The Final Leg 14nov2016

I decided to take the northern route home through Arkansas and Oklahoma. It took me back up through Mississippi which gave me the opportunity to try hot tamales. I chose Solly’s Hot Tamales in Vicksburg Mississippi. It took me a few passes to find the place. Delta hot tamales are kind of like Mexican tamales except they are thinner and instead of being steamed, they are cooked in sauce. I enjoyed them – but they are certainly no Gonzales family tamales!!! 

I didn’t make any other stops except to sleep and eat. In Amarillo I stopped at Big Texan to eat and park for the night. It was awesome. The food was just meh. But the scene was everything. I had no cash – none – so I couldn’t tip the roving band to play a song for me. Big regret. Then I stopped in Albuquerque at Mary & Tito’s Cafe for a sopapilla covered in red chili sauce. They’re the best….period. 

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As I drove I listened to NPR and music up until the return trip. Then, I turned my murdery side free. I listened to podcasts – nonstop. I started with the first season of Serial. Then on to My Favorite Murder – I love those girls. We would totally be friends. Finally I started in on Last Podcast on the Left. These guys are everything! They actually research killers and have good facts. They’re also twisted comedians who are so vulgar. I love it. I’m currently listening to John Wayne Gacy and then Jeffrey Daumier. I don’t think I’ll finish before I get home but….

I woke up in Gallup New Mexico Sunday morning and it was cold! I got CBS and so snuggled under the covers to watch “should be president elect” Bernie Sanders on Meet the Press. I only had an easy six hour drive home. 

I got diesel and hit the road stopping once to pee and make a sandwich and once to get gas. I also gave Bird a quick wash at a do-it-yourself place with tall bays. She had some gnarly bug guts. According to gps I was to get home at 3:45pm. 

Suddenly my eta changed to 5pm. The distance stayed the same. Gps gave no explanation for the sudden change. It became apparent soon enough when an overhead sign warned of a car fire in 20 miles. That accounted for the now 1.5 hour delay. I sat in traffic that long. I did snap a photo of the wreckage as I finally passed. It looked pretty good – worthy of the soul crushing traffic jam. 

This is all west of Flagstaff. So I jig on towards home. I’m thinking of all the things I’m looking forward to….a shower followed by a bath. Cooper most of all. Cooking. TV. I had Larry tape the new Christmas movies on Hallmark. Those who know me best know that Christmas movies are my guiltiest pleasure. The sappy ones, the unbelievable ones, old ones, new ones, cartoons….. 

So I was looking forward to getting home. I like driving west at sunset. It’s like you’re chasing the sun. I was thinking about my final blogs about this trip and how hard it will be to write once I’m home. So many distractions and other, more fun things to do. 

As I rounded the corner about 10 miles from the Hoover Dam and 45 miles from home there is a scenic pullout where you go up a hill. I really wanted some last pictures showing how beautiful it is right where I live. 

As I went to get back in Bird to leave, I thought I’d check my tires. The road had been very bad and I hit a few bad potholes hard. I’m constantly worried about my tires because I’ve had four (4!) blowouts since I’ve had Bird. It’s a problem. And, as I was driving I felt a shimmy. Sure e-FUCKING-nough I had another flat. The 3rd time the same tire has blown. 

So. What to do? It late on a Sunday. Tire stores are generally all closed on Sunday’s. I could drive with the flat home. It’s the outer tire in a dually set so I could drive on it. But it’s not the best thing to do. I thought maybe Larry would offer to come get me then we could come back tomorrow to deal. But he never offered so I’m staying the night here.

Meow mix. I was sooooo close to home. Oh well. What’s one more night after 72? Bird really does feel like home now. The only problem is that it is so hot I can’t sleep. Good new is I had time to write all this delightful prose! I’m waiting at Discount Tire for them to replace FOUR tires. And all my extension stems which they think are causing the problem. I also lost a hubcap! Booooooo. 

So, that’s the super “fun” end to my super fun trip! I’ll do some postmortem blogs about my trip over the next couple weeks. I also want to keep writing about my life and things I find interesting. We shall see. 

Onward ♋+♊