to the very nice Embassy Suites in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
From there I drove to Tunica, Mississippi. Lordy, the NW corner of M..ppi is really flat and not many trees so you can see for miles all around. There are a half dozen casinos north of Tunica (this is a half-hour from Memphis) spread out over a large area. I played at Bally's and lost a bit. I wasn't looking forward to driving into the sun at 5-6PM so I asked and they comp'd me a room. The room was fine.
I drove into Tunica to do a bit of shopping at a Piggly Wiggly and then stopped at the Blue & White Cafe for dinner. Had country fried steak with gravy and onions on top. Sides of baked potato salad, "okry", and turnip greens. Never had the greens before and it does not look very appetizing. Looks like dull green spinach. Tastes good, though, I was surprised.
Got to practice a little bit of Japanese at the B&W Cafe. There were 3 young women and a guy (Japanese from Chiba) who were visiting a guy from Tunica who apparently lived over there for a while. Was sure they were Japanese descent but not certain that they were from Japan as they spoke softly, a sign that they were probably Japanese and not loud Americans. When the one woman covered her mouth with her hand when replying to the waitress then I was certain where they were from.
It was just after sundown when I drove back to the casino area north of Tunica. Must have killed 50,000 bugs in that 10 mile drive, estimate based on the number of bug splats on the windshield. At one point I could hear so many little splats that it was as if somebody had thrown an (small) handfull of sand in front of me.
Won big at the Horseshoe Casino. The people at Bally's, in Tunica, and at the Horseshoe were very friendly and nice. The casinos are relatively new there. Give them 10 years or maybe one generation and they will be as cynical and jaded as Vegas, I would suppose. the Beach Boys are playing in Tunica two nights this week.
Have made it to the very nice Embassy Suites in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Sep 15th, 2005, 05:42 AM
#14
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Harley heaven here in Hot Springs. Lots of bikers around for an annual rally (with parade!) that will be held this weekend.
Went to the Hot Springs National Park yesterday. First, drove up to the top of the "mountain" to the view tower. Great views, the trees at the top of most of the mountains have started turning colors! After checking into your Hot Springs hotel and getting a map, this tower should be your first stop. Had trouble getting my bearings here at first and I am not geographically challenged. The view, with reference to the map, solved the naviagtion issues so I didn't need a map after that.
Took a walk down bath house row, part of the N.P. and enjoyed a visit to the Fordyce bath house which is open to self-guided tours. Might try "taking the waters" at the one b.h. that is operating.
Oh, back at Tunica at the Horseshoe there was a woman at the blackjack table who was probably 25 or 26 y.o. but young enough looking that I think she got carded when she sat down (her DL was out). She was playing two $10 hands at a time. She actually asked me to give her one of my black chips because it would really help her out as she had two children, ages 7 and 4 that she and her husband (who was at the craps table, I think) had to clothe and feed.
Went to the Hot Springs National Park yesterday. First, drove up to the top of the "mountain" to the view tower. Great views, the trees at the top of most of the mountains have started turning colors! After checking into your Hot Springs hotel and getting a map, this tower should be your first stop. Had trouble getting my bearings here at first and I am not geographically challenged. The view, with reference to the map, solved the naviagtion issues so I didn't need a map after that.
Took a walk down bath house row, part of the N.P. and enjoyed a visit to the Fordyce bath house which is open to self-guided tours. Might try "taking the waters" at the one b.h. that is operating.
Oh, back at Tunica at the Horseshoe there was a woman at the blackjack table who was probably 25 or 26 y.o. but young enough looking that I think she got carded when she sat down (her DL was out). She was playing two $10 hands at a time. She actually asked me to give her one of my black chips because it would really help her out as she had two children, ages 7 and 4 that she and her husband (who was at the craps table, I think) had to clothe and feed.
Sep 15th, 2005, 10:47 PM
#15
Original Poster
I did enjoy my day in Arkansas and I think it would be great to come back and spend a week or two. The bath house routine started with a hot soak in a big bathtub, scrub of arms, legs, and back. Then a sitz bath. Just sitting there with hot water running onto the lower part of the spine. This was followed by a steam bath. Then a hot towel on my back, lie down on back, hot towel on front, cold towel on head, and then body wrapped in a sheet. Relax like that for a little while and then get a shower to rinse off. Shower had about 200 little nozzles. Then the cool down room.
Stopped in Hope, Arkansas, for a smoked pork sandwich. Drove on down to Bossier City, Louisiana, to see racing at Louisiana Downs. LaD is an ok place, nothing special. Except for the B52 that was flying directly at me as I was driving in. It flew directly overhead and then banked to the north to land. The Holiday Inn riverside in Shreveport is kind of nasty. The casinos here smell of cigarette smoke. It was very hot in SW Arkansas and even hotter in Louisiana.
Heading to OK City or Amarillo tomorrow. I hope that it is not as hot in Albuquerque as it is in Louisiana.
Stopped in Hope, Arkansas, for a smoked pork sandwich. Drove on down to Bossier City, Louisiana, to see racing at Louisiana Downs. LaD is an ok place, nothing special. Except for the B52 that was flying directly at me as I was driving in. It flew directly overhead and then banked to the north to land. The Holiday Inn riverside in Shreveport is kind of nasty. The casinos here smell of cigarette smoke. It was very hot in SW Arkansas and even hotter in Louisiana.
Heading to OK City or Amarillo tomorrow. I hope that it is not as hot in Albuquerque as it is in Louisiana.
Sep 16th, 2005, 01:21 PM
#16
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>>I hope that it is not as hot in Albuquerque as it is in Louisiana.<<
But when it's hot here, it's a dry heat...
Temps are in the upper 70s/low 80s today - it's sunny and beautiful. Fall is my favorite season in New Mexico!
Lee Ann
But when it's hot here, it's a dry heat...
Temps are in the upper 70s/low 80s today - it's sunny and beautiful. Fall is my favorite season in New Mexico!
Lee Ann
Sep 16th, 2005, 08:11 PM
#17
Original Poster
Good to hear that. The weather is nice here in Oklahoma City also.
Drove through the pine country of east Texas then a Dallas bypass and north on 35 to Oklahoma. That was the most difficult road so far (I35 in TX) with road construction, narrow roads, a good bit of traffic especially near/in the city. Had a gas pump that didn't turn off automatically and spilled on the car, a shoe, and the ground (avoid the Shamrock station at Church's off of US 175W in Dallas).
Southern Oklahoma is pretty. Not flat like I expected. OKC looks like it would be a nice place to live. Went to the Oklahoma State Fair and saw the pig races among other attractions. The roast corn is excellent! After that, went to Remington Park. Nice facility and interesting crowd there.
Will be back on I-40 tomorrow, OK City to Albuquerque.
Drove through the pine country of east Texas then a Dallas bypass and north on 35 to Oklahoma. That was the most difficult road so far (I35 in TX) with road construction, narrow roads, a good bit of traffic especially near/in the city. Had a gas pump that didn't turn off automatically and spilled on the car, a shoe, and the ground (avoid the Shamrock station at Church's off of US 175W in Dallas).
Southern Oklahoma is pretty. Not flat like I expected. OKC looks like it would be a nice place to live. Went to the Oklahoma State Fair and saw the pig races among other attractions. The roast corn is excellent! After that, went to Remington Park. Nice facility and interesting crowd there.
Will be back on I-40 tomorrow, OK City to Albuquerque.
Sep 17th, 2005, 07:14 AM
#19
Original Poster
well, i rarely am called a hardass, so I suppose so. I have now tried ritual, retsorative bathing in Bavaria, Japan, and Arkansas, but can't pick a favorite.
I got a 4-cup Cuisinart coffee maker for this trip. I used it in Tunica. Last night I finally found the flat-bottom filters that I need and brewed my own sbux coffee this am. Am very late getting on the road to Alb but I will be wide awake!
I got a 4-cup Cuisinart coffee maker for this trip. I used it in Tunica. Last night I finally found the flat-bottom filters that I need and brewed my own sbux coffee this am. Am very late getting on the road to Alb but I will be wide awake!
Sep 18th, 2005, 06:55 AM
#20
Original Poster
The coffee was great but by the time I got to my car in the garage next door to the Oklahoma City Courtyard Downtown I had to p again. Made a couple of more stops and then stoped at Elk City, Oklahoma, to go to the National Route 66 Museum. Stopped there because of the big, official looking, brown and white sign on the interstate. But it wasn't a "national museum" it was a museum for the "national route". 10 minutes to get there, $3 and 10 minutes to see it, and 10 minutes to get away. Waste of time and at that point I decided that I would just stop in Amarillo for the night.
Amarillo looked, from I40 at 80 mph, to be boring so I kept going. Made it to Albuquerque before sundown. Saw a lot of cars heading in one direction so I followed them. Asked a guy in traffic what it was about and he said "state fair". So now i know how to get there: just down Louisiana Blvd from the Marriott.
The OKC Courtyard is next to an Amtrak station and convenient to I40. Nice place. The Albuquerque Marriott is also convenient to I40 and a nice place, will be happy to spend a second night here.
New Mexico scenery is much nicer than north Texas. New I would like NM when they gave me back an hour of my life at the state line (change to MST).
Faintly fascinating facts I have learned:
Memphis is birthplace of rock and roll
Memphis is home of the blues
Memphis is the world capital of pork bbq
Oklahoma City is the horse capital of the world. (I saw the capitol building there but did not see the stables for the congress).
Oklahoma is the 8th windiest state in the USA.
Amarillo looked, from I40 at 80 mph, to be boring so I kept going. Made it to Albuquerque before sundown. Saw a lot of cars heading in one direction so I followed them. Asked a guy in traffic what it was about and he said "state fair". So now i know how to get there: just down Louisiana Blvd from the Marriott.
The OKC Courtyard is next to an Amtrak station and convenient to I40. Nice place. The Albuquerque Marriott is also convenient to I40 and a nice place, will be happy to spend a second night here.
New Mexico scenery is much nicer than north Texas. New I would like NM when they gave me back an hour of my life at the state line (change to MST).
Faintly fascinating facts I have learned:
Memphis is birthplace of rock and roll
Memphis is home of the blues
Memphis is the world capital of pork bbq
Oklahoma City is the horse capital of the world. (I saw the capitol building there but did not see the stables for the congress).
Oklahoma is the 8th windiest state in the USA.
