Morning:
Woke up early since I gained an hour yesterday crossing into New Mexico. Want to take some pics around town this morning before heading out. Lots of refurbished places here but also lots of abandoned places too.
The weather looks like it will be perfect again. Sunny and 75 and less windy. Looks like I am a day ahead of rain and storms the whole way west this week.
I still wake up in the mornings with the panicked feeling of "what the hell am I doing??" but as soon as I get on the road it turns to excitement. Am having so much fun on this trip but it will be nice to finally get settled into my new place and get into a routine.
I try to imagine what people who drove out west on Route 66 were thinking and feeling as they headed into the unknown hoping for a better life. I am sure they were feeling similar feelings as I am. It was a lot longer, slower and more difficult journey for them. The roads were much worse and their cars were not as reliable. Of course, way before then, covered wagons made the same journeys in even harder conditions. My great grandparents came this way in their covered wagon with 12 kids in tow. They got some land in Texas but discovered some black oily stuff in their well water, so they moved on... oops! I know my parents drove Route 66 several times to California and back to visit my grandfather in Los Angeles. So there is some family history along here as well.
Evening...
Just got settled in for the evening in Grants, NM.
Weather was perfect again. Not as windy so that was nice! Lola was pretty unsettled tho for most of the day. Not sure why. She got a little freaked out this morning because she got under the bed that has a wood pedestal for a frame so I had to get the owner to help me move the box spring to get her out, so maybe that was why she didn't settle down so quickly when we left.
Stopped a few times and did some souvenir shopping at Flying C Ranch and Clines Corners. Just got some earrings and a top and a Route 66 book. Got some more cool pics of old cafe's, gas stations, trading posts, and other building that no longer have signs. There is a sign for a old cafe in Tucumcari and at the base of the sign is an old rusted out pickup truck with a homemade camper on the back made of wood. Took several pics of that!
Was surprised to see and drive thru mountains just before Albuquerque. Loving the red sandstone rock! Got off I-40 about 20 miles before Grants and took that up thru the hills and around the red cliffs and it was beautiful! Also came across some ruins of little cabins so got some good pics of those. There were a few other places I wanted to see but had to pass due to time constraints. Hopefully, another time...
I stopped also at the Enchanted Trails RV Park and Trading Post just west of Albuquerque next to a humongous Camping World. They have old vintage trailers that you can rent for the night if you don't have your own. Took some pics of those. It looks really nice but probably expensive. Also saw someone pull in with a 40+ foot diesel pusher pulling a matching enclosed cargo trailer that was at least 20 ft long!
Just east of here are large black lava beds! I was so surprised to see that! Don't you need a volcano for that? Maybe there is one around here that I haven't read about?
More adventures tomorrow! Will be meeting Liz in Winslow!
First motel I have been in that is less than impressive but it will do for one night. Lola is happy tho, to be able to run around again!
...just read that there is a volcano near here called the Bandera Volcano. Who new?
These are taken in Tucumcari, NM. Lots of neon lights!
Historic Route 66 Motel. This is where I stayed. Very nice!
Didn't get the name of this classic motel...very cute tho!
Apache Motel
Roadrunner Motel - open for business
TeePee Curios
Blue Swallow during the day
Trails West Lounge
Americana Motel
An empty art deco building
part of a mural
the rest of the mural
Whiting Brothers had several gas stations along Route 66
Tucumcari was originally called Six Shooter Siding
Notice how the side of this old building is caving in!
Ranch House Café.
love this old truck! It has a homemade camper on the back!
Tucumcari Trading Post
Paradise gas station and café
Paradise motel next door
Santa Rosa, NM
An old truck stop
Flying C Ranch is a huge roadside tourist trap. They spare no expense on billboards!
Clines Corners is a well known Route 66 stop. The family business was built at an intersection of two major highways in the 30's. Good decision. Still in business and very popular! (and yes, I did stop and buy fudge!)
This is a cool RV Park in Albuquerque, NM
Look at the size of this rig!! Huge RV with a huge matching trailer in back! Can't imagine driving that all over! And where do you park it?
This RV park has several old vintage trailers (with matching classic cars) that you can rent for the night. So cool!
The scenery is changing quickly! Heading out of Albuquerque.
At this point, Old Route 66 winds up thru the hills and away from the interstate. Good choice to take the old road!
These rocks are way bigger than they look in these pics! Love the red colors and stripes!
This is known as Owl Rock
Not much traffic on this road!
Memorial for a young girl
Found several old deteriorating buildings along here.
Most were all stone buildings but this one was part stone and part log cabin
The following homes blended well into the landscape.
An old trading post
I like the design on the outside of this building.
This really surprised me! This is lava! There is an old volcano near here.
Beautifully done. Nice photos!!
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