Day 13: Gallup, NM to Oklahoma City

I drove 12 hours today. But today was wild🤪.

I woke up at 6am so I could leave Gallup to go to Albequerque, which was 2 hours away. I had a client call, so I wanted to make sure I had internet and good cell service. Last night, I decided I would check out The Grove Cafe & Market, which has amazing reviews along with scrumptious looking food. Their Google My Business listing mentioned “dine-in” so I figured I’d grab breakfast there and have my client call.

When I got into Albequerque, it didn’t have that hustle-bustle feeling like most cities have. I got to the cafe and they informed me that New Mexico is basically on a two week lock down where NO restaurants are having any dine in. Whoops! So I got take out in my car and hooked up my hotspot, plugged my laptop into my Jackery (my portable charger) and I was in business for a client call 😎

Here is the DELICIOUS breakfast I had: sweet potato hash with roasted sweet potatoes, feta, cauliflower rice, avocado, roasted mushrooms, tomatillo salsa, sunflower sprouts, sunny side up egg😍

I was going to check out the art scene in Albequerque, but since it seemed many businesses were closed, I decided to trek to my next destination.

I originally was going to stay the night in Amarillo, TX, but I figured I could drive more, which would give me more time to spend at another destination. I felt like I was flailing without much of a plan— I mean this whole trip’s itinerary hasn’t had much planning, but today I didn’t feel like I had my “goal place”, or a place to look forward to going like I’ve had previous days.

Because I was driving so much, of course I had to get gas numerous times, and one of my first gas stops took me WAY off the beaten path to get back to 1-40.

I was off the beaten path for about 25 minutes and not one car passed me. And because it was so secluded, I saw some antelope (American Pronghorn Antelope to be precise)!!

I made one turn per my GPS’s instruction and drove along this gorgeous path:

And then I spotted a roadrunner!! I don’t think I had ever seen a roadrunner in person—and it was much smaller than I expected. Probably because the cartoon depicted a much larger bird.

This is what the roadrunner looks like (image from Pinterest, Jeff Beavers)

Fun fact: according to newmexico.org, “On March 16, 1949, the New Mexico Legislature named the roadrunner as its official state avian species the “Chaparral Bird,” aka Geococcyx californianus, aka the greater roadrunner. … Native peoples, who admire the bird’s speed, sometimes use its X-shaped footprint as a sacred symbol to keep evil spirits from following them.”

Also on this “off the beaten path drive”, I drove by a little cemetery

And drove by this abandoned bus

Next stop, Amarillo, TX

I planned to stop at one destination here per a recommendation from my step mom: Cadillac Ranch. What a neat spectacle, and it’s literally right off I-40!

I got back into my car and saw a text from my mom. She wanted to treat me to a hotel stay somewhere. Wow, how loved am I?! She let me pick, so I quickly decided I would haul my ass to Oklahoma City. Another girl I follow who does solo road tripping was in Oklahoma City recently and she LOVED it, so I thought I would check it out too. I looked at hotels and bed & breakfasts and decided to stay at WangShi China Palace Bed and Breakfast. It looked fascinating and had good reviews so I called ahead to ask if I could drop in that night and they said yes —this story to be continued 🤣🤣.

On my way there, I’m fairly certain I saw a grass/brush fire (it’s severely dry in Texas right now)

Oklahoma City

Okay. Are y’all ready for this story?

I got into Oklahoma City (finally) around 7:30pm and I hadn’t had dinner yet.

I missed my turn when trying to find WangShi China Palace Bed and Breakfast because it was down a long driveway and it was dark out. Looking at the pictures online, I did NOT believe it was in the area it was. It’s off of a rural-ish road right outside the city…It was stunning!

As I’m checking in, I realize they have this awesome indoor pool so I had to ask when the pool closed and they said, “you can swim in it anytime, you’re the only guest here.”

Another pool all to myself?! Wow!

Because I hadn’t eaten dinner yet, I asked about restaurants in town that were good, and one of the owners began listing some but we found that many of the restaurants closed around 9pm. One of the owners then said, “don’t worry, we will find you food…I’ll take you into town.”

I said I didn’t mind going on my own to find food, but this co-owner insisted. To describe this co-owner, he’s an older Vietnam Vet who wore lime green sneakers. I thought he was harmless so I thought ‘why not…YOLO’ and then he said, “I’ll pull the limo around.”

Huh? A limo?! Wtf?! Did I hear that right?!

He was already outside to go fetch my limo so I turned to the hotel front desk worker, Carla, and asked if he normally did this and if it was included in they stay and she said, “yup.”

So here I am, in baggy clothes, zero makeup, haven’t showered in a couple days and am about to be transported around in a city I’ve never been to in a pimp-ass limo to get whatever food we can find. WHAT. PLANET. AM. I. ON.

We found a restaurant that was open until 9:30…a Thai restaurant! He pulled in, got my door and told me to take my time and he’d be waiting for me. Again, WHAT. PLANET. AM. I. ON.

I got Tom Yum soup, chicken satay and a Sapporo beer, which totally satiated my hunger.

I walked out, and sure enough, my man in lime green sneakers was there to pick me up. Hell yeah.

We headed back and once we got back, I went for a swim to work off some calories and just move some from all the sitting from the driving. It was nice to get my heart rate up and do some laps!

It’s hard to see, but there was a bridge over this pool, so it was actually quite long!

Afterward, I headed to my room and began writing because I had to tell you all about my day! Also, here’s a pic of my room. KING BED Y’ALL👸 (thanks again, mom…you’re the best!)

I also have a balcony with a wooden swing outside and a fire pit. It’s been a wild, good day. Despite driving so much, it’s actually been one of the most fun days because of all the unexpected.💙