Thus, on occasion, when the drive was to be long, I would be up and at my writing by five in the morning.

On easier driving days I might not start writing till nine o'clock.
But how to plan?
As soon as I arrived in a town, and put the horses up, on the way from the stable to the hotel I dropped into the saloons.
First thing, a drink--oh, I wanted the drink, but also it must not be forgotten that, because of wanting to know things, it was in this very way I had learned to want a drink.

Well, the first thing, a drink.
"Have something yourself," to the barkeeper.

And then, as we drink, my opening query about roads and stopping-places on ahead.
"Let me see," the barkeeper will say, "there's the road across Tarwater Divide.

That used to be good.