We pick up the new Coach

We met in Chicago Jan 31 and stayed over again with Tex and Susan Hull.  The next day we watched the great Superbowl game with some of Tex's friends from SPSS:

Before the game, we braved the weather to walk over for another visit to the Field Museum:

Groundhog Day. Tex drove us to Elkhart for quick tour of the Phoenix Cruiser Factory and an orientation on my new coach. (not this one!)

We had lots of provisioning and outfitting to do in Elkhart.  Think: new 

apartment.  Maria carded us for our wine.

We stayed the first night right at the Phoenix factory, using their visitor shore line for 

electricity. They assured us we wouldn't freeze anything even at 5 degrees. 

We left Elkhart and drove south. We left the snow behind around Indianapolis.

First stop: Mammoth Caves, in Kentucky; we took the "Domes and Dripstones" tour. Sand-

hill cranes overhead as we entered the cave.

Next stop, Nashville for more provisioning and supper at Cracker Barrel. 

Excellent gas prices!

You can't drive through Memphis without paying homage to the king. 

Karin at Graceland:

Elvis' pool room:

Next stop: Little Rock,  Clinton library. 

I had been there for a conference social the year it opened.  Lot of saxophones and good 

vibes.

Oval office replica at Clinton Library

To extend the Clinton theme, we drove beyond Oklahoma City and stayed in Clinton OK. Main St is the old Route 66.

We got the coach washed at a truck-wash in Clinton, skipping the special "Carrots and Sweet-Potato Cleansing". I just wanted to get rid of the Indiana road salt.

Amarillo Attraction:  the Big Texan Restaurant.The 72 ounce steak is free if you eat in within one hour.

The restaurant has wonderful hokey decor:

In Amarillo we visited the Museum of Art which had a wonderful exhibit of late Andy Warhols:

Amarillo also features the Cadillac Ranch.  All the cars are coated with at least an inch of spray-paint graffiti. 

Russell's Truck Stop just into New Mexico has an excellent free car museum: