20??

As in: 20º.  A cold start to the day.  We slept good, all nestled under the electric blanket.  And the furnace running occasionally.  An electric heater running most of the time.  The Aspect has heated tanks and rear storage.  It's all good.  Chilly, but good.

Here's what an island boy looks like in the cold...

I bundled up to go out and unhook electric and cable so we could hit the road.  An early start to our driving day, we were rolling at 7:15.  Close to sunrise...

That's the road ahead of us, looking west.  In the side mirror, the sunrise...

It is a long ways across west Texas (as I have been known to lament).  When making the roadbed, they cut into the hillside...

And, some whoop-de-doos...

We had wifi in the park last night, but no phone service.  Joan responded to some texts once we had service...

The small coach throws a big shadow in the early morning light...

Yes, that's what passes for entertainment out here.  ;-)

We saw this sign frequently...

 You don't need a sign to tell you the road is rough.  Maybe they could spend that sign money on fixing the road?

We traded out driving until we got close to El Paso.  I get to do the heavy traffic driving, and the traffic is always nasty going through El Paso.  With the early start, plus gaining an hour (Mountain Time Zone), we thought we'd be OK going through around 2:00.  Wrong.

It was bumper to bumper earlier than usual...

We're loosing time.  Apparently the Highway Department decided this would be a good time to do some spot patching... on the Interstate... in the middle of the city... on the Friday before Christmas.

It seems that people in every part of the country think they have the worst drivers.  Those people have never driven through El Paso.  They change lanes here so erratically, unlike anyplace else we have been.  They move left to right through 4 lanes of traffic without turning their heads.  If a spot opens up, someone jumps a lane to take it.  With the motorhome and cargo trailer, I (being a safe driver) leave some space between us and the vehicle in front of us... someone always fills that space.  Often, drivers coming from lanes on either side.  I remember from physics: two objects cannot fill the same space at the same time... that law of nature does not apply here.  I really dislike driving through this city, but this is the only option unless you drive WAY out of the way.

Surprisingly, after the road construction, things opened up again...

Then, just as quick, it was bumper to bumper again...

Stop and go.  Losing more time.  Unlike the Rough Road sign, there are not signs warning about Dumbass Drivers.  We were planning on today being our "big mileage" day this trip.  Once through El Paso, we made a quick stop for fuel at Exit 0, then rolled again.  Decisions: we could get into Arizona, but it would mean driving in the dark.  I have seen enough dead animal carcasses along here to know that isn't something I want to do.  Joan called for reservations at the park where we were hailed on on our last trip, in New Mexico.  Fortunately, it is going to be clear skies.  Unfortunately, that means another night below freezing tonight.  It's OK, we have fresh water onboard and plenty of propane - we'll be comfortable.

Before getting there, I said to Joan, "We're about to be passed by a boat..."

A big sailboat.  He has a ways to go to find enough water to put that in.  Brings a different perspective to "trailer sailing."  ;-)

We pulled into the RV park with plenty of daylight left.  By the time I had electric and cable plugged in, Joan had the coach leveled and the slides out.  Fast!  Apparently, it is time for an adult beverage.  And Izzy is ready for supper.  It's a good time to be down for the day.