Our time in the West, albeit short, is done. We saw most of the people we wanted to see (see you next time Laima...) and got to experience the Southwest during the winter (not what we were looking for). We did our work and received our gifts. Time to head back to the island.
The "10" is magnificent. We headed South out of Phoenix to Tucson and down the 10 towards El Paso. So much open space. West Texas is empty and amazing and after 10 hours on the road we pulled off in Ft Stockton for the night. It was 30 degrees the next morning at 6:30AM. The drive East was amazing and we pushed on until 11:00 or so when our stomachs began to growl. It is Thanksgiving and we were hankering for some turkey.
I saw the sign for the Cracker Barrel on a bill board in the middle of the high desert. Exit 335, 56 miles. 45 minutes late, we pulled off the highway and into the mayhem. Traffic was backed up trying to get into the parking lot. Families were standing outside and sitting in the rocking chairs (if you are familiar with Cracker Barrel you'll know what I mean...). I dropped Connie off to wade into the insanity and circled four times before I found a parking spot. After watering the dogs I entered the madness; wall to wall people dressed in their best West Texas garb waiting to he seated. Connie had worked her way to the front and was ordering two turkey dinners.... take out. After 15 minutes we received our food and retreated to the car where we enjoyed a hot turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, corn muffin and pecan pumpkin pie dinner. From payment to completion was 27 minutes. Fantastic.
7 hours later we are hunkered down for the night in Matairie, LA. The dogs have been bathed, Connie and I are showered and we are ready for the final push to SSI for some downtime. We had anticipated a longer stay in the SW, but when you know, you know. So back East we come... It has been a blast; an adventure... and as Helen Keller wrote " Life is an adventure... or nothing."
Life is good.
The "10" is magnificent. We headed South out of Phoenix to Tucson and down the 10 towards El Paso. So much open space. West Texas is empty and amazing and after 10 hours on the road we pulled off in Ft Stockton for the night. It was 30 degrees the next morning at 6:30AM. The drive East was amazing and we pushed on until 11:00 or so when our stomachs began to growl. It is Thanksgiving and we were hankering for some turkey.
I saw the sign for the Cracker Barrel on a bill board in the middle of the high desert. Exit 335, 56 miles. 45 minutes late, we pulled off the highway and into the mayhem. Traffic was backed up trying to get into the parking lot. Families were standing outside and sitting in the rocking chairs (if you are familiar with Cracker Barrel you'll know what I mean...). I dropped Connie off to wade into the insanity and circled four times before I found a parking spot. After watering the dogs I entered the madness; wall to wall people dressed in their best West Texas garb waiting to he seated. Connie had worked her way to the front and was ordering two turkey dinners.... take out. After 15 minutes we received our food and retreated to the car where we enjoyed a hot turkey, stuffing, mashed potato, corn muffin and pecan pumpkin pie dinner. From payment to completion was 27 minutes. Fantastic.
7 hours later we are hunkered down for the night in Matairie, LA. The dogs have been bathed, Connie and I are showered and we are ready for the final push to SSI for some downtime. We had anticipated a longer stay in the SW, but when you know, you know. So back East we come... It has been a blast; an adventure... and as Helen Keller wrote " Life is an adventure... or nothing."
Life is good.
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