Maine -> Arizona

 Maine to Arizona is the plan:

Day 1 and 2 - The first day we made it to Mentor OH. We took 88 and 86 across NY instead of 90 as there was lake effect snow on an area of 90. 88 and 86 are better than 90 in most ways. No tolls, better scenery, less traffic. The only down side is the pavement is rough.

The weather prediction was COLD for the whole trip. Days 1-2 the temps ranged from 10-20. For many hours through many states on both days the temp, every time we looked, was 18. It really was somewhat strange.

Day 1 was uneventful which is a very good thing on a driving trip. Day 2 started uneventful and then we got to Missouri. They got about 6 inches of snow which is a lot for them and they really don't have the equipment to handle it. It was also 18 degrees so it wasn't melting and there was ice in spots. Near the end of the day we got to I44, a major route, and we were stopped around St James. We called Missouri DOT and they actually answered the phone! They didn't know how long the stop would be as they were clearing a number of crashed trucks. They thought it may be two hours. After a half hour of waiting we decided we would back up a mile in the break down lane to an exit and drive side roads around the stopped area. We talked to one other car about this and two cars went for this plan while we were waiting. Just as we were about to attempt this maneuver a truck driver told us it was about to open up. Sure enough 5 minutes later the traffic started to move. Very thankful for the truck driver and that we made it on the highway. If we had taken side roads it would have been slow as they were snow covered and probably a number of accidents to get around. We drove by many cars and trucks that had gone off the road on the highway. Anyway, we made it, which we were pretty happy about. 

Day 3 got us to Adrian Texas. We passed about 50 crashed trucks on I44 in Missouri. And then we passed thousands of wind mills in Texas. A sunny bright sky with a high of 25. The day started at -5 degrees in St Robert Missouri.

Missouri DOT said there were 374 crashes, 42 injuries, and 2 deaths for this storm mostly on I44. About 6 inches of snow. 

St Louis drive by:

Sunrise day 3 from the car:

An example of the many crashed trucks we saw. Some were sideways and some torn apart.

Cadillac Ranch. Really not worth seeing but now we know.

Home for the night. Half way point of old route 66.