Friday, November 21st

This morning we awoke to the coldest temperature of the trip.Right at freezing, I had the heat set to keep us warm and comfortable.It worked well.I also set the engine preheater on to work about 2 hours before departure.It to worked great.It simply circulates warm water around the engine.This was the coldest I have ever cranked the engine.It started quickly and smoothly.We sucked in all four slides, pulled shore power(electric) and moved out.We had to move right next door to a large parking lot to "hitch" the Tacoma up.It avoids blocking the RV park and keeps the base fire marshall happy.Don't cringe now, I topped off the Toyota the night before at the base station for $1.65 a gallon!Thank you Tinker Air Force Base!On the road by 0845, we covered the 285 miles to Amarillo in six hours including a lunch stop.Topping off the rig in western Oklahoma at $2.49 a gallon.

We've been averaging 8 miles per gallon this year as we passed 19000 miles on the odometer.Catepillar literature says to expect a one mile per gallon increase at break-in on their engines.Get this, they claim break in occurs at approximately 30,000 miles!Entering Texas, a nice Texas welcome sign provided a good setting for a picture so hopefully I will be able to stick it in here.We'll stay here two nights.It's the best "transient" stop ever.Just south of I-40, it opened only last year.With Texas big parking spots, we hooked up, set up and Lindy prepared a great meal.They also have a adult only(no kids) hot tub.Yeah- me too.I thought it meant a "no clothes allowed" hot tub.Who knew?Adult only?Well we'll check it out tomorrow.Oasis RV Resort is struggling in the current economic environment and I do hope they make it.They're are trying very hard.The wind was blowing in Texas at a steady 20 knots today.The rig required a little crosswind correction at times on I-40, but I was surprised when we opened the door in Amarillo to find it blowing a lot harder than I expected.Temperature in the high 40's will dip into the 20's tonight.After a week coming up in Alburquerque starting sunday, we look forward to the warm temperatures of Arizona for december and Palm Springs January & February.Daisy, had a nice walk here after she slept most of the ride.Like most dogs she doesn't like the neighborhood changing so often.Being territorial, she'll like when we stay planted a month or two.By December 1st she will get her wish at Casa Grande.We will too.