Today is October 5th and it feels as if I have been off the computer for weeks. When we left Apache Junction on the morning of the third, we set out across the mountains that we had avoided on our way to Arizona. Everything turned out great with the little red pickup and our load. We drove hard and stopped at Las Vegas, New Mexico. Not quite like Las Vegas Nevada. The Budget Inn looked more like an old adobe fort, the rooms were clean, but bare.
This morning on Interstate 25, we notice many hazard lights blinking ahead of us. A well drilling rig going south went off the south lanes and ended up crosswise on its side on the north bound lanes, closing off all northbound traffic. When I saw what was happening, it made my heart stop and my stomach flop. All traffic was directed to drive down the ditch embankment and proceed driving in the ditch for quite a distance and then drive up the embankment after the go-ahead was given. It had rained during the early morning and the huge gouges of dirt that this truck had made as he crossed from the south lane to the north lane were scary as all the traffic had to drive over them. We were so thankful that we happened upon this shortly after it had happened as the ditch was only getting smearier as more traffic treaded over it. Dennis put the pickup in four wheel drive, going ever so slowly and I kept my mouth shut, but my brain and heart were anything but still. I did glance out my rear view mirror as the trailer was being pulled first down the embankment and then up. Dennis stopped at the next turn lane to check out all the straps on the Honda cycle. I can’t imagine what sort of vehicles it would take to remove this huge mishap from the highway. There were many large semis and car carriers that were not, nor could not, take the risk of taking the ditch.
This evening we are in the western portion of Kansas. We have been taking good two lane roads to avoid the busiest of the larger towns. The speed limit on the two lanes is 65 mph and that has been Dennis’ speed all along.
So far, my most favorite state has been the scenery through New Mexico. Just amazing what God has made. The buttes jutting out of the mountains that face the highways remind me of the Sphinx that stood guard over the pyramids in Egypt.
Time to call it a night, for the morning will be here soon . . . and soon, Stauffer Avenue will be welcoming us. Not quite like the Sphinx, but pretty darn sweet.