By now we were getting hungry, so we headed to the local Chili's, which we couldn't get into last night. The sign inside the Chili's? "Clovis (Like No Place Else)" Isn't that the truth?!? Though Tyler did say that Clovis reminds him of a cross between Grand Blanc and Deckerville.

Since Tyler still didn't have access to all of his stuff from Germany, we made a pit stop at the local Wal-Mart to pick up some supplies for him. He doesn't have a bed at the moment, so we bought him an air mattress to get him by for a while. He also needed a desk for his computer (priorities!), so we grabbed a plastic table for him to set up on. We swung by the OfficeMax store to check out desk chairs for him, but we couldn't find a reasonably priced one that was also comfortable, so it was decided that a chair could wait for awhile.

Our next and last stop in Clovis was at Tyler's house, where we dropped him for the final time. We were forced to say our inevitable goodbyes, which is still heartbreaking and doesn't ever seem to get easier. Let's just say that some (OK, a lot) of tears were shed. After having him at home for nearly two weeks again, this was by far the worst part of the trip for all three of us. We miss and love you Tyler!!!

The only good thing I can say is that he is in the United States instead of overseas, and that he is within driving distance, meaning that a trip out to see him is much more feasible!

After saying goodbye, Drew and I climbed back into the Enclave once again to begin our return trip home. Instead of following the same path home, we decided that we would prefer to take a path further to the south, so we set the GPS for Houston and set off. Most of our drive was on a two-lane road with a 75mph speed limit, and it took us through a lot of nothingness. We only stopped twice for gas today before we decided to call it a night in Woodway, Texas, just outside of Waco so that we could rest up for tomorrow's long haul.

Drew and I did do a better job taking pictures today - probably because we didn't have Tyler to talk to. Even though we both really, really missed him, I did enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with my youngest son as well...

New Mexico to Texas

A look at the grain elevators and railroad in Clovis, New Mexico.

We spotted this little dog running through the streets of Clovis.

Another view of the grain elevators in Clovis.

A look down Prince Street, or 209 - one of the main roads in Clovis.

A look at the sights just outside of Clovis along W 21st Street on our way to Cannon Air Force Base.

Another look at the sights just outside of Clovis along Llano Estacado Boulevard on our way to Cannon Air Force Base.

The sign marking the entrance to Cannon Air Force Base.

A look at the Air Force base where Tyler will be spending his working days.

Here is the house that Tyler will be living in for the next year or so.

This is the bedroom that Tyler gets to call home, complete with the junk from all of his new roommates...

Here is the kitchen where Tyler will be practicing his cooking skills in.

The family room at Tyler's new residence.

This is the back yard at Tyler's place. The brown stuff is grass, believe it or not.

Here is a look at the dining room in Tyler's new place.

We assumed that this room off of the main entrance is a living room, but we honestly aren't sure.

A look at the New Mexico landscape as we leave Clovis.

A grain elevator we passed on our way into Texico, New Mexico.

One of the buildings in Texico, New Mexico.

Welcome to Texas! Drive friendly - the Texas Way!

A pile of cotton that we spotted as we drove through Texas.

Drew spent a lot of time behind the wheel, cruising through Texas.

We got to cruise along at 80mph for the majority of our day on the two-lane, 75mph roadways.

Another grain elevator that we passed.

This was our view for a lot of the afternoon.

We saw a lot of farm land.

Rodney taking a selfie during our trip through Texas.

We passed a lot of large cattle farms.

Turn left for Earth!

A shack along the side of the road.

Windmills are plentiful in this part of Texas, these are near what appears to be another cotton facility.

Some pictures of the windmills across the farmland...

Horses walking in front of the windmill.

Oil derricks also spot the Texas landscape...

There are some occasional hills and rock outcroppings along the roadway.

There is some landscape that reminds me of our trip to Arizona as well...

...along with some mesas in the distance.

A few photos of the windmills atop the mesas...

A look at one of the mesas up ahead of us.

Another windmill.

A look up the hill through some of the rocky outcroppings.