Tucumcari tonite...and then some!

Oh! Problem!

The holiday is kicking in. We all slept until Brendan's alarm went off to the dulcet tones of  'Amarillo'. Luckily he had set it for 06:30 central time so we did not get off to too late a start. Seamus said something. Did not quite catch it. Or if I did I was mistaken as it is unprintable in this Blog. Can I acknowledge how wonderful an experience it is not to be the first to rise in the morning and have to rouse others. Thanks Brendan.

Anyway we had a wonderful breakfast and then we were off  to a flying start. For a couple of miles.

Oh! Problem!

Some giant sporting shop ... can't remember the name ... was on our right and appeared to be open so we had to check all was ok.  In we went. Brendan said something about early start and then stop.  Did not quite catch it. Or if I did I was mistaken as it is unprintable in this Blog. We had to struggle to spend our reserves here. Mostly guns and ammo so no go there. Did discover that the life size plastic deer littering yards across the area are not left over huge Christmas decorations but practice targets. So we left it back. Ok, come on. We have spent enough time here. There is a ranch to get to.

Oh! No problem!

We found the Ranch. Again, not what you would expect from the advertising but great nonetheless. Literally out in the middle of a field are this collection of  buried Cadillacs. If Brendan was here now he would tell me what album cover they are on but they have gone to establish where the best establishment is. Having forgotten to bring spray paint with us we were fortunate to find a delicate shade of pink left in an abandoned can (thanks Sinead?) and left our messages.

OK. Onwards. No wait. STOP. Coffee break. In the Midway Cafe - yes, we are midway across the great US of A (well, at least the Chicago to LA bit) - we had top class pies and coffee all round. All credit to the Irish Bikers for Temple Street  Hospital, they have been great ambassadors for Ireland. As a result a warm welcome and a friendly chat with Fran awaited us when we arrived with me sporting the Ireland R66 2011 T Shirt D had given me. The bikers stop here each year on their charity run on Route 66.

Oh! Nearly forgot. Someone got married today or last night or sometime in the real world and Fran was bleary eyed from having stayed up all night to watch it. Must have been on the telly.

Oh! Problem!

Seamus and Brendan debated their next purchase. See video!

The day was heating up quickly. We were also using fuel quickly. We reckon that we get about 16.6 mpg from this vehicle. The budget has been adjusted to take account of higher than anticipated fuel costs. We still expect to deliver this project on time and on budget. So we stopped on this lovely sunny , not to say hot, day to refill with $70 of petrol. Turn off the engine, insert the card, remember the code numbers, start to fill. It takes a while, I'll concede that.  You do the best you can but some people can only find the slight snags in the arrangements.  Eh... see the video!

Then we were off again so quickly we passed ourselves out at Glenrio. We were now in New Mexico and had crossed in Mountain Time. So saving another hour.  Does Seamus yet realise that he was effectively up at 05:30? Anyway he finally got his map of the USA here along with lots of other useful information. No rattlesnakes.

Off again. A windy day. Not problem windy, but windy. Great to see the tumbleweed crossing the road, only it was too fast to catch on video.

We did venture some of the old, old route 66.
That you can see on the video!

Oh! Problem!

Does an earlier Blog explain about the cool box? If not remind me to tell you when we get home. Anyway we have carted a cool box all the way here - empty. So we called into K Mart to fill it up. Got lots of essential stuff. Lent is over so we got nutritious and top quality  sweets  food. Then we were told they don't sell ice. No problem - like I keep saying. We toured Tucumcari until we found a bag load. Sorted.

All that exercise left us hungry, or at least feeling we should eat. So we piled into Del's Diner and loaded up. Again place full of  (other) real cowboys. It was as they march out we realised we were short of essential gear. No spurs ... yet!! As I started the car Seamus mentioned that he had left my haversack on the back seat. I had left it in Del's. No Problem. Big thanks to Seamus.

Onto Santa Rosa tonite.  Visited classic car museum which was excellent. Went for a walk in the park - literally.Went to Joe's for a 'light' meal.


Oh! Problem! We give up. Can't keep up the pace. Could not finish the meal. Not one of us. Need to rethink the strategy.

Oh the lads are back. You need age ID to purchase. Oh the lads are gone again. Oh, they are back. Oh, you need a bottle opener. Oh, you don't need a bottle opener. Teeth seem to be the key.

If you are reading this do please feel free to leave some comment!

Goodnight.