May 26, 2019

Maycation Day 15

Home Again, Home Again

The trip ended around 12:15am this morning. Now to spend a week unpacking (physically and mentally) and cleaning.

Final Trip Tally. Distance: 5013.7 miles. Time: 85:06:48 Between leaving from and returning to the driveway, the car traveled over 5000 miles and was running a total of 85 hours. That’s around 600 miles further than the previous trip out west (Maycation 2011). 85 hours of driving in 2 weeks? Driving like it was my job.

Map of the trip Given the chance, I don’t think I would have changed the route at all.

The car is black.

The car is dirty.

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May 25, 2019

Maycation Day 14

Tennessee to Tennessee

Tennessee is a long state. When driving east or west on I-40, I assume I’m staying overnight in Tennessee one or two nights. The plan today was wake up in Memphis, go to sleep in Knoxville. An hour into the drive, I checked the distance home and decided to play through and end the trip a night earlier than expected.

GPS showing the home stretch

A Tennessee rest area sign advertising Tennessee as the birthplace of the Soundtrack to America I’m glad to see that more and more states are playing to their strengths with their rest areas instead of the generic cookie-cutter default rest areas that are nearly impossible to differentiate. No sense of place, no sense at all.

A sign in a truck stop restaurant with quote from the traitor who led the slave-masters’ defense army against the U.S. in the Civil War I’m not at all glad to see this sort of shit, also playing to the sensibilities of the area. That traitor really needed to do less in his life. Fuck him and fuck anyone who thought it was a good idea to advertise anything that came from his mouth.

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May 24, 2019

Maycation Day 13

Oklahoma City, OK to East Memphis, TN

Other than the worst drivers of the trip, there was nothing worth mentioning in Arkansas.

A cup of iced tea at Tops Bar-B-Q in Memphis, TN

The BBQ at Tops Bar-B-Q in Memphis is worth mentioning. The place wasn’t busy, unlike the packed franchise chain restaurants surrounding it. More noteworthy was the conversation I had with a local eating at a nearby table. He noticed my vanity license plate and asked if I was a photographer. He asked if I had any gear in my car because I should keep an eye on it if I did. “I see a lot of people coming here from out of town and their cars get broken into and their gear gets stolen.” The he added “Welcome to Memphis” before walking away with a chuckle. It reminded me of a rather poignant moment from Deadwood.

Al Swearengen, Deadwood’s accidental welcoming committee

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May 23, 2019

Maycation Day 12

Tucumcari This Morning

Kix on 66 in Tucumari, NM

Kix on 66 had the best blueberry pancakes I can remember having.

Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumari, NM

Golden Dragon Restaurant in Tucumari, NM

Del’s Restaurant in Tucumari, NM

Tucumari, NM

Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is something I’ve had on my bucket list longer than I’ve known the phrase “bucket list.” I’ve driven/ridden by it almost a dozen times but somehow I’ve missed it every time until now.

Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, TX

Oklahoma City

Cattlemen’s Steakhouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Cattlemen’s porterhouse is my favorite steak west of Beef & Bottle. If I can justify stopping for a meal at Cattlemen’s, I’m going to do it.

The Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Not the best view but the room was nice.

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May 22, 2019

Maycation Day 11

Traveling East Through Arizona

Just a warning from AZ Department of Safety Oops. I mean, “check!”

An empty skateable swimming pool covered with Graffiti in AZ I realized too late that I could have found this place the last time I was in Arizona so this time I decided to do it.

An empty skateable swimming pool covered with Graffiti in AZ I didn’t skate it much. Just enough to say that I skated it. Just enough to need a bit of wrist support by the time the day’s driving was finished.

Graffiti in AZ

Traveler interaction with a sign requesting your approval at a rest area in Arizona I approve.

Tucumcari Tonight

Check the clock. Check the map. Looks like Tucumcari tonight.

Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, NM

Americana Motel in Tucumcari, NM

Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM

Not only staying in the same motel as on the way out, staying in the same room.

Interior view of the room at Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM Interior view of the room at Motel Safari in Tucumcari, NM

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May 21, 2019

Maycation Day 10

Grand Canyon

An elk outside the window this morning. Random Elk Fact: Elk threaten each other by curling back their upper lip, grinding their teeth and hissing softly Read more Elk facts at The Elk Network.

The Grand Canyon is celebrating 100 years in 2019 It’s hard to believe America created the Grand Canyon only 100 years ago. Seems like it would have taken longer to make something this great.

Grand Canyon Yavapai Lodge artifacts A lucky raven meets an unlucky rabbit near the Grand Canyon Ravens have wing spans of 3-4 feet. They look like giant versions of the birds we have at home. I tried to get a photo of one but wasn’t able to get something in the frame for scale until this photo. It’s a gruesome but it does give an idea of the size of this bird.

An entrance to the Rim Trail near a Visitor’s Center at the Grand Canyon A View from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon

From The Grand Canyon, it was straight South to Williams and then East to Flagstaff for a hotel with light snow flurries outside, heated pool inside.

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