9:30 am - had a late start because i went to the local YMCA and did some lifting. It was pouring rain and hail last night, so it's very wet and cloudy today.
Supposedly there was flash flooding all over the state, and an actual death in Missouri. The weather channel said there might be tornado's in Texas! Hope i can out run them 
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I have a feeling its going to clear up and turn out to be a beautiful day again.
The next stop is Albuquerque, New Mexico and its 537 miles away-on the same road.
9:34 pm - Wow, what a long day. 
Click here to view the map of todays journey! By far the most beautiful and desolate state i have passed through yet. The terrain was flat in Texas, then changed to layers of rocks when i reached New Mexico. As i passed through the beautiful vistas, i couldn't help but notice the lack of industry or business. The towns thrived on the thru traffic.
The road never seemed to end, it kept stretching on into the distance. When i got close to Albuquerque, the road was cut through rock, and the city was built right into the mountain. That was really neat!
I figured out that route 66 was a historical road that stretched through the west, but was replaced by the route i am on now: interstate 40. Many of the businesses closed up shop, and several towns dried up due to the loss of business from route 66. There seems to be constant construction on interstate 40, but never the less, time is made up on the long stretches of road where you can put the peddle to the metal.
No tornado's, but in Texas there was this strong smell of smoked ribs. Almost lured me in, but i went with a Mexican salad with beans and guacamole. Bad mistake.
I decided that i will take a slight detour and see the Grand Canyon on Friday. So i drove right through Albuquerque, and went to Gallop, New Mexico. I figured that if i go cheap with a Hotel room tonight, i can get a real nice one tomorrow on the grand canyon. So i landed in the Econo Lodge hotel. This was after i drove into the Micromotel, and got a bad vibe from the clientèle there. Plus the head clerk was not right. What a mess. The room i got was next door to some white trash members who were chain smoking one cigarette after the other.
The walls were paper thin, and there was a bad smell. I didn't look under the covers of the bed. I grabbed my gear and got a refund, pronto!
I drove straight to the nearest Hampton Inn, where i know the rooms are clean, quite and inhabited by normal people. The price was double the price at the econo lodge, so to make up for the extra amount, i skipped diner and had a couple of bars that Dan and Claire packed me 
Washed them down with a tasty protein shake.
Hands down this has been the best stretch of road yet. I am very excited to get into Arizona and see the Canyon.
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