Southeastern New Mexico is fairly flat...but at least there is some green...
And as we approached the Texas panhandle, there even some hills with green...
Hmmmm....never thought of the Texans as friendly drivers, did you?
Well, forget those hills......flat as far as the eye can see!
Gratefully, we only had to cross the panhandle of Texas, rather than our usual route across west Texas from San Antonio to Phoenix.....that is two to three days of driving with NOTHING to see. The cattle feed lots around Amarillo are quite a sight to see. Hundreds of cattle in each lot....
No sign, no building, no indication whatsoever of how or why this cross was erected?
Our 7th state.....approximately 2,500 miles....and still smilin'. We have been in all 50 states, some more than others. When you can't fly, you see why some states are called "fly over" states!
Our destination for the night is Oklahoma City....just days after the devastating tornado. Every flag across the state was flying at half mast. We considered driving to Moore where the tornado actually hit, but after watching the evening news, we learned that it was impossible to get near it. Even the residents were still prohibited from returning to their homes.
Our first stay in a Cambria Suites was this very one in Oklahoma City about five years ago. Now we search for them. There are not many, but if you find one, try it! They are new, modern, food with happy hour, restaurant, room service, good price and "funky".
This Cambria Suites is the only one in which we have stayed that is VERY funky.....there is a different exotic car on display in the lobby all the time!
A sample of one of the lobby walls....the rooms are all suites with living separate from bedroom.
Not home yet, but yet another reminder of home....we walked to Charleston's for dinner. This is Oklahoma, remember, so we ate beef!
On the road again.....how can two grown people get so excited to see TREES?
A particularly welcome sign....Tom is heading back to his roots.....which always brings a smile!
Arkansas is called "the Natural State".......I used to make fun of that, well, still do, I guess. Aren't all the states "natural"? I'm not aware of any that are artificial! Yes, the green trees, rolling hills, lakes and rivers are all natural, and as we have seen, not all states have much green or water.....but they are still "natural". I grew up in the "land of Lincoln", proud of the heritage which Abe brought to the state and the nation. Hmmm.....wonder why Arkansas isn't called the "land of Clinton"?
This one is for brother in law, Dwight, who graduated here and for nephew, Stephen, who spent a semester here.
Yes, it is "natural"!!!!!
We finally arrive in Hot Springs Village, AR, home of brother Jim and wife, Jeanne, along with sister Sally and her husband Dwight.
Sally and Dwight are celebrating 37 years of marriage this coming week. They are both retired from coaching, teaching, guidance counseling.....pillars of the education system in Mountain View, AR, where they have lived 35 years. Now they spend 1/2 the year in their camper trailer traveling the U.S.
Sally is the "baby", 11 years younger than Tom.
Jim and Jeanne retired to Hot Springs Village about 10 years ago. They are both golfers and bridge players. Jeanne plays a lot of Mah-Jongg. Jim is a retired mechanical engineer from the paper mill in Ashdown, Arkansas. Jeanne retired from working in the Ashdown school system. Jim is not exactly the "baby" brother, but he IS 2.5 years younger than Tom.
This is the "sunset" picture for today! I am blessed to be part of such a loving, kind family.
