We spent last night sleeping on the shoulder of an I 40 onramp. Never done that before. The plan was to camp by some river and then bike at the local trails. Except it was raining. I mean torrential rains. 39 more days to water world kind of rain. Which means sopping trails, and the description asked to wait 48 hours following precipitation. So we drove on. And on. Until we saw the sign saying the looked for rest area was closed for repairs, which meant more driving. Finally, we found our roadside accommodations and woke up stickier than we started.

Also, as we exited the highway, the Water In Fuel indicator light came on. Like, really? What on earth is that about?

Well, anyway, we did sleep along with our trucker neighbors. I found a garage 5 miles off the freeway which didn’t work on civilian diesel engines. They referred me back to the fricking freeway to a place that drained the filter and told me to get something across the street. I did so and filled up. The warning light didn’t go out.

By now it is 10 and, due to “everything,” we decide to shower at the fine establishment where we purchased the something along with fuel. $10 each later we take off, more dubious than I am clean that everything is ok.

View of the truck stop.

Some actual good news: the tea pot water heater works off the inverter!!

At an auto parts store in West Memphis we get some new wipers and learn that the simple filter drain wasn’t enough and head to another garage which sends us to a 24 hour, hard core tractor trailer garage. There I hear the bus needs a new fuel filter though the part must be sourced. 2 hours later we are driving back to have the waterlogged one replaced.

Done and no more water fuel light. Plus the mechanics explained the filter needs regular changing. Actually, as he was talking I recalled the words of the gentleman who drove me to purchase the bus, where he stressed it is important to keep the fuel filter clean. In fact, that was going on with the big rig in the other work lane concurrently. And it was nearly 5000 miles so time for it apparently. And ours was clearly filthy. What a relief. Zeke can get concerned about this new, alien group of problems sometimes. Don’t tell!

This is the second problem we’ve experienced in Arkansas on I 40. The first was when we went west back in the late 90s. I had that super fast and totally sweet Filippi single on the roof and the persistent and powerful crosswind caused major headaches (let’s leave it at that). We’ve traveled this but twice, ladies and gentlemen.

Did you know TODAY IS OUR 21st ANNIVERSARY? We celebrated with a spectacularly delicious meal at The Beauty Shop, sharing crispy duck and a farmers salad. Really, the meal was incredible. And so was the fancy, carbonated lemonade. Plus a slice of genuinely scrumptious and moist chocolate cake with raspberries, strawberries and whipped cream, complementary style.

There have been only two other equally outstanding restaurant experiences: on our first anniversary a coworker recommended a place and everything was superb; and the soup on some trip to NYC during an upscale dining week or month where haut cuisine lunches became that which does not require a loan.