The title is not a misspelling; we did actually go through Farwell, TX. We also got stopped by a train there, and because of that, we avoided a bathroom disaster (we did a U-turn while we waited for the train, and went back to the little convenience store and did that business while the train went by). Then we got stuck once more as another train, going the oposite direction went by at the same place, before actually crossing the state line into New Mexico. We thought that the town on the other side should be Welcom, but it was called Texico. At the risk of offending any of my friends in Texas, we could see why, in the Air Force, it's a toss-up on which assignment is worse, Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX, or Cannon AFB in Clovis, NM. Whoa, if I had the choice between Clovis and DC again, I think I'd be headed back to the Beltway!!
Again, no offense intended, but I have to say I'm glad to be out of
Texas. It always amazes me to be so "out in the middle of nowhere" driving through Texas. Today we were only on the interstate (I-20, FYI) in Texas for about 40 miles, between Abilene and Sweetwater, I think. The other miles were spent on divided highways and/or 2 lane state routes, until we reached I-40 about 90 miles east of Albuquerque. Ginger kept saying, "Wow, there's really nothing out here!"
The most fascinating thing about the drive today were the wind farms. Watching the hundred
s of wind turbines slowly spinning was almost hypnotic. Of course, there's also the bazillion oil pump thingies that are scattered along the way, as well. We failed to stop in the little town whose fame was Billy the Kid's gravesite. I kept thinking about that Brady Bunch Episode where Bobby idolizes B the K. But no one in the car was thrilled to get out of the car to look upon the ground of a notorious villian, so onward we drove. There was a little bit of stress when we decided to cancel our hotel reservation in order to see if we could get space-available billeting at Kirtland AFB in the east part of Albuquerque, but when we arrived there was no room in the inn...we were very fortunate (after a bit of anxiety on Gilligan's part) to subsequently end up at a Holiday Inn Express with a pool and a hot tub. We took the younger two swimming, and the Skipper was able to have some much-needed alone time, which he hasn't been able to get for the past few days. Tomorrow we have a "short" day of driving--only about 6 hours, to the Grand Canyon.
Speaking of the past few days, I am still feeling just so incredibly blessed and overwhelmed by the awesome friendships that we've been given through our years in the Air Force. Our time on this earth is all about relationships: our relationship with our Lord, our relationships with our family members, our relationships with friends, and with others. We are rich beyond measure with the friendships we have. We are grateful to our hostess for dropping everything (she is in nursing school right now, more than full-time, in a year-long LPN {LVN, in Texas} program), and making yummy veggie lasagna and going above and beyond what we ever expected from our Wessel invasion of her home. But it wasn't only the Wessels, it was our friends from San Antonio as well, last night. There were 15 people in her home!!! It was such a fun time, though, and so, so good to catch up with them all.
In case you check this before we arrive at the Grand Canyon, I will be putting just a couple pics on this entry tomorrow; I forgot the camera in the car, and we're exhausted, and it's really, really windy outside. So it will just have to wait til tomorrow!!
Again, no offense intended, but I have to say I'm glad to be out of
Texas. It always amazes me to be so "out in the middle of nowhere" driving through Texas. Today we were only on the interstate (I-20, FYI) in Texas for about 40 miles, between Abilene and Sweetwater, I think. The other miles were spent on divided highways and/or 2 lane state routes, until we reached I-40 about 90 miles east of Albuquerque. Ginger kept saying, "Wow, there's really nothing out here!"The most fascinating thing about the drive today were the wind farms. Watching the hundred
s of wind turbines slowly spinning was almost hypnotic. Of course, there's also the bazillion oil pump thingies that are scattered along the way, as well. We failed to stop in the little town whose fame was Billy the Kid's gravesite. I kept thinking about that Brady Bunch Episode where Bobby idolizes B the K. But no one in the car was thrilled to get out of the car to look upon the ground of a notorious villian, so onward we drove. There was a little bit of stress when we decided to cancel our hotel reservation in order to see if we could get space-available billeting at Kirtland AFB in the east part of Albuquerque, but when we arrived there was no room in the inn...we were very fortunate (after a bit of anxiety on Gilligan's part) to subsequently end up at a Holiday Inn Express with a pool and a hot tub. We took the younger two swimming, and the Skipper was able to have some much-needed alone time, which he hasn't been able to get for the past few days. Tomorrow we have a "short" day of driving--only about 6 hours, to the Grand Canyon.Speaking of the past few days, I am still feeling just so incredibly blessed and overwhelmed by the awesome friendships that we've been given through our years in the Air Force. Our time on this earth is all about relationships: our relationship with our Lord, our relationships with our family members, our relationships with friends, and with others. We are rich beyond measure with the friendships we have. We are grateful to our hostess for dropping everything (she is in nursing school right now, more than full-time, in a year-long LPN {LVN, in Texas} program), and making yummy veggie lasagna and going above and beyond what we ever expected from our Wessel invasion of her home. But it wasn't only the Wessels, it was our friends from San Antonio as well, last night. There were 15 people in her home!!! It was such a fun time, though, and so, so good to catch up with them all.
In case you check this before we arrive at the Grand Canyon, I will be putting just a couple pics on this entry tomorrow; I forgot the camera in the car, and we're exhausted, and it's really, really windy outside. So it will just have to wait til tomorrow!!
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