Lucky for us we looked at the weather before heading out this AM. Snow is in the forecast for I-70, we are going to re-route our trip.

Instead of the usual free breakfast at this hotel they give you a coupon for the restaurant next door. Pick a item off the coupon or take $7 each off any item. More than enough food.

The road past our motel goes almost straight east to Gallup, NM on I-40. So that is our way back to MN. We had changed our plans so we would not get back to MN until after this next storm went through. Today we found out where it is coming from ;)

We had about 180 miles of two lane road. Very, very few gas stations but a few towns/groups of houses where we had to slow down. First stop was over two hours and it was the first 'friendly' looking gas station. Steamboat.

I am really not liking the cruise on this car. As soon as we start down a hill it goes from 65 up to 70+ mph and tac's out over 4,000 rpms. I know it does not have to do that, because if I am behind someone so the 'accident avoidance system' kicks in, it will hold the speed at 65 mph and keep the tac under 2,000 rpms. Also I really wish the accident system would let me know when it kicks it. It can easily drop the speed by 5 mph and I never notice it. Also I need to do some more reading up on it. Someone hit their brakes ahead of my and the system slowed me down fast ... Did my break lights go on so the person behind me knew I was stopping? I don't know.

Another two hours after Steamboat we were in Gallup and back on the freeway. Next stop was in Grants at the Petro for the restrooms.

When we got back to the freeway there were a row of trucks, cars and RV's that came down one side of the ramp and back onto the freeway. There is road construction on the freeway and it might have been a case of the blind leading the blind. As soon as we were back on the road 'we' decided we should eat so we stopped at the McDonalds at the Sky City truck stop. Just the drive thru as we had just stopped.

Two more hours and it was the Pilot in Santa Rosa for fuel, then two and a half hours to Dalhart and the X-10 for real food before checking in at the Best Western for the night.

Dispatch is still adding runs to the west coast, even on Saturday so some should still be there in a week plus.

Tomorrow/Sunday night we want to get as far as we can, but still stay south of the snow. Right now it looks like Des Moines is under the weather until 7 AM on Monday. We can make it from there and still get the car returned by afternoon.