Day 9 4.8
We started the day by driving back into Zuni Pueblo. As soon as Sherri took off, I made a quick stop at the store for ice & Twizzlers…a road trip must for both of us.
The scenery today was gorgeous!
We met up at this park where one of the locals was selling….live stuff.
More gorgeousness….
El Morro is where I camped last year…& here I am again & here’s Sherry riding by the rock formation!
There was a little local gallery she rode by & I popped in for a few minutes to see what they had.
This was a beautiful area, crossing the Continental Divide, but also she was chased by some vicious Res Dogs. There have been two deaths here caused by dogs attacks.
Finishing up near Grants, NM. A sad town, filled with burned & broken old buildings, not many restaurants & not much to do.
Did you know about the giant red spoons at DQ? And the door handles are spoons too? I’m learning so much on this trip!
There was a DQ in Grants at the end of the ride. I loved the Churros Dip cone & Sherry really enjoyed her S’mores blizzard.
While Sherry showered & rested, I went to one of two breweries in town. This was the Elkins brewery & the beer was good & the conversation was very crazy, random, interesting, incredible….a nice way to spend a bit of the afternoon. The bartender was a longtime local, as were the other two guys there. The conversation covered: the local Mayor that runs the local dispensary; the former Mayor, Sheriff & Representative all termed out so they all three switched positions; Burning Man & Sturgis & the law enforcement at each; Two guys took off their watches & we all talked Horology for a few minutes; a Native American there told me about the four Sacred mountains…one being Mt. Taylor in Grants….etc. It was weird & wonderful….just the kind of day I love!
We ate dinner at the only place open on a Saturday night & they practically kicked us out at 6:50…they were closing at 7pm.
We ended our day at the Route 66 Junkyard Brewery. I was here last fall…nice guy that runs it.
On a crazy, “I don’t like this part” note, we were both finally excited to get to a place with a hot tub (long story but the other places that promised it, didn’t come through). So, after our day, we headed to the soothing warm waters of the hot tub. BUT….all did not go well. It was an indoor tub & we stayed in it for about 30 minutes. On exiting I suddenly wasn’t feeling well….& then I passed out. One minute I was walking, the next I found my self down on the floor & looking up at a worried Sherri & a hotel employee offering me water & trying to put a towel under my head. It was icky…I mostly hated that Sherry was now worried about me & I’d lost a minute of my life….just blacked out. She was worried that I’d hit my head, & was super attentive as we walked back to the room. Once back in the room, I quickly went to bed…hating that this had happened (I have low blood pressure, & while this doesn’t happen often, it’s a quick trip to pass out…yikes!)
Day 10 4.9
I realized quickly upon waking up, it was my tailbone that hit first…not my head. I have a big padded butt, so I thought overall, this was good news. It was hurting, but better than my head. I’d used Sherry’s THC stick when I’d tweaked my back earlier in the week loading the heavy cooler into her car, but today it was going on my tailbone….why oh why didn’t I buy my own? It turns out today, we were both slathering on the stick on our hurting body parts!
Lots of prettyness today!
More crazy, scary dogs to deal with today, so I followed right behind her with my flashers on…very scary.
Sherry finished earlier today than previous days. We did some laundry at the hotel & just chilled for a bit.
Grants may be a depressed town, but they did have some beautiful artwork along the main street.
Now on Route 66 which goes through Grants, NM
Spending Easter Sunday at the Junkyard Brewery (the only place open in town) eating delicious BBQ & having a fascinating conversation with a Mother/Daughter duo from the Acoma Pueblo….it was fascinating, educational & wonderful!
I spent the rest of the evening reading…not going anywhere near the hot tub (sore tailbone still!)
Day 11 4.10
We drove back to the start of today in this tiny town that seems to barely exist along Route 66.
A quiet, super beautiful part of Route 66…before the mayhem & nervous & craziness of I-40 interstate.
This part of Route 66 was super beautiful!
Yikes! She had 20 miles along I-40 Interstate….I couldn’t be as close to her as I normally am…..Scary for me, but she was the one riding along this crazy chaos! Big Semi’s, huge RV’s (that never move over) & a gazillion cars speeding by her & she is trying to avoid all the debris on the shoulder.
Watching Sherry negotiate I-40 interstate…very tense & I was rather worried.
We both took a huge sigh of relief when she was done on the interstate. She decided to ride about 8 miles farther, just to get the crazy noise & worry out of her head…then we headed to Albuquerque! So excited to be here! A big city…lots of great food & drink & stuff to DO! Yay!
Our hotel…El Vado in Alburquerque…it was soooo cool. A remodeled old hotel, modern with great outdoor spaces & multiple food options right in the courtyard.
We had dinner with Sherry’s friends Kathy & Kyle at Tomasitos…which was delicious & they are such a fun & fascinating couple! I was super happy to get to know them! We were both ready for bed by the time we got back to the hotel….Sherry is feeling the cumulative rides on her body for sure.
Day 12 4.11
Today is a day off!!! And no better place to spend it than in Albuquerque….the more I visit here the more I love it. We had breakfast with Brenna from the ABQ Tourism Bureau at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen. This place not only has amazing food, but the people that work there have very cool stories. The blue corn pancakes were delicious & so was the local Zia soda I had.
Brenna also told us that Albuquerque is the third largest city in the film industry….they call it “Tamalewood”.
Theres a museum attached so we took some time to wander through….it was great.
They had a wonderful kids section too.
Later in the afternoon, I visited my fave New Mexico brewery, Bosque. I had a cup of the green chile stew & a small pour of their beer I like best….Scotia. Then I bought a case to take home…poor Camper is going to be a bit fuller when I repack her.
I drove to Old Town & walked around for awhile…the day was gorgeous!
Don’t know what these little figures are…but I sort of thought they were weirdly cute.
I met up with Sherry in Old Town at the Noisy Water winery…yes, the grapes are grown in NM. We tried both the red chile wine & the green chile wine….yum! The green was the definite favorite! (Leia, I’m bringing a bottle to you!)
More scenes from Old Town
Before walking back to the hotel, I popped over to Durans Pharmacy to pick up my fave bars (about the only kind I like) made in Taos but sold everywhere in New Mexico. Sadly, this well known cute place was remodeling, so it wasn't very cute today.
I sat by the beautiful pool back at the hotel, but the water was freezing so it turned out to be just a foot soaker kind of break.
Then it was time to go visit Bow & Arrow brewing …the only Native American Woman owned brewery in the country & Kathy & Kyle were meeting us there. Beer & new friends…a great way to spend the evening.
Sticker on a random car at the brewery.
Kathy & Kyle are old friends of Sherrys currently living in Albuquerque. They both grew up in this wonderful town, but have only recently moved back. They were delightful, fun & I enjoyed every minute with them!
Sherry working her way through the beer tasting.
My first time eating the El Salvadoran Papusa. I was sitting at the table with three people who have traveled & lived all over the world, & when they all got excited about the food truck outside of the brewery serving these, I knew they’d be good…& they were delicious!
Ending the night at Momo’s lounge trying the green chile margarita made with the local Tellers Green Chile infused vodka….it was good, but love my tequila better. It’s a really cute bar, right next to our hotel…great vibe there.
