Texas road trip Part 3: The outbound leg

[LVSteve]

This is Part 3 of a series of posts I will make about our Christmas road trip to the northern edge of the DFW metroplex.

In the great tradition of road trips, we left the house about 45 minutes later than intended at 0655. This would be no big deal if it weren't for Vegas traffic and road construction. There was a bit of slow traffic as we headed for Arizona, but nothing too horrible. We had smooth sailing until about 75% of the distance to Kingman.

About there, AZDoT ran out of road maintenance money. Driving in the right lane at highway speed was unpleasant with a heavily cratered road surface. Running in the left lane was indicated, but sometimes you've got to move right for faster (really speeding) traffic. Trick was to move well right with your right wheels on the hard shoulder and the left ones near the center of the right lane. The rumble strip was more comfortable than the so called roadway. This did not bode well for I-40 as some reports from the middle of last year indicated the interstate was trashed.

Turns out we had almost no issues on the AZ stretch of I-40 except in Kingman. Once clear of that city, it was engage cruise control at an extracurricular speed that enhanced progress without getting LE too excited.

Top tip#1. If you set your cruise at the posted 75 mph, you will find most 18-wheelers wanting to pass you.

The higher cruise speed hit the fuel mileage numbers, but if you dislike heavy trucks to your left taking forever to pass, it's a price worth paying. Swapped drivers just east of Flagstaff, and we pressed on to our planned fuel stop at Gallup.

Some pictures of the desert on the way. More adventures below.

*** CLICK FOR FULLSIZE ***

 

[LVSteve]

Ah yes, Gallup. I'm probably about to make myself unpopular with our NM membership. I had researched Gallup and decided that the fuel prices and restaurant choice was greater if we slipped into town rather than staying out by the interstate.

Top Tip#2. DON'T DO THIS. The middle of Gallup is panhandler central.

I got dinged four times pumping fuel. We got hit twice getting a drink at Mickey D's. It's not just because I was driving a Merc, everyone in a post 2000 vehicle was getting tagged. It was everywhere you looked. With the truck full of diesel and me close to drawing a couple of times, we decided we'd had enough of Gallup and declared vanamos, pronto.

My wife continued to drive into the evening and night, and progress was good, even traversing Albuquerque was no problem. Biggest issue was that there were parts of I-40 in NM that were trashed, cratered to death. Joining the left lane owners club was required at times. We made the Texas border in a little under 12 hours from our house, and about an hour after that we stopped in Amarillo for fuel and a driver change. No wrecks, no LE activity, no weather issues, but that was to change. My wife is now getting excited about seeing her son, and after all it's a straight shot from Amarillo to the DFW area down US-287 with most people tucked up in bed.

Top Tip#3. Just because you made it to Texas in 12 hours doesn't mean it's always a smart idea to press on to your destination, even with two drivers. Texas is a BIG state and stuff can happen.

The proof of this was met about 400 yards down US-287. FOG!!! I'm from Britain, so I've driven in fog before, and this was the proper item. I got the speed down to 35-40 mph and slapped on the high intensity rear foglight (a European car thing). Guy in front of my was driving a newish F-150 on CO plates with those big LED rear lights. I drove to keep them just in view, but occasionally the fog would thicken and he would disappear, or he would be coming back to me having dropped his speed to 30 mph. It's over 350 miles from Amarillo to the stepson's place, and this speed wasn't going to work for us. What to do?

Our thoughts flip-flopped from press on and hope the fog clears, to let's find a crossover and retreat to a motel in Amarillo. Our ruminations were rudely interrupted by a convoy led by an 18-wheeler blasting by at about 50 mph. WTH? Was the fog much thinner at cab height? I've seen similar effects in the UK when I was able to see under the fog. A little while later, another similar convoy roared by. Then I tumbled to the gag. The semi at the front is driving by his GPS. The driver can see the road is straight, and his allowed hours are running short so he needs to press on, and maybe he can see more up there. Yeah, sure. Everybody behind him is working on the basis that if any deer run out (there are signs) the semi will "deal" with them. What about a trailer across the road waiting for a train to clear a side road? The train tracks are very close to the highway, and all the little farm roads have level crossings. Yeah, lets not go there.

After about 45 minutes (perhaps more, I wasn't counting) the fog cleared and we were left in mist, followed by drizzle, and eventually rain down near Denton. Arrived at the stepson's place at about 0500 Texas time. I was totally wiped from how long I'd been up and the concentration required of driving in the fog and getting some pace back in the wet and dark. Slept well.

 

[Onomea]

Jeez, Steve. You and the missus drove straight through? 12 hours plus another 350 miles...?

Well, you are fortunate to have a wife who can spell you at the wheel. I am sure that makes a big difference.

I hate fog when in a car. Unless caught on the road, as you guys were, I refuse to drive in it.

Me, at this point in life, I like motels when on a long road trip. (But my wife is not much of a driver, so there is that.)

Stay safe!

 

[LVSteve]

Yes we did, and with 20/20 hindsight it was a damn fool thing to do especially with both of us well past the age of 30. My wife had some trepidation about doing spells of driving as we both realized that she had never driven this SUV at all since the test drive when buying it in 2019. However, the controls are pretty much the same as her car and my navigation instructions were something like "continue on I-40 until you want me to drive again".

As for the fog, my wife said she was VERY pleased I was driving when we ran into it. She told her son later something like, "Leave driving in the fog to the guy born in England". Yeah, fog on an unlit, rural highway signed for low flying deer is a bit of a challenge.

Spoiler alert: we split the return over two days for the ride back. Much better plan.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I use the 18 wheelers as a guide of speed to travel in Nevada.

Faster is ok, if you know the strech of road and the "Hiding places" but
for new commers, the "rocking chair" will work , if you have lots of snacks .

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Being that we live in Kingman we often travel to Vegas for shopping, doctors, etc. I completely agree with your assessment. Hwy 93 Northbound is in better shape than the Southbound side. We often take Nevada Hwy 95 South through Searchlight to the Laughlin turnoff into Laughlin then Hwy 68 through Golden Valley, rejoining Hwy 93. The legal speed limit on 95 is 75…with exception of Searchlight that has a heavily enforced 25 mph limit. No trucks, No pot holes, and a relaxing drive. It adds about 30 minutes to the drive.

Work will soon be started on building the Hwy 93 / I-40 interchange in Kingman. That will be a 2 year nightmare during construction.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Where in the Northern Edge of the DFW metroplex?? My Brother and family live in Coppell

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I was born in Arizona (Mesozoic Era?). The scenery above looks familiar.

 

[swsig]

Where in the Northern Edge of the DFW metroplex?? My Brother and family live in Coppell

Coppell is a northern suburb of Dallas, but it is not on the Northern Edge. Currently, the Northern Edge is more or less marked by US Highway 380, about 35 miles north of Dallas, running between the cities of Denton and McKinney. However, the metroplex is expanding so rapidly that in the not-so-distant future, the new Northern Edge will be marked by US Highway 82 between the cities of Gainesville and Sherman, about 60 miles north of Dallas. If the population of DFW continues at its present pace, the Northern Edge will eventually spill across the Red River into southern Oklahoma.

 

[huthike]

When I drive 75 north out of Dallas, heading towards Tulsa, it feels like Dallas doesn’t end until after Oklahoma has started already - even now.

 

[WR Moore]

Just for information purposes, some states-like Virginia-have limits on the amount of time you can be driving. In VA, 13 hours. Now this isn't a big deal if you have no interactions with LLEA, but if you're in an accident, it's something to be aware of. When I was doing long distance horse hauls I was a master of the 20-30 minute power nap. Amazing the difference it can make.

My lone venture to DFW had me leaving there on a Sunday morning. I was amazed at the places-and the ways-the locals parked their cars alongside the roads. in the medians, on the shoulders, in fields and right side up, on the sides or roof. Apparently "Party Hardy" is/was a way of life.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Coppell is a northern suburb of Dallas, but it is not on the Northern Edge. Currently, the Northern Edge is more or less marked by US Highway 380, about 35 miles north of Dallas, running between the cities of Denton and McKinney. However, the metroplex is expanding so rapidly that in the not-so-distant future, the new Northern Edge will be marked by US Highway 82 between the cities of Gainesville and Sherman, about 60 miles north of Dallas. If the population of DFW continues at its present pace, the Northern Edge will eventually spill across the Red River into southern Oklahoma.

I never said Coppell was on the Northern Edge. I just asked where LVSteve was. I just threw in the fact my brother lived in Coppell for gratuitous informational purposes. You just assumed I thought it was on the Northern Edge. So there!!!

 

[swsig]

I never said Coppell was on the Northern Edge. I just asked where LVSteve was. I just threw in the fact my brother lived in Coppell for gratuitous informational purposes. You just assumed I thought it was on the Northern Edge. So there!!!

I understood your question. I was just trying to locate Coppell in relation to the current Northern Edge. Fifty-plus years ago when I moved into the area, Coppell was on the Northern Edge, and nearby DFW Airport was farm land. But like many other formerly rural towns, Coppell has since been engulfed and devoured by the Metroplex. So double there!!!

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I understood your question. I was just trying to locate Coppell in relation to the current Northern Edge. Fifty-plus years ago when I moved into the area, Coppell was on the Northern Edge, and nearby DFW Airport was farm land. But like many other formerly rural towns, Coppell has since been engulfed and devoured by the Metroplex. So double there!!!

First one never has a chance