We slept in on Saturday morning and left Sioux City, IA around 11am. The drive to Texas is about 1200 miles and we have two and a half days to do it.
In Nebraska, we got pulled over at a Weigh Station and I was asked to bring in my “paperwork.” The FMSCA (here we go again?) was a bit confused by my custom vehicle, whether or not I need apportioned plates (I don’t), and should I buy a fuel permit??? In order to make it easier, I just stopped at the next Truck Stop and paid the $35 for a trip permit through Nebraska so it wouldn’t be an issue. I’d rather pay $35 than $200 in fines.
We crossed into Kansas on Sunday – field after field of corn and sunflowers. Farmers are into full harvest! In Newton, KS we stopped at the local Braum’s to get a bite to eat. As I was walking toward the store, I was approached by an older gentleman perhaps in his early 80’s. He had obviously just come from church and was dressed very nicely. As he walked over, there was a big smile on his face. He asked, “Where do you perform?” And then proceeded to share his own experience “on the road.” During the depression, he traveled with a variety show that included a magician. They performed “fair dates” and he was a part of the performing troupe. He was an ice skater. He shared with me some of his memories – eating at the “chow house,” sleeping below the wagons on the train, skating on masonite and plastic, and being baffled by the magician even when watching from the side of the stage. As he walked away, he turned, shook my hand and said, “Those were the best times of my life.”
We left Kansas and headed down I-35 through Oklahoma. We stopped in Norman, OK at the local Best Buy to pick up a new road computer. Our other laptop is definitely on it’s last leg and we need to get something before we loose all the information. Another perk of this stop in Norman was the Taco Cabana – time for a late lunch!
We finally crossed the border into Texas and spent the night in Gainesville. We were up early this morning to finish the 450 remaining miles to Kingsville, TX. Our show is there tomorrow night (Tuesday). We decided to spend the time just a few miles away in Calallen, TX…should take us only 30 minutes to get to Jones Auditorium in the morning.
It’s going to be a very busy week – show in Kingsville on Tuesday; drive 600 miles to Texarkana on Wednesday; several Healing of Magic outreach programs on Thursday and then drive to Longview; speak in chapel at LeTourneau University and conduct a Healing of Magic workshop in Longview on Friday; show at Belcher Performing Arts Center in Longview on Saturday; and head back to Texarkana on Sunday for a show at the Perot Theatre on Monday.