It got very noisy last night and the light show did not disappoint. Never really saw any real rain, however. The storms have cleared out by the time I wake up and the sky is mostly clear. It’s cooled off considerably too, temps are just south of 70 degrees. I decide I won’t need my jacket to start the day.
I was up with my alarm and took my time getting all my stuff together. I’ve got less than 400 miles to get home so I’ve got some time to play with. Once Laurelin is finally loaded, I head out for my final destination. I’m on the edge of town so it doesn’t take me long to get out of Lubbock. I’m on a decent four-lane highway and traffic is light. It’s mostly farmland outside of town but I soon come across several pumpjacks and a few dozen wind turbines.
I’m moving quickly and soon notice the same car keeps appearing in my mirrors. He never gets too close so I think he’s just keeping pace with me. But after several miles, he’s starting to make me nervous. I decide it’s time for a pit stop and pull off in Snyder. The car flies by as I hit the exit and the driver even waves, he was indeed just keeping pace with me.
Still on Texas highways, I soon come to the massive turbine fields. Hundreds of them spinning for as far as I can see. I eventually make it into Sweetwater and jump onto I-20. It’s just a 50 mile stretch into Abilene. It’s lunchtime now so I decide to stop into Hooters, it’s still an old favorite and they are getting harder and harder to find.
After lunch I head out of Abilene on more four-lane highway. Traffic remains light and I’m able to continue moving quickly. I make a quick stop in Goldthwaite to get some fresh water. I have to settle for Gatorade. It’s a small convenience store and Gatorade is the only thing with a sport cap on it.
The road shrinks to two lanes when I leave out of Goldthwaite and I soon come into a mild spattering of rain. It doesn’t last long and does nothing more than sting my face. Gatesville is the last town I come to before getting home. I make a quick stop to get gas before starting the last 30 miles of the trip. I make quick work of those last few miles and soon pull into my neighborhood and into my driveway.
Every trip is unique, and each one is special. This trip has been one of the best. I spent the last two weeks travelling across this great country. I wasn’t terribly excited about riding into downtown Chicago, but it’s an experience I’m glad I got to have. I got to see Willis Tower, The Bean, and weirdly my favorite, the L-trains. I’d love to go back as an actual tourist. I rode across Illinois and into Missouri, home of the Ozarks and some beautiful scenery.
I made a quick pass through Kansas before crossing into Oklahoma. A mechanical failure on Laurelin delayed me for about four hours and cost a significant amount, but unexpected setbacks are part of the adventure. From Oklahoma, I returned to my home state of Texas, passing throught the panhandle where the roads and scenery are familiar to me. Albuquerque, however, was unlike anything I expected. I had only driven through the city before, never into it. The extent of the homelessness I witnessed was staggering and offered a sobering reminder of a serious problem we have in this country.
New Mexico led me into Arizona and onto the Arizona Sidewinder, possibly my favorite part of the trip. The slow, winding road and lack of guardrails was more than enough to get my heartrate up, throw in a few burros in the middle of the road, even more exhilarating. And the town of Oatman, that’s an experience I won’t forget soon. Straight into Cali from Arizona. I get into the outlying towns and avoid the interstate traffic, mostly. Getting to experience Santa Monica Pier and seeing the Pacific Ocean again is a great experience.
I was able to spend a night with family back in Illinois and spend some time with more in California. Leaving out of California was mostly just hightailing it back towards home, didn’t diminish the adventure in any way though.
I was fortunate enough to meet several people on this trip, many of them from other countries. I met Germans, a Frenchman, a few New Zealanders and even a Ukrainian man. I met many Americans too. Meeting people on these trips is part of the fun of it all.
This would have been an amazing trip to have had with Dad. I’ve felt his presence with me every day and I know we would have had an amazing time together. It’s time to start thinking about next year’s trip. It’s certainly too soon to have any ideas, but if you have anything that might peak my interest, send it to me.
For now, I bid you farewell. It’s been a great run.
