We started out the day climbing up those Sandia Mountians at Albuquerque. After less than half an hour, we were on flat land again. And it stayed flat most of the day.
Evidently, New Mexico does not have any laws against having billboards on the side of the highway. There seemed to be groves of them:
We saw several wind farms off in the distance. This modern windmill is in Tucumcari, New Mexico:
After we filled up the truck at Flying J in Tucumcari, FabGrandpa decided to drive over the scales. Ooops, maybe I DO have a tad too much fabric after all. Hmmm, I’ll toss groceries first if push comes to shove. We’re still under, but can’t buy anything else!
So, we officially left New Mexico and crossed over into Texas. New Mexico is one of the only states I have been in that has a sign telling you you are leaving:
It’s a good thing they told us, because west Texas was more of the same flat landscape, for miles and miles.Here is your RV minute for today, showing just how flat and lonely it is out here. This is I-40, going east, west of Amarillo, Texas:
There were more wind farms closer to Amarillo. I especially like this photo of an old fashioned windmill with the wind farm in the background:
We made it through Amarillo before the five o’clock rush, which is great!
Because a few miles outside of town, we heard a POP! The rear driver’s side tire on the trailer blew out! We had to stop on the side of I-40 and change the tire! It was pretty scary out there with all those trucks whizzing by! This was the same tire that blew out the first time we were going to Arizona in April of 2008 (well, not the same tire, but in the same position on the trailer) Wonder what is up with that?
We made into Shamrock, Texas to the West 40 RV park just at sunset:
I made us a “Road Trip Seafood Platter” for dinner: Tuna salad with avocado, smoked oysters, pear salad, and crackers. I had Glutino gluten free, he had Ritz. Yummy!
diane says
I enjoy driving along with you it is almost like being there. m
Maybe that is where you store your fabric, over that wheel…..
Susan Shepard says
Those pics of west Texas look just like we left it after spending 6 months there in ’09. No plans to return!
geogypsy says
OMG, that’s the same tire we had blow. What is up with this!?
Love the contrast between the old and new windmills. Whatever works for alternative power is GOOD.
Sallie (FullTime-Life) says
First of all — I LOVE the menu idea!! (Could have had that even in the little RV that we traveled in this last time.) Thanks!
I’ve seen that “leaving NM sign” and we always have to laugh. We always comment sarcastically that everything sure looks different in Texas! Ha.
Another favorite is on the Columbia Gorge in Oregon/Washington — you’re driving along and a sign says “End of Scenic Area.” Our comment is “stop looking out the window now!). Ha! Now I want to drive that again, just so I can take a picture of that sign.
Sorry ’bout the tire — don’t do any more of that!! Continued safe travels!