August 2-4, 2001: Travel Page 4

After a couple of weeks to recharge at home in Southern California and visit with family, friends, and utility bills, I was ready to head back to Florida to try once again for viewing back-to-back shuttle launches.  I tried this last year in September and October, but delays caused me to change my plans.  The drive back would be essentially retracing the route I took coming home: Interstate 8 east to Tucson, Arizona (or thereabouts) and Interstate 10.  From there, Interstate 10 would take me all the way to Jacksonville, Florida, where I would hit Interstate 95 south to the Space Coast.

The first day, I made it to Las Cruces, New Mexico (just west of El Paso): 

First gas stop, back in Yuma, AZ

south of Tucson, AZ

The next morning (the 3rd), I took off in hopes of making it all the way through Texas, but only got as far as Baytown again in the middle of the afternoon (in fact, the same Interstate 10 exit).  A tropical storm (Barry) was brewing in the Gulf of Mexico and there was some speculation that it might head towards the Houston area -- though not for several days.  Watching the news that evening, it appeared that the storm was aimless and not building much, although the forecast was for it to eventually head up north into the Florida panhandle area or maybe west of there into the New Orleans area.  Still, it didn't seem to be much of a storm maker, so I decided to continue my planned route instead of trying to skirt the storm. 

Leaving Las Cruces  filling one tank somewhere in Texas (and emptying another -- not pictured) 

Overnight, I left Baytown, Texas, and headed east.  The night was actually very calm; there was no sign of any tropical weather -- although the normal sauna conditions prevailed.  I did start seeing signs of Barry in Florida, as the outer bands were draped over most of the state.  (The next day, Barry decided to take off and it quickly jumped onshore.)  

Starting another day's driving in Baytown, Texas  Daybreak at a BP Gas in Pensacola gas somewhere between Tallahassee and Lake City/I-75

The traffic on I-95 south from Jacksonville was worse than the weather.  I got into the Titusville area in the early evening of the 4th before I saw any thunderstorms.  It turned out that the next day was when we got thunderstorms from more intense "feeder bands" from Barry...


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Last Revised: 11 December 2001
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