No Rest For You

The rest areas on Interstate 40 in Arizona are closed. The ones both east and west of Flagstaff, and the one west of Kingman, in both directions: that's all of them, except the one right at the New Mexico border.

In the land of John McCain, anti-earmark crusader and former maverick, they can't find the money to pay for the rest areas. Honestly, Senator, bringing home federal money to your state is one of the jobs of a US Senator. It's what Arizona residents pay income tax for. Populist rhetoric fires up crowds who don't understand the system, but it doesn't get the job of government done, and this job is important, as smarter people are pointing out.

Fortunately, Arizona's exit ramps often provide ample room to pull off. Pee in the bushes or the desert and get some sleep. It's what the truckers are doing; it's what I did.