Happy Halloween! We spent the last two nights in motels without high speed internet service so I kept Cosmo (that's my laptop's name) closed and resting. Saturday night was spent in Shamrock, Texas. In the pan handle. In the bible belt. Of course there was a bible open on the dresser for us to read while we were there. I've stayed there once before. When on my way to visit Julia in Los Alamos, New Mexico. We stayed at a different place than I stayed bere. The Irish Inn is a pretty big place just off I-40. Big room. Dad ate sausage and biscuits for breakfast Sunday morning. I could hear his arteries hardening as he ate them. Going through Oklahoma Saturday we passed a field of huge windmills. I think those are pretty awesome. I hope we can use those all over the country someday along with solar energy. Then tell the oil companies to take their product and shove it where the sun won't shine.
Yesterday we planned on staying in Albequerque, New Mexico, but we had gained two hours Saturday from the time change for Dayligh Savings and crossing a time zone, so we continued on towards Gallup. However, we stopped for gas in Grants, New Mexico which was only about 50 miles before Gallup, and decided it was a good place to stop for the night. We checked in to a Econo Lodge that was rated 3 stars in the AAA book, but was actually a 1 star at best. Not the greatest motel ever, but whatever. It was around 3:30. I read, Dad took a nap, then we went to dinner at a diner.
That night, around 11:30, I woke to a young woman screaming and screaming from a room near ours. They weren't blood curdling screams, it was like she was talking and screaming at the same time, but in great distress. I couldn't make out any of what she was saying, it might have been another language, but it went on and on. There was a constant banging throughout her screaming too, as if someone were banging there fist into a wall or her head into a wall...or something. I was tempted to get up and see what exactly was happening, but was afraid to. It was all very violent sounding. Then I heard a door open and another guest yell, "Settle down out there!" The screaming slowly subsided and things grew intermittantly quiet for awhile. Then I heard several people run past our room (we were on the second floor) and then loud knocking on a door nearby. Oh, the excitement in the wilderness of New Mexico! I had trouble sleeping for awhile after that, but eventually drifted off again. Dad said he heard the screaming too, but paid no mind to it.
So Today we arrived in Flagstaff at 11:30 a.m., checked into a Ramada Inn and took off for Sedona, 30 curvy miles away. The drive there is spectacular. The rock formations are riveting. It took about 45 minutes. Uptown Sedona is very obviously a tourist spot. Lots of shops, motels and restaurants in a beautiful setting. We had lunch at "The Hideaway" off the main street but with a beautiful view of one of the many rock formations surrounding the area. The people are very friendly and willing to talk about the area. After eating, I shopped at a rock store that was next to the restaurant and there was a woman who tried to explain to me the energizing power of different rocks. Then we went to the "uptown" part of the tiny town and I spent a half hour looking at the shops there. Surprise, I bought a purse! And a couple of candles. I wanted to buy some rocks, but felt it was too frivoulous and expensive. I can ALWAYS use a purse and candles.
So now we are looking forward to our arrival in Las Vegas. Dad's got the travelin' blues. He needs to be in one place for awhile again. As do I. Although, I kind of like this seeing the country at the leisurely pace we have been seeing it. We will be staying at Palace Station tomorrow night because the apartment manager wouldn't let the furniture rental place in unless the contract for the apartment was signed first. But he found his free night at Palace Station flyer so we have the room for free. And we can unpack a lot of our stuff tomorrow too. Las Vegas is only 255 miles of mountainous driving so we should arrive there fairly early. Plus we gain yet another hour.
That's the news of the last two or three days. Keep those emails coming! We miss you. I particularly am missing Baxter today because the camping in the Sedona area looked awesome and I know he would enjoy that too.
