October 7, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS: (Saturday-traveling)
Got into Childress, Texas a little after the start of my day; midnight. Found a truckstop on the west end of town with truck parking available so decided to take a short break. Went into the truckstop only to come upon two BIG guys arguing about something. They were not talking very nice to each other; I could see a barroom type fight breaking out. I thought it best, for me, to find a different part of the truckstop, which I did. I picked up(and paid for) a big bag of raffled potato chips and dip and headed for my truck. I past the area were the fight might have broken out but it didn't. Got to my truck and got my logbook all legal(updated it with Childress as a short break) and headed toward Amarillo(Texas). At "Just a Truckstop" in Amarillo, I filled my fuel tanks(127 gallons) and slept as it was around 2 AM. Woke up around 9 AM and had breakfast at "Just a Truckstop". Past The Big Texas Restauraut where you can get a free 72 oz streak with all the fixin's for free...But you-and just you-have to eat it all within, I think, one hour....Have to try that place one day...
Headed north on Hwy 87 to Dumas and Dalhart, Texas and kept going to New Mexico. I can see why tornadoes like this land so much!! So flat and ranchy(just made that word up) . Crossed into New Mexico to find the sky just opening up. TO ME, every time I enter New Mexico, I sky just turns magnificent...I hooked up with I-25 north and went into Colorado. I was stopped at the chicken couple(state truck weigh station) as the Colorado DOT(Department of Transportation) likes to see a certain registration number either on the side of the tractor or in the permit book(a book each tractor has that carries all needed permits). I asked the DOT officer which was the best way to go to Utah from where I was right then. He and a few drivers standing there said to go to Denver(Colorado) and take I-70 west. I had previously decided on Hwy 50 west and everyone standing there said that was a decent way to go. I drove up to Pueblo, Colorado and ate at a big chain buffet. Not at all impressed with the buffet...more like a barffet. I was sitting close to the Hwy 50 west route and I looked at the routing again. One final look at my options. I decided to head west on Hwy 50. My the time I got to Canon City, Colorado the sun had gone down and darkness was setting in. With darkness around me, I really could not see the mountains and I didn't feel I was driving through them. It was after I passed Salida, Colorado that I started feeling like I had finally reached the mountains. I started the ups and downs of mountain driving and pulled other at a pull off on a curve for a little break. There was a car pulled over also and the people were getting water from a pipe coming out of the mountain. I asked about it and they said that the water comes from a source of good tasting water. I tried some and yes it tasted like....water! On I went passed Gunnison, Colorado when my day ended at midnight.