Having driven the 4 major routes to southern AZ from OH, distances that take from 29 to 36 hours drive time, the longer and northern routes are more scenic. Probably I-70 being the best. Yes, boring as heck, as are they all, but once you reach the Rockies via I-70, it becomes very scenic for the final 10 hours. The highlight on this trip was the Arch in St Louis. That's about it until..... I spent a night in Truth or Consequences, NM and discovered one of those independently owned restaurants that have a great atmosphere and really good food. Sitting at the bar where I ordered take out while eating a calamari appetizer, I talked to some locals. Good time. With only 6 hours left to drive, I thought the next day would be an easy drive but.... ....winds were very strong and on the western side of NM, warnings were up stating I was entering an area prone to sand storms. In the distance, I could see clouds and rain in shadows that did not reach the ground but from the ground there were roiling brown clouds. I pulled off I-10 and waited. I've experienced this before and the smart thing is to sit it out but I was in a rental and did not want to pay the late penalty and of course, I really, really wanted to reach Oro Valley. Soon a truck having an oversized load came by and behind it, a follow truck lit like a Christmas tree. I bolted from my stop and slid in behind. For the next 4-5 miles, despite traveling at 5mph and trailing the truck by maybe 20', there were brief periods where conditions deteriorated to whiteout. I lost sight of the truck but then things improved a bit. I saw lights to my left and glancing quickly, saw a truck had just rear ended an SUV. Then we reached an exit where the highway patrol directed all traffic off, having just closed I-10. I sat for 30 minutes, talked to others and we were told to head back into NM, take a couple of state routes to the south and then back north, averting the storm. I was 5th in line to head east as many others already had (likely into a huge traffic jam from that accident) when the line began to move but rather than take the east on-ramp, we took the west on-ramp....yippee!!! We stayed in single file as a patrol car led us slowly through another bout of sand. Then he released us and..... ...from that point on, visibility slowly improved and we got through. Now I am contemplating in what activity I should participate...
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