Starting 5.22…here we go!
Day 1
...well I actually began last night leaving Orlando around 9pm, knowing I wouldn’t sleep, so I might as well drive. I gave big hugs to everyone...I know I will miss them so much; but I’ll be seeing them all in a month!
I drove for hours & hours making my way through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana & landed in Tyler Texas at a state park for the night. I was tired!
Day 2 & 3
l was stopping to see my friend Telea in Springtown, TX for a couple of nights. I was thrilled she offered her gorgeous home & time to visit & catch up. We had so much fun..working on some little projects she wanted to do, riding around the country in the vintage truck her husband had restored as well as Telea’s VW bug. We rescued a lost kitten, played with Carlee her sweet dog, went out for Mexican, decorated with twinkle lights, made margaritas & set up a blow up swimming pool. Such a wonderful visit!
Day 4
l left at 7am & drove 9 hours to Albuquerque to the High Noon Saloon…one of my fave NM eateries. Sitting at the bar always seems to hold some type of magic & this time was no different. I sat by three women, all related, fun, super nice & interesting. The one sitting next to me, named Anna, is a screen writer & lived just down the street. It was a good time visiting with them, & before they left to go drink my fave Chile Wine (my suggestion) from a local winery a few blocks away, she gave me her address & invited me to swim in her pool if I wanted a break from camping & driving! We exchanged info & I told her I’d look her up next time I’m in town, but I did have someplace I needed to be. (Below, my green chile stew with a pinion spicy margarita…yum!)
Roxanne is an artist that lives just south of Santa Fe on 6 acres in the coolest house you’ve ever seen! I was here last year & she was in the middle of a major remodel. She had offered to let me stay a couple of nights & was also throwing a pizza party tonight & wanted me to be part of it. She had invited 4 other women, some knew each other, some did not, but by the end of the night we all found something we had in common. What a super fun evening!!!
Day 5
We both had our own things to do today, so we planned to meet back for a nice evening at the house. I love everything about her remodel! I love her taste & design…it’s just perfect!
I took off to one of my fave towns, Santa Fe, to hike Picacho Peak. A 4 mile, 1.200’ hike that overlooks the town.
This was my fave part of the trail…looking out to nothing but open space! I sat for a long time just wondering about these mountains…what animals were there, who had ever explored it, the history, what it’s like in winter…my mind can wander far when looking at these big views!
The view over Santa Fe
Back at the bottom of the trail, looking up to the peak I’d just climbed.
I stopped in town in a couple of stores…met a guy who leads trips to Oaxaca Mexico…one of my fave types of art. And of course, I found a small piece I love to bring home. Strolled around town a bit more then ended up at my fave restaurant…The Shed. Love their raspberry soup (save 1/2 for tomorrow) & their chicken enchiladas…..so freaking good!
I have a gazillion photos of Santa Fe from all the times I’ve been here. Here’s the non-foodie one from this trip!
Roxanne was getting ready for an upcoming van camping road trip. She has camped in RV’s before, but no solo car camping. She has a cute little pup named Mama-sita that will be her companion along the way. She’d asked me to look over her set up, which was great! She was 90% there & could have left then & been good to go. But, I love talking about this style of camping & loved seeing her rig, listening to her thoughts about it all & talking over concerns. A fun evening!
Really enjoyed my time at Roxannes & hoping she loves solo car camping & her upcoming trip is fantastic. Big thanks to her for letting me crash at her lovely home, including me with her friends party & lovely conversation!
Day 6
I left Roxanne’s early this morning with a specific purpose & time frame. A couple of years ago, I’d tried to tour the Acoma Pueblo but they were closed on the day I could be there. I’d first heard about this “Sky City” Native American village from a mother & daughter I’d met on my bike trip with Sherry. It was Easter Sunday, in the sad town of Grants, NM & Sherry & I were having a beer at the local brewery. The pair were so nice, telling us all about their customs, history, their lifestyles & suggesting we come visit the village some time.
Well, today was the day. I’d looked on their website last night, & they had just opened up their summer hours. And, so I drove to the pueblo, bought my ticket & began a wonderful & interesting tour. Here are some photos I took during the 2+ hours spent at Sky City.
The views across the land from the village
Always amazed to see what grows in the rocks.
Our guide had been great! I may not be a museum person, but I do love these Native American pueblo tours. At the end, the guide told us we could either walk back to where the bus was to take us back down to the Visitors Center where we’d all parked, or we could climb down another way to the road & walk back. This had been the way to access the pueblo originally. It wasn’t until a movie was made here (with permission by the Acoma tribe) that the road was even built. I decided on the climb, but I did let a young guy go in front of me…not wanting to be the first. It ended up being both adventurous & fun!
Looking back up at the way we’d all climbed down.
I always have so many emotions when I do one of these tours….feeling ashamed of what our role was in Native American history, feeling angry at all the other countries that treated these nations so awful before we did the same. Wondering how one continues to thrive & teach a violent history to their children….so much has been taken away from these people, destroyed, conquered, ravaged & still they try. It took me a long time as an adult to start questioning so many things in life, instead of just following along. But I finally got there. There are so many things that have been on this learning & rebellious path for me, I just wish I’d started sooner. But, it definitely puts a damper on the whole Thanksgiving deal…pilgrims (religious people) coming over to ‘conquer & teach the right ways” to the Native Americans; yet stealing their land, slaughtering their tribes, forcing them to give up their customs & history.
I drove on after the tour, solemn & thoughtful. I left one of my fave states & landed for the night in Arizona, my 7th so far on this trip.
I found some free camping in a little campground in Concho, AZ & spend the evening reorganizing my camper, read some & just enjoyed the quiet night.
Day 7
I took a lazy morning in camp, slow to drink my coffee & then finally ready to move on. I was headed just up the road to my friend Patty’s in Payson. I’d met both Roxanne & Patty thru Sherry when she did her bike trip from AZ to NM & I was her logistics Queen. Since those meetings, I’ve kept in touch with both of them, but this was the first time I was seeing Patty since our initial meeting. She’s been through a lot of personal grief with the loss of her brother—she had been his caretaker for a long time & then all the legal things that must happen after a death. She is a strong woman though, & is making her next path exciting & interesting. I was really looking forward to our visit & catching up person to person rather than just our social media connection.
I got there around noon we the chatting began. Her home is just lovely, but Payson is not her kind of town. She was in the process of selling both her home & her brothers (which is next door) & all that entails. She had a lovely room ready for me, but this would be her last night in this house…the movers were coming tomorrow, she would temporarily move next door as the finished touches are happening on that contract to sell. Wow…a lot going on, but when we’d set this up, she said I’d be a wonderful distraction & change. I was thrilled to be that for her! Jack, a lovely tuxedo cat, is Patty’s right hand guy. He’s very picky about who he likes, but I think I made the cut…just barely.
Patty loves to hike as much as I do. She took me up to a sweet hike in the forest that also is part of the Arizona trail. It was so nice to be on the trail with someone else & getting to know her trails.
So great catching up with Patty & thanks to her for making time for me when she had so much on her plate. I have so much admiration & respect for this woman…she’s been through so much, yet decided to switch it all up, build an house in a town she doesn’t have a history with or currently knows anyone. But, I think Ft. Collins will be a great fit; so much fun & outdoor adventures to have there, women to meet that are also strong & independent & bookstores! She loves bookstores! Can’t wait to meet up with her in Colorado!!
The sun sets as we finish our hike. Then we went out to Bills favorite Mexican restaurant. When I initially met Patty, I also met Bill. her brother. A really nice guy with a love of his garden, yard & birds & his family. We all ate at the same restaurant then, as Patty & I do now. The staff all knew him well & everyone spoke so highly of them I know they will miss Bill, but Patty too.
Jack sent my Bob some of his special paper that is his favorite toy! I hope he thrives in Colorado & takes great care of Patty. I can’t wait to see them this summer in Colorado!
