New Mexico
Leg 6 - Tucumcari, NM - through Santa Rosa and Albuquerque, NM - stop in Four Corners, NM (actually Bloomfield, NM)
I knew we had a long drive ahead of us this morning to where we would be camping this evening in Four Corners, but I also knew I didn’t want to be setting up camp in the afternoon heat OR driving tired - again. So we slept in a bit, enjoyed the hot breakfast (complimentary at our hotel), finished some last minute internet updates/email checks and headed out.
Kris completely forgot something he had to do online - after we’d already checked out - so he had to call home and have his family help him out. It was quick, and he was done by the time we’d finished gassing up the car. Out of Tucumcari from Historic Route 66, and back on the main drag, I-40.
Anyway, our first stop was in Santa Rosa, NM at a landmark spot called “Blue Hole.” I wasn’t sure it would be that interesting, but it was fun. I knew that despite the info stating the 61 degrees being “too cold for the average swimmer” it would still be a refreshing place to take a break. We went up with the camera, took off our shoes and stepped in. “Oh, that’s not cold,” I stated to Kris. He decided to go for a swim, but I decided not to (just because we had a long drive still ahead, and since we’re camping tonight I didn’t want to be wet, and then not be able to shower).
On to Albuquerque - and a late lunch. Kris fell asleep while I drove. I wasn’t able to enjoy the landscape that much, but I did notice some. It was better than Texas, but hard to describe, unless you’ve been out to the west and mid-west. Texas was all dry and Tumbleweed, flat. New Mexico is full of plateaus, buttes, mesas. There’s many cuts in the sides of these land features from the past, but it’s still hard to imagine that there was water here a million years ago.
I had to manuvuer through a ton of roadwork. They’re improving I-40 out here - building overpasses and rest stops - where very shady crossovers literally ON the interstate used to exist. When we got to the city, all the highway was made out of adobe, and all the overpasses and sound barriers had different designs and colors on them. Pretty cool.
Lunch at the Route 66 Diner. We’re seeking out the old landmark places for meals as much as possible, Some places are excited that we’re following 66 and from the east coast, going to CA, and some don’t care at all. Unfortunately this place was one of the later, although the food was quite good.
Out of Albuquerque, through Bernilillo, stopping in Cuba, NM to gas up, switch drivers, and on through Farmington and Four Corners. I’m not sure where we’re actually going to be stopping to camp tonight, but I will comment on that tomorrow.
