1 bus to Denver CO

... spending the night at Gallup NM

Breakfast wasn't supposed to start until 6:30 AM and it looks like parts wouldn't be available until then. We were down at 6 AM and got eggs and potatoes. Juice machine and fridge were still locked. Other items not out yet.

But time was a-wasting, it was already daylight when we were ready to head out.

We pull out at 6:30 (local) Clear day, lots of straight on sun time.

1st stop is in Essex at a rest area. I stick the tank again, we have plenty of fuel to get to Kingman.

2nd stop is Kingman, the Petro just east of town. All pumps are full so I pick one. Turned out the next one would have been quicker. Not sure the why, but today the pump, this pump, had to be on supper slow to not blow back fuel. Ended up putting 55 gallons in a 75 gallon tank. That after adding 30 gallons last night. Usually this is my first stop. Luckily something clicked and I stuck the tank or we'd be sitting somewhere.

Waiting for drivers and slow fueling took time so we were stopped over our 30 minutes. While I was fueling, BB walked into the fuel station and picked up a BBQ sandwich and we each had half. Pretty good, meat, bread, fresh.

When we pull back on the freeway we are following one of our buses on a flatbed. Heading to Charlotte. An electric one. Caught up to the truck twice after that, the first time there was too much traffic to pass, the second time I did pass him and he passed me again coming out of the hills and we never saw him again.

Somewhere near the '90 miles to Flagstaff' sign we first saw Mt Flagstaff (or whatever it is called.) Clear day.

3rd stop was for the restroom at the Loves in Williams. We had planned on eating here but then we thought we'd combine a fuel and eat stop to save time. That didn't work. This place is getting a new Maverick gas station across the street. That may effect how busy this place is.

4th stop is the TA in Holbrook for the restroom. We could have pushed further on some of these stops but we would still have had the same number of stops so we didn't see the point.

At the New Mexico Port of Entry I did have to stop, Someone is standing in a small booth and looks at my permit from the distance and gives me the thumbs up.

We used to stay closer to downtown but the last time or two we have been staying at a hotel. I'm guessing it is all based on price.

5th and final stop was the Comfort Inn in Gallup. We park and check in. As we are walking to food a few minutes later, we hear police sirens. They go past our drive and then make a U-turn. Then we notice the cars sitting at the end of our drive.

Once we are out by the street, we see that one of the cars had hit something. Likely a horse, based on the size. It was on the opposite shoulder with the legs facing us and not a good look at the head.

Yup, that is why I don't like to drive at night. We were within minutes of that being us.

... A few minutes later there were six squad's plus an ambulance and fire truck(s) there. Must be the most excitement they've had in this town today.

We were walking to food at Dickey's BBQ and someone started talking to us about the accident, then about insurance ...

At Dickey's we each ordered a chicken sandwich plus I ordered two sides. Potatoes and beans. Their idea of a potato casserole was instant mashed potatoes with a few pieces of vegetables mixed in. But I won't likely remember that next time. The beans were of the 'Bush's' variety. But it was the right amount of food ... by not eating the buns.

We did see a few transporters today. RV's, package vans, food vans, tree trucks ... and one city bus. It was right behind another transporter and I was looking at the first one so I did not see what company was driving it or where it was going.

I-5 into Oregon is now OK but I-80 into NV is still closed to semi's. So we'd be sitting if we had gone that route.

Looking at our route, we should have a dusting of snow here in the AM but once we drop on Tuesday the only area that does not have weather warnings is to go back south. Or we sit and wait it out. Blizzard warnings.