Day 7: Springfield, MO to Dallas -- no, make that Amarillo. 543 miles

"You can keep your ice!" That's what we told our cousins this morning when weather (again) forced a change in route. We'd been looking forward to visiting with them, but Dallas was expecting another of its (in)famous ice storms and we wouldn't get out till at least Friday. Instead, we're heading straight across Oklahoma toward Alberquerque.  

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(The way this trip is going, I'm already imagining a post with a still from Looney Tunes featuring Bugs Bunny saying, "I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Alberquerque!'

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I suppose it was my fault. I had to go and buy sunglasses on that brilliant cold and sunny Chicago day. We've been dodging the low clouds, and snow and ice storms since.

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Little Papi and Meep liked our accommodations in Springfield.

We'd never seen flatware so.... uh, FLAT. Even our plasticware for the car was thicker! But it was more than made up for with a full-size fridge, oversize TV, and nice touches like pet bags in case we needed them for Papi. We were excited to watch the just-dropped episode of The Gilded Age. (Frankly, it was all we had energy to do after our diverted drive.)

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You wouldn't see THIS vehicle on Rte. 128 or the 101. But we weren't fast enough to capture our favorite sign in day-glow orange: "Hitchhikers may be escaped inmates." Note they don't advise motorists against picking them up. ("We report, you decide.")

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Dog park and wash. A dog wash on the interstate. We should have more of these.

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We stopped for fuel and to get a bite along the famed Route 66. One of us got McDonald's at the drive-through. The other had salmon salad and some blueberries. And some French Fries.

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Little Papi waiting for Joe at a truck stop...

...when something startled him and he turned to see what was going on.

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Oklahoma sunset, 224 miles to go till Amarillo and a good night's sleep.

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