The Drive to AZ

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...