Homeward Bound: 944 Miles and Tornado Warnings

I opened my eyes this morning at around 3:45 a.m. and knew right away that sleep was done for the day. So I climbed out of the back of the truck, slid into the driver’s seat, and started the long journey home.

The roads were calm in the early morning light, and I made good time heading south toward Albuquerque. As I approached the city, I looked up and saw 10 or 15 hot air balloons drifting north across the sky. Albuquerque is known for its hot air balloon culture, but I wasn’t sure if this was part of a special event or just a typical Saturday morning spectacle. Either way, it was a beautiful and unexpected send-off.

Albuquerque was where I picked up I-40, and from there, it was a straight shot to Fort Smith, Arkansas for a total of fifteen hours and 944 miles behind the wheel.

Along the way, Robin called to warn me about tornado watches stretching from Oklahoma City to Fort Smith. I had planned to camp in a national forest outside the city, but after hearing about the severe weather, I took her advice and checked into a Holiday Inn Express for the night. Sometimes, the best adventure decision is the safest one.

After a long day on the road, the hot shower felt like a luxury. For dinner, I polished off the last of the food from my truck fridge.

There’s a lot to reflect on from the past two weeks—places visited, friendships rekindled, and the lingering questions about where “home” might be next. For now, I’m just looking forward to getting up early, finishing the final leg of the drive, and reuniting with Robin and the pets.

Home is close. And that feels good.