Blog draft may 27 26

Motion, Pace of

We started our trip at local speeds of 45 until we reached highways. Then the speed jumped to 55. Once on I-88 the limit rose to 70 until we got to I-39 to head south toward Bloomington. The speed limit rose to 75. We joined I-55 at Bloomington/Normal and headed to St. Louis. Across the Mississippi we drove I-44 all the way through Missouri and into Oklahoma. Speed limits rose to 75 again, and somewhere in Oklahoma, I think, it rose again to 80. From thereon the speed limits ranged from 65 to 80 until we reached Santa Fe.

Of course, we added 5 to 7 miles per hour for cruising. Well, that figure changed per driver. My usual is 5 to 7 over the limit, but Liz and Dan added 10 or more. We made good time!

Once in Santa Fe we moseyed around town at 10 and 15 mph in neighborhoods. Those areas are densely populated and have very narrow streets. We didn’t see any large cars in those neighborhoods; parking spaces and driveways were simply too small for larger cars. Most cars were compacts.

On more normal streets, speed limits were 30 to 45. Pretty normal flow of traffic in those areas. Once outside the city, though, limits rose to 55, 60 and 70 again. Some highways posted 75.

We drove to Las Alamos and were stunned by the rock formations and deep canyons, abysses. Beautiful and very colorful. Las Alamos is a larger community than I had expected. The lab is set aside from the rest of the community, and you had to have clearance to enter. We didn’t enter. We wanted to see how the community lived, and it seemed quite nice. White Rock Park provided a spectacular view of a canyon that forms the Las Alamos higher basin. Quite the view. First time for all of us.

After my adventure with ER and an overnight hospital stay, we promised to drive immediately to lower elevation and wind our way home to Chicago. We did that without my driving. Liz and Dan did it all. Pam took the train back to Chicago. I must say, the kids took us back to Illinois in record time. Once again, we took advantage of the higher speed limits, and we must have averaged 80 or 85 for many hours. Three days later we were home. Reached the apartment on Saturday at 4 pm after leaving the hospital on Thursday afternoon at 2 pm. Pam’s train was behind schedule 7 and a half hours and finally got home at 8 pm Saturday.

Once home I stayed in my recliner. Did laundry of course. Fussed around the apartment, and finally drove to the drug store and grocery store. I drove the 20 and 30 mile per hour limits. I had had as much speed as I wanted for a while.

By the way, the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid did very well. Averaged 30 miles to the gallon for the entire trip. The higher limits pulled the averages down. Otherwise we tootled around towns at 42 mpg. And the performance at all speeds were terrific. No hesitation. Very little road noise. And a perfect, smooth ride. This is my fourth Hyundai, and I think those decisions are very well supported.

May 27, 2026

Remember the Epstein Files

 

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