My extended blog for Furry Fiesta 2020. I may have left out some memories, but I'm sure this covers most of my trip.
WEDNESDAY
Originally, I planned to leave home at 8 AM. Instead, I slept a bit longer and left around 9:15.
I couldn't get a cell phone signal while driving in parts of northern New Mexico. One of the radio stations I had preset on my radio (KFEZ, an '80s station called "Gnarly 101.3") wasn't broadcasting. Their Facebook page said a winter-related power outage was to blame.
As I got closer to New Mexico, KNMF "Mix 106.5" came in clearly. That station truly lives up to its name with its variety of music!
As with last year, the drive down was on parts of old Route 66. I skipped my planned lunch stop in Santa Rosa since I had a late breakfast (brunch?) in Raton. I followed the original route of U.S. 66 between Tucumcari, NM and Glenrio, TX, including the original San Jon-Glenrio alignment which is now a dirt road. I saw the long-closed Texas Longhorn motel near the NM/TX state line. Its sign used to announce it was the "First Stop In Texas" on one side and "Last Stop In Texas" on the other. Unfortunately, time, the elements and possibly vandalism have taken most of the sign away.
In Amarillo, I initially missed the entrance to the motel where I stayed because it is right at the end of an I-40 exit. I had to make a few turns to find it again. For dinner, I picked a restaurant called Sharky's Burrito Company because one of the online show hosts I listen to has three collies, including one named Sharky.
THURSDAY
I checked out of the motel around 10 AM and picked up one of the motel's "Grab and Go" breakfast bags with a granola bar, muffin, orange, apple and bottle of water. I stopped in Wichita Falls for lunch at a place called Heff's Burgers. I arrived in Dallas around 3:45 PM and had dinner at the con hotel's bar. The bar had drinks which were Kaiju themed for the con. I had a couple of "Kai-juice" drinks in a red fire hydrant cup. My roommate, Schloppy, arrived around 8:30 PM.
FRIDAY
I picked up some shaving cream from the hotel front desk since I forgot to pack some. I attended the opening ceremonies and the greymuzzle panel during the day. The Super Sponsor dinner was held at a restaurant called Backyard. It basically gives customers the backyard barbecue experience indoors at restaurant prices. Customers line up at a grill to get either a burger or chicken sandwich, plus mac and cheese, salad and corn on the cob. The tables are picnic tables, and there are games like air hockey and cornhole.
That night, I went to the fursuiting dance party in Reunion Tower. I de-suited and showered in the hotel room afterward. I wish I had worn the suit to the Avian Invasion concert later since several suiters and other audience members were invited on stage to dance.
SATURDAY
I need to buy more shirts and pants so I have enough for a long vacation. The hotel's literature said it offered laundry service to guests, but I called today and learned it was no longer available. I separated my remaining clean clothes from the dirty ones, then did "bachelor laundry" for the least-sweated-in shirt by spraying it with lavender spray. I ended the night attending the ace (asexual) panel.
SUNDAY
I slept in longer than I planned today. I didn't make it to the concert by Divine Dragon Cannon, but I heard them playing from the hallway as I got lunch.
Schloppy invited me to join him and a few other furries for dinner in one of the hotel restaurants. I had the chicken quesadilla with fries.
After dinner, I went to a room party being held by a group called Qwerk. I got their parties' DJ schedule for each night and saw Avian Invasion would be the DJ from 8:30 to around 10:30 Sunday. I had two Jack-and-Cokes, then took a few photos and videos of the downtown area view from the balcony. The Reunion Tower ball looks really awesome when it's lit up at night with various colors. Instead of being a Dead Dog dance, it was a Happy Dog dance for me!
MONDAY
I checked out of the hotel just before 11 AM. I found an In-n-Out Burger west of the hotel that was along my planned route to Amarillo. I got the Double-Double combo (with the burger ordered "animal style") and a pink lemonade.
I originally planned to head north to the town of Groom, Texas since I skipped that place last year. I wanted to see the town's leaning water tower (built that way on purpose) and a giant cross at a local church. The road I was supposed to take north was closed for construction, and my GPS map didn't know an alternate route without having to double back. I just stayed on U.S. 287 until reaching Amarillo. To lighten my load a bit, I'll have the remaining cereal bars in my carry-on for dinner. Schloppy also gave me two cans of beer from a six-pack he didn't finish. They're an IPA called El Chingon. I stayed in the same Amarillo motel where I stayed on Wednesday. It's a pet-friendly motel, and at least two people brought pets. After being kept awake for an hour or so by the occasional barking/meowing, I turned on the room's air conditioner and put in earplugs to block out the sound while I slept.
TUESDAY
Note to self: Wear fursuit during Matthew Ebel/Avian Invasion, etc. concerts to dance on stage. Also suit in lobby Thursday before con.
I was originally going to take I-40/Route 66 to Santa Rosa, U.S. 84 north to Las Vegas, New Mexico, then I-25 north to Colorado Springs. I decided to take the "shortcut route" home today so I could get home before sunset. I took U.S. 87 north to Dumas to refuel, and got a pizza to have for lunch and dinner. I continued on U.S. 87 northwest to Raton, New Mexico, then north on I-25 to Colorado Springs. I got home just after 4 PM rather than 8 PM on my original schedule.
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