Scenes From the Road

 I opted to take the southern route to Indiana.  My trucker friend told me I-5 is always a better choice in winter as they keep the roads pretty well cleared.  Smooth sailing all the way down to Bakersfield.  At that point the only snow I saw was on Mt. Shasta. So weird to not see snow on the sides of the freeway in January.  But it is what it is.  

I stopped in Chico and spent a little time with Kathy and Jeremy.  Did my heart good to see Jeremy looking so healthy.  I hadn't seen Kathy since I took the littles to San Francisco in 2015.

Stopped for gas and saw this Carrow's sign.  It is in front of a boarded-up building that has been closed for a while.  Carrow's shut down several years ago.  But seeing the sign brought back a bunch of memories of my youth.  I spent a lot of time with George and Tod sitting at the counter of our local Carrow's.  They drank coffee and drew pictures.  I just sat there being with them.  The days before I drank coffee.  

Albuquerque was my next overnighter.  Woke up and it was ten degrees.  Got gas and it was three below.  Brr.  At a warmer gas stop an older lady asked me for help.  She had arthritis and didn't feel like she could walk from the pump to the inside to pay, so I walked her money in and got her receipt.  Came back out in time to help her with one of her boots.  We had a quick conversation about arthitis.  She was miserable in this cold cold weather.  

I was off on my timing for oil changes.  Got to Amarillo, Texas and it was time for that to happen.  Amarillo, the first place with snow.  Slush on the roads. Texas.  Not someplace I think of when I think of snow.  

Then it was on to Missouri.  Kim lets me come and spend the night.  She feeds me. I play with her animals.  Met Dean, the blue eyed colt.  Actually got a picture of Odie, farm dog, this time.  Had great conversations about butter and toxic cookware.  I love how we seem to be going through some of the same stuff at the same time.  Klaus barked at me every time I would get up.  Always startled me because he has a loud voice.  He likes me.  He just gets startled himself or thinks I'm getting too close to his mama.  He does think he rules the roost.  

Another six hours and I was home in Indiana.  Just some scenes from the road.