The Night I Slept at a Rest Area East of El Paso
I was so tired from driving all day in the West Texas sun. I had to rest somewhere.
29 Miles and Counting
By the time I saw the sign reading 29 miles to El Paso, I breathed a little easier. That blaring West Texas sun was murder on my already dry eyes. I started thinking about roadside rest areas and made up my mind to grab the first one I saw.
Finding My Spot
I exited off I-10 just before dark and followed the signs pointing to cars and trucks, scanning the whole landscape for the best place to park — not too close, but not too isolated from other travelers either.
I pulled into a spot a few yards from the restroom. An 18-wheeler parked behind me, and since my father was a long-haul truck driver, I felt safe being nearby. The humming of a Peterbilt is music to my ears. After choosing my spot, I walked to the restroom, washed my hands, freshened up a little, and stretched my leg muscles. I drank as much cold water as I could hold.
Settling In for the Night
Back at my camper car, I put window coverings over the back windows but left the front uncovered. A blackout curtain that separates the back seat from the front makes all the difference in the world — there’s not even a shadow of light visible from inside the car. I locked the doors for the night. There was no reason to get back out before morning.
I had two small USB fans blowing cool air with cross ventilation. Both back door windows were cracked about twelve inches and covered with black knitting fabric. My little fridge was filled with cold water bottles I’d picked up at Walmart, and I had three cans of root beer, cheese, and lunch meat in case I needed a snack before morning.
Always Come Prepared
From years of traveling, I know how to come prepared — small potty, water, snacks, blankets, sleeping bag, battery bank to charge my devices. I had everything I needed except a good night’s sleep and rest for tired eyes.
Modern-Day Cowboys
Once tucked in, I couldn’t help but reminisce about the truck driver’s lifestyle — driving thousands of miles across the country just to make a living. I’ve heard them called modern-day cowboys.
Sleeping Like a Baby
It didn’t take me long to knock out cold. I was so tired I slept like a baby and didn’t worry about a thing, because I knew if anything unusual happened, my little dog would wake me.
I wore noise-canceling earbuds if I watched YouTube or listened to music, and I felt completely safe. But if something unusual ever did happen, the solution was simple — start the car and drive away into the night.
4 AM and Ready to Roll
I woke naturally at 4 AM, got my bearings, stretched, sat up, and took my meds from the pocket organizer attached to the back of my seat. I made a cup of instant coffee using a USB-powered hot water bottle. I prefer drinking out of a large Styrofoam cup, coffee three-quarters full with two mini liquid creamers — the kind that don’t need refrigeration. I keep everything simple.
When daylight came, I was ready to roll out and hit the road — and hopefully make it through El Paso’s morning work traffic.
Carol Seymour writes about life on the road, solo travel, and the art of keeping it simple.
One thing I didn't include here was the first night I slept in a Love's Truck Stop. If anyone wants that story, I'll write it next.