Yes, I know. By definition, together the words road and trip imply transition. Whenever we can, we like to arrange longer stays – like the one we just finished up near Phoenix. But from this point on, we have short stops in New Mexico and Texas, to get to our last whole week in Missouri. Oops, strike that. This road trip comes to an abrupt and disappointing end in Ridgedale – making that a short stop too.

Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit So Long Snow 2022.

“First Road trip in North America

(Picture at left): Jackson driving the Vermont on the 1903 Cross-Country Drive

The first successful North American transcontinental trip by automobile took place in 1903 and was piloted by H. Nelson Jackson and Sewall K. Crocker, accompanied by a dog named Bud. The trip was completed using a 1903 Winton Touring Car, dubbed “Vermont” by Jackson. The trip took a total of 63 days between San Francisco and New York, costing US$8,000. The total cost included items such as food, gasoline, lodging, tires, parts, other supplies, and the cost of the Winton.” ~ READ MORE

On the Road Again

We left Cibola Vista this morning and headed in a northeasterly direction for the first time in just over six weeks. Once we get to this point in our longer trips I start getting a little homesick and part of me just wants to go home. At this point in the trip I have to pull myself together and remember that there is at least one more month (probably more) of cold (maybe snow and ice) back there. Besides, we still have good stuff to see, so shake it off Olson!

Although it’s pretty unusual for us, we took the direct route to our hotel for the next two nights, right up I17 and east on I40. It ended up being perfect timing for a stop in Winslow to stand on the corner one more time, get Jim a new t-shirt, and grab some lunch. We remembered from previous visits the lack of restaurants to choose from, so when we noticed the awesome OTG (Olde Town Grill) we immediately pulled over. Jim had a great Rueben and I had the Mango Habenaro Chicken Wrap which was OMG! fabulous. We will be stopping there again!

The Mother Road

< Read a few pages from my book, The Natural Beauty of Arizona, by clicking on the pdf on the left. There’s a little background on Route 66, and references to a few of the once-thriving towns that were bypassed when Interstate 40 was completed in the mid-80s.

When we needed a stopover that was about a day’s drive from Peoria, we settled in on Gallup, NM at The Historic El Rancho Hotel. It seemed to be the most well-preserved and most interesting hotel – and it was right on Route 66. We ordered up a Deluxe Double and was booked into The John Wayne Room, which definitely had an “old west” vibe – although it was very clean and comfortable. A picture of The Duke hung front and center when we entered our room.

A Blast from the Past

Entering this hotel was like walking into a time capsule, with hundreds of old photos of celebrities displayed throughout. A fabulous wood-burning fireplace was the centerpiece of the lobby, with a cozy sitting area for guests to gather, or relax with a cup of coffee and reminisce about days gone by. The El Rancho opened in 1937 as a base for movie productions, and is one of the most authentic places in the area.

“The historic El Rancho Hotel provides a unique Southwest Experience and was the home of movie stars throughout the 1930s to 1940s who filmed Westerns in the area. But the hotel is not just about movie stars. You’ll be following in the footsteps of Americans who have traveled West in hopes of a better life. The El Rancho is one of the cornerstones of that Westward Journey.” ~ READ MORE

So Much History

Beautiful southwestern art was painted on the walls in the hallway to our room, and others are interspersed throughout the lobby. Displays about famous old stars – like John Wayne (of course) – are all over the lobby, and the photos were fascinating (and plentiful) and some were signed!

A Great Discovery

Since our goal was to check out Gallup, we did just that! The Historic El Morro Theatre looked interesting, so we took in an afternoon showing of “Uncharted”. Although the outside was definitely historic, the inside was very much updated with a fabulous sound system and very comfortable seats. Built in 1928, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

On our way to the movie, we noticed a few murals on buildings around town. As you can imagine, that sparked a scavenger hunt to find more. I just can’t help myself, and Jim is my enabler!

“Telling Gallup’s Story Through Art. Over 20 colorful murals are within walking distance of each other in the downtown area. These works of art vary in style and size, working together to share Gallup’s rich and romantic history, patriotism and Native American culture. A short walk through downtown will reveal murals that depict scenes from mining, rodeos and western life, with others commemorating the Long Walk or showcasing Native American trading. ~ READ MORE

Red Rock Park

About 15 minutes straight east of our hotel was Red Rock Park. If we would have been in more of a hiking mood, the trail from the parking lot was about three miles, but we just enjoyed the scenery from here on this lovely day.

“Red Rock Park is the crown jewel of Gallup’s parks and recreation system. Cradled by spectacular red cliffs formed over 200 million years ago in the Age of the Dinosaurs, the park combines a glimpse into past civilizations with modern amenities to serve the needs of contemporary residents and guests.” ~ READ MORE

“Located next to the Convention Center is a Museum filled with Native American art, jewelry, rugs and pottery.

Red Rock Park is home to events such as Wild Thing Championship Bull Riding, Best of the Best Rodeo, Lions Club Rodeo and the world famous Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Our arena seats 5,000 people and is well suited for outdoor performances such as rodeos, motocross events and more. The lighted arena can be configured for rough stock and timed event performances as well as motocross tracks and other types of events. There are also permanent horse stalls located in 4 areas of the park.” ~ READ MORE

Interesting Rock Formations

After Red Rock Park, we went on a little wild goose chase. We kept following more and more beautiful formations, but we finally had to call it off when we were up the road about a half an hour. The last two photos were taken on our way out of town en route to Grants, NM. I’m not sure which was prettier – the beautiful blue sky, or the fabulous red plateau!

A Road Less Traveled

Taking Route 66 wherever we could, our goal for the day was to see Chaco Canyon on our way to our next stop in Grants. That goal was thwarted when we seemed to be getting nowhere fast (I should say slow). The road was dry and desolate, in some spots washboardy, and in some spots washed out down to rock.

We got a little creeped out being way the hell out there – all by ourselves – and we listened to our inner voices saying that it was time to pull the plug. Although I got a few good pictures of unique subjects, I was glad when we finally returned to the main highway.

An Oasis in the Desert

After we were checked into our hotel in Grants, we went in search of a happy hour or two and a little dinner. After a little stress during part of our journey today, The Junkyard on 66 Brewery was just the ticket! Not many repair shops include a brewery in their work area!

Although the tappers for the beers we ordered were located in the garage, the bar was in what may have been a reception area. A rusty old pickup served as our server’s station and a bar was built around the bed of the truck. We sat in a front area that had more comfortable chairs.

We made a toast to Oscar (Jim’s dad) when we noticed his license plate above the front-end of the truck-bar. This was a very unique place with good beer and fabulous pulled pork sandwiches. There was obviously a junkyard too, but I forgot to take pictures after a couple of their IPAs.

Oldest Capital City in the U.S.

Last time we were in Santa Fe we stayed at a hotel that was just too far away from where we really wanted to be. Besides looking like a war zone because of extensive construction, we had to travel through Santa Fe traffic whenever we went anywhere! Since we (sometimes) learn from our mistakes – a Historic Casita just steps from the historic district (VRBO) would be our home for the next three nights.

“Santa Fe nicknamed itself The City Different in the early 1900s, fully aware and proud of its uniqueness, but its story stretches back to the 1600s, giving this Southwestern hub multiple centuries to grow into its imaginative, artistic self.

Today, The City Different continues to be proud – of its numerous historic sites and museums, its hundreds of art galleries, and perhaps the most colorful culinary scene in the country. To celebrate the New Mexican capital, consider some of the most surprising facts about Santa Fe – and how you can best experience them.” ~ READ MORE

Saint Francis Cathedral

Since our casita got us close enough to walk, when we set out to find the Plaza, we found so much more!! Our first stop of the day, was the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. We lucked out that it was actually open because today was Ash Wednesday. Turns out mass would be ending soon and we could get a peak inside.

“The crowning achievement of Archbishop Lamy’s church construction in New Mexico, the Saint Francis Cathedral was built between 1869 and 1886 and designed in the French Romanesque Revival style. Although its design contrasts the surrounding adobe buildings, the cathedral remains one of Santa Fe’s most celebrated landmarks.” ~ READ MORE

Beautiful Day for a Walkabout

Just outside the cathedral was Cathedral Park, which would have been substantially more beautiful with leaves on the trees. We’ve already decided that third time might be a charm with a trip here (and San Antonio) during April or May, so flowers and trees will be in bloom, but before the throngs of tourists arrive. Damn tourists!

Although a stop at the Plaza put Jim in terrible danger, it offered a little retail therapy along with lunch at The Burrito Company – al fresco! There are not many times we can eat outside on the 2nd of March! And Jim is OK, by the way. Thanks for asking.

The Inn of the Five Graces

After checking out two more chapels that I talked about on our last visit, we had a great time snooping around The Inn of the Five Graces. We wandered thru the courtyards and would have loved to check out a room, but some work was being done and it was closed, or possibly not open yet for the season. Although very expensive, the pictures may sell you on a reason to celebrate something special (really special) here in Santa Fe!

Museum Hill

After a quick visit to the Visitor Info Center, we returned to our casita to relax and have some leftovers for dinner. In the morning we were already starting to dread the next day’s thirteen-hour drive, so Jim suggested a new plan. We would pack up this morning, check out a day early, and do a drive-by at our last planned visit in Santa Fe. How great could a bunch of museums be anyway, right? WRONG!

We immediately regretted our decision to leave early, because Museum Hill was GORGEOUS! With four museums and a botanical garden, it turns out third time WILL be a charm – since we are definitely coming back here! I took a few pictures and we headed on down the road to Amarillo. As sorry as we were to leave, this decision would knock a good four hours off of an already long-enough drive to Ridgedale, MO, and that’s significant for these older road-trippers.

Not Much to Look At

You know it’s a slow news day when wind turbines are the only photos I take, although with the clouds and setting sun it’s kinda beautiful. While I sit on my butt for nine hours, it was great to see these turbines hard at work.

The Beginning of the End

We arrived safe and sound at our condo at Wilderness Club at Big Cedar. We scored TWO WEEKS in a two-bedroom cabin there, which is among the most fantastic type of units to stay in, especially for two weeks! Before we even left for this road trip (mid-January), we ended up trading our two-week stay for our friends’ one-week stay. Turns out our grandson’s Arrow of Light Ceremony for Boy Scouts is more important than any silly road trip finale. See, we do have our priorities straight!

Several days after our arrival, I was just so tired! Napping is just not something I do. First I contributed it to this long road trip, but soon after, I knew it was something else. Yep. Covid. Pack it in Olsons, we’re going home early.

Next up: So Long Snow Recap

Happy trails,
Barb