U.S. HWY. 84, Texas — After 900 miles of traveling Texas roads, I’ve learned a few things.

It’s amazing what happens when roads don’t freeze. I drove quite a bit of Texas highway and didn’t see a pothole other than on an interstate around San Antonio. When roads don’t freeze, ice doesn’t force cracks and those don’t turn into potholes. How refreshing.

Drivers are polite. Excessively. Having driven a lot of U.S. highways, many of them two lanes, I’ve never been in a state where a driver will get over and drive on the shoulder so you can pass them. Most places I’m more likely to have someone try to speed up to cut me off.

Lot of small towns. A lot. Really, a lot. Saw a lot of places with population in the triple digits. Not Coleman, Texas, though. Woo hoo!

And it’s a long way in between them. It was so far from one town to the next on Monday that I nearly ran out of gas even though the warning light hadn’t come on when I passed the previous gas station. Note to the Big 3: Vehicles in Texas should be required to have their gas light come on earlier.

Cactus. Tons and tons of cactus. And goats. But only two longhorns. Perhaps UT-Austin should change its mascot. 🙂

Gas prices are OK but not great. I figured gas would be cheaper here than I’ve ever seen. But it was about 10-15 cents more expensive than New Jersey. Still, 15 cents cheaper than I’ve been paying in Connecticut.

And, well, I already knew this, but things are pretty far apart here. All I hope is that I avoid the propeller planes tonight and get a jet. Then I can sleep without having to worry about my stomach contents. 🙂

Been a good time. Will post separately on the Day 5 games.