On to Amarillo, Texas- October 10, 2010

This was our last morning of getting up and going to the Balloon Fiesta launch field.  Today there was a mass ascension with the 19 nations outside of the U.S. being honored.  The wind did seem to be stronger today than the last 2 days but most balloons got up in the air.  There were a few of the bigger balloons that had to be packed away after trying to get them inflated was difficult with the wind.  Balloonists are assigned launch sites and then section by section of these sites the balloons are inflated and then launched.  The sky becomes filled with balloons in a  short time.  We were on the grounds a little before 7am and by 9am the balloons had been launched and we were returning back to the motorhome.

We quickly got the motorhome and Jeep ready for traveling and by 9:15am we were on the road heading east.  It is time to head toward home.  Shortly after getting on I-40 east, another motorhome came up a ramp to merge into traffic as Tom moved into the left hand lane.  We heard a sharp crack and sure enough that motorhome unknowingly had thrown a stone that hit our windshield and left a sizable star.  What a sick feeling.  We know that in time the cracks will run and the only place to get the windshield replaced according to Tiffin is at Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama.  We are in the process of trying to find out if the windshield could be replaced on Monday.  If we can be assured of that we will go to Red Bay.  If no assurance can be given that it will be done on Monday then we will need to find another time to do it.

We have continued on I-40 through New Mexico and into Texas where we lost an hour as we changed from Mountain to Central time.  Tonight we are in Amarillo at the Amarillo Ranch RV Park- a very nice, conveniently located campground, 300 miles to the east of Albuquerque.