Headed to the Great Race

This is the day I have anticipated for a long time. Packing and planning are done.  The Excursion is loaded with suitcases and snack food.

Scott, Mallory, Darrin and I met at the Henderson Museum.  Travis came to see us off. Travis also took photos of us leaving.

We all piled into the Excursion and headed out.  First stop IHop.  We went a whopping 1/4 mile.
With breakfast finished we were on the road. Darrin started driving.  We headed out to take 98. Jackson, Shreveport, Dallas is the route.

When we got to Jackson the GPS tried to take us to the center of town. Took us a little bit to figure it out and get back on track.

For a stretch of the road we thought we were on a roller coaster. The road was so rough that the car on the trailer cut right through a strap.

We stopped in a little town in Louisiana just off of interstate 20.  Of course it would be the only place without water.  No Restrooms.

We went up the road a little and found relief.
Mallory's turn to drive. Just as soon as Mallory started to drive all the adults are on their devices. The only teen in the car was the only one without her device out.

Our goal is to make it to Wichita  Falls for our first stop.  As the sunset the conversation picked up. As night falls it gets quite again. The final stretch of Highway is a four lane with nothing on it.  Dark out here in Texas.