John was on the Albuquerque to Big Spring leg when Roswell struck.

Add to the Journal!

This is a collaborative effort. Mail me your comments and thoughts to share on John's trip - especially on this Roswell business. I'm collating them into the Voyeurs' page.

Just send it to (click for email),

You be the judge...

John's Journal

Day Five

Got on the road around 7.45 am. It was nice to be able to start the day with family. That should last me for a few more days.

I started out heading south out of Albuquerque to pick up a great road cutting east through some hills. This also comes right next to the White Sands Missile Range. The road is really nice, very little traffic, lots of Pinion all over the soft, rolling hills. I haven't mentioned the wonderful clouds I have been seeing, yet, but they have been great entertainment. Once again, this morning I often look up (but never taking my eyes off the road, Mom) and smile at all the different clouds. It seems as if some are simply not real. The sun outlines some of them with a slightly darker white, which sets them apart from the other big puffy and long straight clouds.

OK, now for an abrupt change: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have the stomach flu or food poisoning while out on the road? Well, wonder no more, I think I have just had it.

I pulled into Roswell, NM to top off the gas tank and felt very light-headed and nauseous. It must have been something I ate or a touch of stomach flu. It is one of those times where you would do anything to be well, again. All I could do is lay down right there at the Shell Station for several hours. I couldn?t move. Eventually, I went over to the Tastee Freez across the street to get a Sprite (the woman who was working at the Shell and another who checked in on me suggested this). It helped a bit, but still I knew that I could not go anywhere the rest of the day, so the woman at the Shell station offered to call and find a room for me.

Luckily, very nearby was a cheap motel, The Mayo Lodge (let's see, would that be short for mayonnaise or a certain doctor famous in Minnesota?). She talked them down off their 2 double-bed price since it was just me to only $28 (try that in Manhattan!). I just laid around and slept for about 12 hours. Finally, feeling about normal, again. Wow! What an ordeal, I hadn't thought this would come up. The thing is, even in a car with someone else along, there is nothing I could do. I couldn?t move.

So, with that behind me, I can now keep on heading on to New Orleans.