The rest stops in California & Arizona had been closed because each state’s financial situation. Those in New Mexico were open but check out these in Texas. Each one has a mini museum inside for the county that it’s in.

My first experience in Dallas was when I asked a trucker how to get t0 Old City Park (It has a group of museums & Heritage Village).

He said, “Mamm, it’s not safe to go there.”

I said, "Well it’s daylight & I really want to see it.”

“Okay, I’ll give you the directions to Hell, but yawl be careful.”

Well, before I went there I stopped at the site of the site of the Kennedy assassination. It was an old warehouse district that is now regentrified. When I parked. I asked 2 well dressed gentlemen if you had to pay the meter if you have a handicapped placard (you don’t in California). They said they weren’t sure & insisted on filling the meter if I promised to remember the hospitality of Texans. I promised & told them how impressed I was with the Texas rest stops & my experience in other states. Their response was that the state felt however bad the economy was, Texans still had to pee.

Then I met Officer Knight. I asked directions to the book depository. He insisted on showing me & Jake the shadiest way there. The heat was suffocating. So here’s our picture, me in front of the book depository & “Ol’ Red” which was once a courthouse. He gave me his card & told me to call him if I had any questions or needed anything (I have truly been impressed with the friendliness of all the Texans I’ve met). He gave me a great map of Dallas & directions to Old City Park warning me to be careful.

Dallas has been the most frustrating city for me because in the downtown area streets don’t run on a grid so after several hours of driving around, meeting many nice people & not finding the park or village I took off for San Antonio.

The day before I heard of an approaching rainstorm. As I headed south there were flashes of sheet lighting & fat bolts of lightening. On the radio I heard the beeps lie when the make a national emergency practice alert but this time the announcer said. This is an emergency weather alert. There are several thunder STORMS with winds up to 60 mph. There is a possibility of a tornado. Get to shelter immediately & stay away from windows. As if on cue, the rain sloshed from the sky. I was freaked. I got off the freeway & am at a Motel 6 in Austin. So this morning I’ll head or San Antonio.