Remember - "Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates"

So many things cross my mind while driving across this wonderful country we call home.  I'm fascinated by all the surroundings, the hills, mountains, lakes, streams, rivers, washes.  Washes?  Yes, I said it, apparently, in New Mexico and other states that I may have missed, what we call a dried up creek or stream are called washes or dry washes.  Obviously they are the same but there are signs all over, just about every bridge out in the desert hills.  And yes, some were even a little wet. 
Another funny thing I noticed was that in about 5 or 6 states, whenever I saw a deer crossing sign, someone had places a big sticker behind the deer's behind that said "Woofoo"  or at least that's what I think it said.  I saw it enough but the eyes just aren't that fast anymore!

Another thing that caught me kinda funny was that when you enter the Texas panhandle, you won't see a rest area for over 80 miles!  And when you do, you'd better stop because it's the only one off of I-40.  Then when you get to Oklahoma and parts of Arkansas, you will see "rest areas" with no facilities, just garbage bins and sometimes picnic tables.  Do they really think you can stop in the middle of nowhere and not have to go?  It beats me on that one!  Also, I passed 2 fairly new rest areas with facilities but they were both closed.  Have we just completely run out of money to hire a couple people to watch over these places?  You know, vending machines alone could help pay the bills!
And finally, after I crossed over into Oklahoma, I was driving through the wind turbine fields, I saw the sign " Hitchhikers may be escaping inmates"!  I have never even thought that could be the case but that one phrase has kept me laughing for a couple days now!
I hope you have enjoyed reading my journey across the country.  By the time you read this, I should be back home with my family and friends!  Shh, if you read this ahead of time, my kids don't know I'm coming yet!  ;)  It has been fun writing about all the encounters along the way and I look forward in going back to reread some as well.  Til the next trip, safe travels to everyone!