Day 16 Thursday Oct 27, 2016 Kerrville, TX to Las Cruces NM.

Despite our trepidations for the long day ahead we made in to Las Cruces in good order.  It took about 9 1/2 hours to go the 535 miles, 100 percent on I-10 and 98% with an 80 mph speed limit.  Of course, we kept the Roadster under 77 all the way :-)  My thanks to Pat Ritz at Sports and Collector Car in Tempe who installed a cruise control on the car back in 2011.  It sure was handy today.

We were up this morning at 5, with engine start at 6:30.  We got to Las Cruces about 3:00 enjoying a one hour time change bonus in west Texas.  The largest problem today was fighting boredom and sleepy feelings much of the midday.  In addition to gas stops we pulled into rest areas a couple of times to walk around the car and maybe close our eyes for a few minutes.  The constant drone of the car and the wind buffeting the hooding and side curtains makes conversation almost impossible so its up to ourselves to keep our minds alert.  Traffic was light most of the time and even getting through El Paso was fairly simple as most of the construction on I-10 appeared to be completed.

West Texas is scenic, but much the same most of the way.  We started in what they call the hill country but soon were into high bluffs and desert shrubs. 

I-10 Westbound in west Texas, coming out of hill country.

Mesa's and bluffs in West Texas

El Paso is certainly a growing city.  In the 10 years we have been driving through it on our way to Arizona it has sprouted many many (2) hotels, shopping malls, highway bridges and complex intersections.  Traffic here is as busy as Houston. 

Oh, we watched much of the game last night.... sorry to see the Indians lose game two.  So now they are even again and off to Chicago for a new day.  Go Tribe!!!