Friday, Nov 20:
We leave Cookeville Walmart early in the dark and drive onward hoping to possibly make it home (not in my eyes because we are talking a good 15+ hours of my being a passenger). Well it was not to be (no kidding). Just before Harrisonburg, VA we hear ALARM< ALARM of tire pressure monitor, rapid deflating passenger side inner tire of duelies. We were near and exit and Harrisonburg and David changed the tire at a mcdonald’s/truck stop between curse words. Back on the road we headed to a tire place to have all four rear tire stems replaced with metal ones and also the spare. This was not the first trip where we had valve stem problems. $56 later (ALL METAL THIS TIME) and off we went on our journey. But wait, its not over yet! A few exits down (NO exaggeration)…ALARM, ALARM tire pressure gauge goes off on the right front tire (no duelies of course) and again, rapid deflation with no exit in sight and we roll to a stop at 12PSI. We are on route 81 heading north and dark is quickly approaching. We pull out the Progressive Roadside Service card and wait for someone else to change the tire on this very busy road where everyone is flying by us. We always head out of the lane next to people having roadside issues but NOPE, no one was. We waited for an hour for him to show up but were appreciative of someone else doing it. Again we did not make our destination (mine anyway) of Mohegan sun Casino in Wilkes, Barre, pa. Roadside service arrived with A tire iron. No Flashlight/dark so he was going to use his phone, no compressor…just him. David had taken off the tire and was ready for him…after waiting and waiting. After they left we were able to SQUEEZe out on congested I-81 north where we quickly got off the first exit we found and parked it overnight at the Walmart in New Market PA (north of Harrisonburg). ZZZZZZZZZZ after a quick trip into walmart to get toilet paper.
Thurs, Nov 19:
The back roads from broken bow, OK were a bit slow and through small towns but scenic. Hopped on route 40 only to discover that In Arkansas and Tennesse, route 40 is well travelled by trucks…lots of trucks and more trucks than route 81. Would not do that route again. One hour stop on route 40 due to a fire in a truck and we would not make our destination. Our evening was spent sleeping at a Walmart in Cookeville, TN…a quiet night was had by all after the crazy kids with noisy cars got over their fun. Is there not anywhere else teenagers of driving age can hang out other than Walmart…really!
Weds, Nov 18:
Ardmore was fairly close to broken bow, OK our destination for tonight…a few hours after we spent too much time tryng to find GLUTEN FREE Ibuprofin…which I never have to take but back problem forced it on me.
Today we spent the night with friends in Broken Bow, OK…
Thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks Jim and Sandra!
Tuesday, Nov 17:
With New Mexico in lockdown for COVID, the roads were pretty sparse. Today we headed to Ardmore, OK Walmart to overnight and do some shopping. A train early in the morning did not wake me and it was a busy Walmart. Note to self, don’t do this one again. We parked over against far end of property by pick up area.
Monday, Nov 16:
Bright and early we said good buy to Graham and Melissa and off we headed east. Our destination was Valley of Fires Recreation Area near Carrizozo, NM. $6 with the old guy pass got us a service less spot (same one as last time) and water nearby, Dump/water fill/Trash…a bargain. Arrived in afternoon. Walked the trail where you can see the lava that pushed up from deep within the earth. Early to bed.
