Riding east from Amarillo this morning, it quickly warmed up to 70F and stayed there all the way through Oklahoma.
It couldn't have been a more beautiful day for riding.
Surely there's no way that a day starting out that gorgeous could end in misery...
After spending all day on I-40, I think I need to share some of my wisdom and advice with others who may be planning a trip west.
Lesson #1:
If you ever in your life decide to drive across Texas, DO NOT use I-10.
I took I-10 on the way west, and it was endless.
By all means, take I-40.
I took I-40 on the way east, and went all the way across Texas in under 3 hours.
Weird - it must have something to do with a space/time warp.
Lesson #2:
DO NOT get on I-40 anywhere within 75 miles of Memphis.
Everything is under construction, and you will spend 3 hours sitting in a long line of 18-wheelers.
This includes I-40 west in Arkansas, and I-40 east in Tennessee.
Move 20 feet. Wait. Turn off engine. Wait. Turn on engine. Etc....
Google Maps lists some of the construction sites when you choose a route:
When I passed through Mayflower, Arkansas, I saw a path of devastation from a tornado that must have come right across I-40.
There was evidence of former houses on both sides of the road, but all that was left was splinters.
I remember hearing about tornadoes shortly after I left home, but I haven't kept up with the news.
I hit some rain around Little Rock, but it didn't really get serious until just after the Memphis nightmare.
Then it came on strong. I was determined to make it to Nashville tonight,
but after losing all the time in traffic and having trouble seeing the lines in the rain at night,
I called it quits when I saw the motel billboards in Jackson, TN.
I didn't even go for the cheap motels like before.
I'm at the Days Inn - $32.99 including a hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, and TWO little bottles of shampoo!
It even has an iron, ironing board, and hair dryer.
(OK, the hair dryer doesn't work, but it's a nice gesture.)
It's one of those fancy places where you ring the doorbell, and they buzz you in to the lobby.
A wise guy might ask, "Yeah, cheapskate, but would your wife stay there?"
Hah! No.
Wow, I cant believe the construction is still bad between Arkansas and Memphis! It was like that back in October when Ron and I made our road trip to Kentucky!! And just like you said, stop and wait, go a little further up the road and repeat. It was tedious in a car with satellite radio! With someone to talk to! Alone? I'd have lost my mind 10 minutes in ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnd from looking on a map, Mayflower is just west of Vilonia, AR a little ways. That town was just about completely devastated by a tornado during that string of strong storms. From what I remember hearing, it was the hardest hit during that outbreak.
ReplyDeleteYes, that must be the place. No matter how many pictures you see of tornado devastation, it's still sobering when you see it in real life.
Deletelove your lessons learned!
ReplyDelete