We've survived day 2, which took us from Sweetwater, Texas to Lordsburg, New Mexico. No oxen were lost. No wagon wheels were broken. As far as we know, no snakes were encountered and nobody succumbed to a life-threatening illness. That's not to say everything has gone perfectly. Also, Achievement Unlocked - River Fording! We've crossed so many rivers and creeks since leaving Fort Worth that we have every confidence we'll have no problems for the rest of the trip (okay...the bridges help).
What Happens When Everything Won't Fit in the Wagons (err, the car)
When we were preparing to pack the car, we quickly realized we wouldn't be able to fit nearly as much stuff as we'd hoped. No problem, we thought, we'll just arrange for some of our goods to be shipped ahead with a trader's caravan (also known as Fedex). Computers, monitors, mice, keyboards, and basically everything that wouldn't fit in the car went into boxes and were left in the capable hands of (I think her name was Lily). Or so we thought...
Well, the long and short of it is, Steph doesn't have any pants. I don't have a coat (it's 34 degrees here at the moment). We might be short on socks. We're hoping to find a local merchant in the next major town we come across that we can barter with for these essential items (you know, like Target). To further compound the long-term situation, though, our boxes were expected to arrive on Friday but now won't be there until Monday. So, we'll definitely be buying new clothes for everyone before the work week starts.
One Last Chance for Good Barbecue
We came to the realization this morning that it could be eons before we would have tasty Texas barbecue again. Our solution - find the best barbecue joint in Odessa. The 'BBQ Barn' did not disappoint (thanks Misty!). Yes, it even sort of looked like a barn. The boys each had sliced brisket sandwiches, and Steph and I tried an interesting twist on brisket tacos. The tacos were basically a tortilla with melted cheese and a giant (single) piece of brisket. 'Pico' was optional. Nonetheless, they were delicious and served as a good reminder of what we'd be missing out on in sunny California.
...and Then There was Dinner
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Meat burrito, anyone? |
Okay, dinner was actually pretty good. We all tried something different. However, we all unequivocally steered clear of the 'meat burrito' on the menu. Steph and Ryan washed their dinner down with some blackberry cobbler, while Thomas and I tried hot fudge sundaes. Who would have ever thought we'd find this kind of food along The Irvine Trail?
Tomorrow, our journey will take us through Arizona, and we just might keep going straight to California. We plan to stop in Tucson to do some shopping (you know, for a coat and pants). Otherwise, we're just taking our time and will see how far we make it. Wish us luck!
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