What links a Tony Christie song from 1971, a northern British comedian and the British army with Monty Python’s Flying Circus? The following links might give a hint:

Tony Christie song from 1971, http://youtu.be/E12ZcvBDsA0

Peter Kay, Red Nose Day in 2005: http://youtu.be/6liAimpfH3k

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Iraq: http://youtu.be/Ld1DTmXesTo

Monty Python sketch: http://youtu.be/rGEeLtqtNvU

As you might have guessed, we are now in Amarillo, have driven here all day from Farmington, in New Mexico. Breakfast today was probably the worst we had. Marianne described it as various varieties of cardboard. She tried the waffles. Cardboard. I tried the waffles. The timer refused to work and I had to use my watch. Hmmm. I think I agree with her. There were no eggs today, no sausage, hardly any milk.

Looking at the best route, we decided the less

mountainous route would be best, so we headed off down US550 towards Albuquerque. It was hilly, but not mountainous and, even though for most of its length it is four lane single carriageway, the speed limit is 70mph. We got up to 7,000 feet a few times, and the scenery was rocky and desert, but not as barren as yesterday. We got down to Bernalillo (pictured) and stopped partly to take a picture of the mountain and partly for refreshment, since we found a Starbucks. We discussed how far we were going to go, having left at 10.30 it meant that there was less time for driving. We decided to play safe and aim first for Tumcumcari on I-40.

We got there about six and stopped at a Subway for food. There was free wifi so I took the opportunity to phone April who had got home to Houston today with Mike. They had a shock on their journey with a rock being squashed from under a truck tire and firing at their windscreen. They were able to get home safely, but needed to clean out some shattered glass from inside the car.

We decided that we’d press on, so after

refueling (and this time the pump accepted my credit card) and booking the hotel, we set off for the final 100 miles of the day. I-40 into Texas may be considered somewhat boring, being mainly straight and flat. But there was much to see, some of which Marianne caught on camera, like this one showing a typical truck we overtook. Marianne photographed several trucks, thinking of Daniel.

We couldn’t find the hotel address on the satnav, so we tried just following the signs. The Quality Inn we went to was the wrong one. So, finding that the address was E I-14, not I-14 E (!) the satnav showed us the way. As we approached the exit, with the left lane closed for repair, and the sun had gone, I was driving in the centre lane and suddenly appeared a rectangular object, approximately 6 feet by 6 feet. I tried to swerve to avoid it , but would have crashed into the car in the outside lane (the left), so we went over it on the right side. Thankfully it was only a mattress, doubtless fallen off of a truck (hence the link to the Monty Python mattress sketch). Marianne nearly had heart failure. As far as I can tell, there has been no damage to the car. We came off at the next exit and found the hotel.

Checking in we found that we were on the first floor (or the second floor in America since the Americans start counting at one and not zero), and I had to lug the suitcases up here. No lift (elevator). This was a hotel where the room doors opened out into the open air and a walkway. I was able to phone friend David in Missouri using Skype. Those that are unaware of Skype should get hold of it. It’s a program that allows phone calls to be made over the internet. Skype to Skype calls are free, Skype to landlines are 1p per minute. To use my iPhone here would cost £1 per minute and 60p per minute to receive a call. I spoke to David for 38 minutes and it cost 38p. Be aware that when you get scam phone calls from India, Nigeria or wherever, they probably use Skype, so stringing out a call will not cost them a lot. Also, if you check the number they’ve called from it will only be Skype’s local number for your country. So don’t block that number as it will mean blocking me and other legitimate Skype users.