Day Eight

15 January, '10

After a week and 2780 miles in the desert west, today brings a big change. Moving east from Albuquerque I find myself quickly moving from the mountains and desert into the vast plains of the American West. Large expanses of flat land as far as the eye can see replace the table top mesas and buttes which have broken up the landscape previously. Towns become fewer and farther between as the land stretches out into the distance. The first stop is Clines Corners where US 285 meets I-40. Though not much of a town, the truck stop is an oasis for drivers going both directions of the 40. Small in size, but big in personality the diner is a throwback to its origins as a stopover on Route 66. Full of friendly faces they serve up everything from salt water taffy to home made fudge to the traditional chicken fried steak. They even had an old fashioned soda fountain. This is a good thing for the folks heading east as there is not much at all between Clines Corners and Amarillo, almost 300 miles to the east, except for the formerly thriving town of Tucumcari.

Till tomorrow,

Jim & Ole Yeller

Photo of the day: Trinidad Guarlos - at Clines Corners, NM