This morning I was up early so I could start my journey to Austin. It was still dark, the temperature was at 21° and the skies were clear. The drive started out well but as soon as I hit I40 at Clines Corners it began to get foggy. As I made my way east toward Santa Rosa the fog thickened and made the drive a little uncomfortable. The good thing was that there wasn't too much traffic. Not long after turning off of I40 onto US84 the fog cleared but soon after I passed through Fort Sumner it started to drizzle. When I arrived in Clovis I stopped to fill the car with gas and get some coffee. When I got out of the car the wind was blowing and it was still very cold.
The car thermometer told me it was 29° and I think it was pretty accurate. So I continued my drive and as I entered Texas the drizzle became rain. When I arrived in Littlefield I went in search of a letterbox off of US385. This was a drive-by box at an historical marker. When I parked in front of the marker I read the clues and then quickly ran over and found the box (RIclimber Visits Texas) and then jumped back into the car.
I stamped in while sitting in the warm car and when it was time to replace the box I had to wait a minute because the rain was coming down harder and I realized that it was freezing rain and I could hear the tapping on the top of the car as it hit the roof. After a few minutes it subsided and I quickly replaced the box. I looked up at the car and noticed that the sides were covered in ice. Time to crank up the heat and head out. From here I continued my drive on US84 through Lubbock and noticed that ice was forming on my side mirrors.
Thankfully the roads weren't icy and the driving wasn't too bad. I had intentions of going to Colorado City and Westbrook to look for a couple of boxes but with the freezing rain and cold I decided I just wanted to get to Abilene and rest for the night. My Garmin led me to my hotel and I noticed it was only 1:00pm and check in wasn't until 3:00pm and I was hungry. So I pulled in at
Rosa's Café. As I was turning off the car two women walked along side of me and gave me a thumbs up - I was confused. They went into the restaurant and I got my coat and then headed in after them. As I got out of the car I realized what they were looking at. The front and sides of my car were encrusted in ice. It was the only one like that in the lot. I quickly took a picture with my phone and then went inside. I had a nice meal and enjoyed the warmth of the place and texted Thomas to let him know that me and "the ice mobile" had made it to Abilene. Around 2:30pm I headed out to the hotel. Two people were out front when I pulled in and they also commented of the frozen car.
They asked where I had come from and when I told them I had driven from Santa Fe through Lubbock they said that people from Lubbock were cancelling. I guess the weather got worse after I passed through. I didn't have any problems with ice on the roads I felt safe during the drive. While I was checking in I asked about the weather and found out it might snow here tonight and that the temperature is suppose to drop to 19° and the roads will be bad. I am hoping that I can get to Austin tomorrow. I may have to leave later in the morning and just drive slow. I write tomorrow about the day and hopefully it won't be too bad.
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