We are making good time. Yesterday we were on the road for 10 hours and made it 452 miles, including turning in my visa, turning in the Temp Import Permit, and crossing the border. The border was not too bad, maybe two hours in total with half on the Mexico side and the other half on the US side. We stopped for a quick bite in Laredo and then for some diesel, which is less expensive here, but still higher than it needs to be. The pups are traveling well and getting more than their fair share of rest while on the road. Just a note, the traffic is back to normal USA travel with none of the 3-4 imaginary lanes we have learned to drive in.
The roads are much nicer here in Texas and we can keep a steady 70mph on the road without killing Howie. We are averaging about 13-14mpg at this point, which is about as good as it will get with the heavy brick on the back. The DPF has not given me an issue since we got back up to highway speeds; and since I changed the air filter. I read that on one of the groups and got to thinking that I had cleaned the filter in Chicken, AK as well. Maybe when the DPF is burning off too much, change the air filter?
After 10 hours and 450 miles, we are camped alongside Route 90, which skirts the border. There were three wild mountain sheep watching us from the ridge above as we pulled up. iOverlander had this place listed as a roadside picnic table area, but we wandered down the dirt road a couple hundred yards into the wash below the bridge. There is road noise on the bridge and some trains that came through during the night, but nothing that was too bad. It feels good camping in the desert here.
We will head North today and catch I-10 in Fort Stockton and from there it’s a straight shot to Tucson. We are supposedly 9 hours out, but add a couple of hours to the road and it will be just about right. We probably will not make it to Tucson until Saturday, though. We may stop and do some quick laundry and get showers along the way.
And an update on my parents: Dad is staying at a place called Handmakers and is still undergoing PT to get his strength back. Mom is recovering from her horrendous fall and resultant two surgeries. She still has a huge goose-egg on her left eye and will be in the hospital for a few more days, but is feeling and sounding better.
Not a lot of photos today, but here is a map of our route.
