Day 7: Are you okay, bro?

Onward to New Mexico! 

We left Elk City around 9:30am and quickly ran into winds blowing at 17mph and gusting at 35 😳

We drove in that for about an hour and found a “safety stop” rest area to pull into to check on the tires. We have some bad experiences with tires and driving in Oklahoma winds so we weren’t taking any chances. (See previous blog posts from 2014). 

While Tim was checking tire pressures, I went inside to use the restroom.  

The walk was a little windy

Also saw this fun little warning on my way: 

🐍 

The lobby area in the building with the restrooms was basically a dedication to wind. There were plaques that said “What is wind?” And “Who can see wind?” And in the middle of the room was a full size weathervane. First the warning about rattlesnakes and now this? Hands down the most interesting rest stop I’ve ever seen. 8/10.

 

We arrived in Raton, NM around 4pm. There were a few other RVs waiting to check in as well so we stayed in the truck to wait our turn. I look to my right and see the one and only employee over by the propane filling station helping someone out. I made a comment to Tim about how I hope he wasn’t feeling overwhelmed since there were so many people waiting. He finished filling their propane and walked as fast as he could without breaking into a jog. He walked around the building where he thought no one could see him, bent over and vomited. Then proceeded to walk back to the front, unlock the lobby doors, and began helping people like he didn’t just throw up in the bushes. 

Uhhh... 

It was finally my turn to check in. I walked in and he seemed like he felt fine! He kept hiccuping throughout my time registering for the night. He brought out the map to show me where we’d be parking. “So you’re here in site 20. You’ll come down this way and pull straight in. When you want to leave in the morn-..... excuse me one second.” 

He walks away and vomits again! Like, are you gonna be okay!? We can figure out how to get out tomorrow if you need to go!? 

He comes back, apologizes, and finishes our check in. 

What is this life.