New Mexico
We didn’t know that one of Amarillo’s claim to fame was that it was the source of most of the worlds supply of Helium, no wonder they all have squeaky voices! The man who made millions from helium is the sponsor of one of the weirdest sites in the place. Outside the city just off I 40 is the Cadillac farm. In its hey day the cars were pristine, but now, somehow covered in graffiti, with a waste box provided for the used cans, it has become an almost living thing.
Our next destination was the Midpoint Café at, halfway between Chicago and Los Angeles, on the old Route 66. The guide advised trying the pie, which just burst with happiness. And yes they did. Outside there was an old ford truck which all passers by were invited to sign, there was also a rusting old Impala, which I was tempted to see if we could buy it, Julie bought me this Impala instead! Look at http://www.uglycrustpies.com/aboutus.html
Our plan had been to make it to Santa Fe in New Mexico. It wasn’t long after our pie stop that the scenery started to change dramatically. Gone were the flat plains and we were faced with the tall plateaus with steep cliff edges. 
At Tucumcari, a town 7 miles long and one block wide which has learnt a lot from the owner of the Meramac caverns in the art of self advertising. We did stop of at the Tee Pee Trading post, well you have to. Surprise, we didn’t buy anything. 
We pressed on to Santa Rosa, where we stopped for lunch at Joseph’s. http://www.route66.com/Josephs/ 
Another Route 66 landmark
Another Route 66 landmarkJust after Santa Rosa we hit mountains again and another time zone.
This a real complication of traveling through the USA. The mountains were magnificent after days of the prairie and we headed up to Santa Fe which had been recommended. We got the last room in the motel, it turned out to be a bank holiday weekend, ‘Columbus Day’ on Monday, and everyone was holidaying before the snows come.
Santa Fe we discovered is a playground for the Rich and Famous and the city center was determined to part them from some of their riches. There was a strange contrast to the faux old pueblo buildings and the high fashion and art for sale in the shops (and perhaps some of the pretentious menus in the restaurants) . We went back to the motel and instead had a really great Mexican meal next door. Julie didn’t warm to Santa Fe at all, and it was chilly too!!
Setting off early ish we went off to Albuquerque. We had planned to stay but the annual hot air balloon weekend was on and no rooms were available anyway. As we drove through the only balloons we saw were those advertising a car sale!
We were advised to take a 16 mile detour to the oldest Pueblo at Sky City. The trip down a narrow road was fantastic, with huge Mesa jutting up from the desert floor.
This a real complication of traveling through the USA. The mountains were magnificent after days of the prairie and we headed up to Santa Fe which had been recommended. We got the last room in the motel, it turned out to be a bank holiday weekend, ‘Columbus Day’ on Monday, and everyone was holidaying before the snows come.
Santa Fe we discovered is a playground for the Rich and Famous and the city center was determined to part them from some of their riches. There was a strange contrast to the faux old pueblo buildings and the high fashion and art for sale in the shops (and perhaps some of the pretentious menus in the restaurants) . We went back to the motel and instead had a really great Mexican meal next door. Julie didn’t warm to Santa Fe at all, and it was chilly too!!
Setting off early ish we went off to Albuquerque. We had planned to stay but the annual hot air balloon weekend was on and no rooms were available anyway. As we drove through the only balloons we saw were those advertising a car sale!
We were advised to take a 16 mile detour to the oldest Pueblo at Sky City. The trip down a narrow road was fantastic, with huge Mesa jutting up from the desert floor.
Sky City is built on top of a 375ft mesa. We went to the visitors center to book a trip to the top, to be told that because of a local Indian ceremony the tours had been cancelled. Bugger. We hoped it was a rain dance! We were supposed to pay a $10 permit to take photos but as we had used this much petrol (gas) we took photos anyway. The little man has to fight back occasionally. 
Our destination for the day was Holbrook but on the way we stopped for lunch at the Uranium Café in Grants where there had been a Uranium mine, now expired.
It was a bit of a ghost town, but the café was good as was the Mexican food and it had parking for teh Mustang!.
It was a bit of a ghost town, but the café was good as was the Mexican food and it had parking for teh Mustang!.
We drove out of New Mexico through a stupendous down pour and storm (ha ha the ceremony worked!). The pictures tell their own story. The second rainy trip of our holiday. Personally I was pleased to see the back of New Mexico,J. The people were surly and the food better away from Santa Fe. 
We drove over the border into Arizona in a storm so violent that we couldn’t get out of the car to go to the tourist welcome center until the weather front passed through.
In there we got more of the ever useful hotel coupon books and advice about staying at the Grand Canyon
We drove over the border into Arizona in a storm so violent that we couldn’t get out of the car to go to the tourist welcome center until the weather front passed through.
In there we got more of the ever useful hotel coupon books and advice about staying at the Grand Canyon
We drove on as far as Holbrook, a town made famous by route 66 alone. (see wigwam motel) We stayed in a Best Western, next to a small steak house, that was all we needed for dinner, Holbrook had some neat 66 roadside neon, but the wigwam motel next door took the biscuit: each had a classic car parked outside, cool
All evening we worked the toll free numbers trying to get accommodation in the Grand Canyon; it seemed the Grand Canyon was full as was Flagstaff.
posted by Travellers @ 4:31 am
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