10:26 AM. We woke this morning and found it snowing out. C’mon? Are you Kidding? Guess that teaches us for not listening to the folks at the campgrounds in Jonesboro Arkansas. They told us to take the southern route and we didn’t listen. Now, not only do we get snow as punishment, we also get wind and 20° temperatures. As if that weren’t bad enough, we got onto Highway 40 West and didn’t even get five miles and traffic is at a complete standstill. I’ve been able to tune in Fire and EMS on the computer at radioreference.com and find that there has been some kind of accident on the road in front of us. After a half an hour sitting here, we hear them saying that they are “clearing the scene and heading back to the station”, I dearly hope that means that the traffic will be moving soon. 
Don just jumped out of the truck and ran back into the camper to use the rest room. Seeing as I made a movie reference yesterday, does anyone remember the scene in “Two Weeks Notice” with Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant? When he took her and walked up to a camper on the highway when traffic was gridlocked so she could use the bathroom!! Hysterical! When Don came back to the truck, I asked him if he felt that we might be the envy of others stuck here in traffic like we are.
One fire unit just passed us on the eastbound lane and a flatbed truck just drove past us westbound in the median. Perhaps we will be able to move soon. Thank the Lord for radioreference.com or we would have no idea what was happening in front of us and we might exhibit some lack of patience. We are praying that those involved in whatever kind of accident in front of us is alright, but a very strange looking vehicle just also passed. It was a small black pickup truck with a big black box type thing on the back of it had red and blue flashing lights on the back. Our first thought was that it was a hearse. Lord, I pray we are wrong. (Note: Read about the accident here: http://www.qcsunonline.com/news/closed-10076-westbound-investigate.html)
We were stuck there for more than 2½ hours, when traffic was allowed to go through, we saw an 18 wheeler truck on top of a completely squashed vehicle, while a second vehicle was stuck between the 18 wheeler and the rock wall. That vehicle and the 18 wheeler had been on fire with complete destruction of the smaller vehicle. Meanwhile in the median there was what was once a mini-van or a pick-up truck. Because of the damage to the vehicle which left it no more than a foot and a half wide, at best, there is no way to tell what it had once been. Still further up the road, there was yet another 18 wheeler and another vehicle with severe damage. I don’t know why the newspapers and newscasts are saying it was only a three vehicle incident. What I do know, is a 51 year old woman lost her life and at least four other people had THE WORST DAY of their lives. I am praying for all of them and their families tonight.
9:45 PM: Location: Las Crucas, New Mexico Current Temp: 41° There are some clouds in the sky, but there is an incredible amount of stars to be seen in the night sky too.
The remainder of our drive to Las Crucas was pretty interesting. Don drove until 3PM and when we got to Corona, New Mexico – he pulled over and I took over the driving. Up to that point, we had to stop often to clear the ice off the wiper blades and the windshield. Temperatures hovered between 20° and 24°. Within 23 minutes of my taking over the driving, the sun could be seen through thinning clouds and the temperature had risen from 20° to 40° by 3:45. At this point, the clouds cleared and the scenery opened up and we were amazed at the views we saw.
We arrived at the RV Park here at 7:45 and quickly set up our camper and came inside to relax. We are located close to Highway 10 which will take us through to San Diego, but before we continue our trip, we are going to take a couple days to rest and relax. To enjoy some warmth and to the things that need doing no matter where you go… Laundry!
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| Tucumcari NM to Las Crucas NM - 306 miles |
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