Sunday 7 April 2024

Day Six

Got up at 8.30am and it was a struggle. Had breakfast, packed and were away by 9.50am.

Then we just drove. First leg was to Mt Enterprise which was a distance of 185 miles and took three hours. Stopped for fuel, toilet and drink. 

Then it was on to Mandeville, just north east of Texarkana. We actually followed I20 and I49 for part of the way which meant we dipped into Louisiana before getting in to Arkansas. The leg was 135 miles and took just over a couple of hours.

Stopped at a Subway within a garage. Man serving took the longest time it has ever taken a human to do anything. 15 mins to serve the people in front three sandwiches. At one point he started serving Ann before going back to them leaving Ann's sub on the top. Whilst he was busy taking eternity sorting them out, flies landed on the sub on the desk. When, millennia late, he came back to continue, Ann informed him that she required a new piece of bread due to the flies landing on it. He got a new one out and put the other one back in. A nice surprise for whomever gets that. Eventually we managed to get out with food. Ate it in the car then set off once more.

This time got 193 miles in before third stop at Bald Knob, a stint of nearly three hours. Went to Maccy Ds and got drinks and used the facilities.

Final leg was shorter at just 70 miles to Jonesboro. Arrive at 7.45pm, roughly ten hours after setting off. Parked and got our stuff out of the car to check in. Ann asked where the camera was. Looked through the car. Came to the conclusion it was 583 miles away in Houston. Only brought it to use tomorrow for the eclipse. Bugger.

Checked in and Ann tried to contact the hotel in Houston. I tried to figure out of whether we had any hope of getting back to Houston before we leave. Seems doubtful.

Went to Paul and Helen's room and broke the news.

Went to dinner at IHOP. I got told off for being too loud with a child.

Nipped to Walmart to see cameras. Decided against buying one.

Got back to the hotel and had lost the room key card. Not having a good day looking after things. Eventually decided it could only be in a couple of places. Found it in Paul and Helen's car down the side of the front seat where I'd been sitting.

Now back contemplating the pointlessness of existence, feeling tired after driving the equivalent of Exeter to Aberdeen.

Ann asleep, probably dreaming about cameras.

The big day tomorrow. Hopefully we'll find blue sky, although I won't be able to take a picture of it.

States visited - 4

Cameras lost - 1