We left Bayfield on August 11 drove into Durango where we
turn south on Rt. 550. Ou destination was the Sky City Casino in Acoma NM.
After a climb out of the Durango area the road was relatively level with some
rolling hills. There was some farm lands with irrigated crops. A little further
south it became high desert. As we approached the town of Shiprock we could see
the rock in the distance. This is the same Shiprock that I referred to in the
write up on Mesa Verde. Jackie & I experienced déjà vu moment. Both of know
we have been in this area and have seen Shiprock before but we can’t remember
when. Back in the 80’s we did a lot of tent camping. We camped in this area at
the Grand Canyon, Brice, Zion, Monument Valley, etc. We even walked around the
meteor crater in Winslow, AZ. Seem with
old age those brain cramps are coming more often.
Anyway the views were great.
There are Reservations in this area, in fact, if you go to a
casino, you are on a Reservation.
There are a few pictures at: https://jackbarbic.shutterfly.com/10123
At Gallop NM we turn east on I-40 to exit 42. There we left
the interstate and continued east on Rt. 66. I bought a couple of books and
maps on what is referred to as the Mother Road. The continental divide and a
gift shop is just east of Exit 42.
From the mountains we were now in mesa country.
Along the road are old buildings that are in pretty good
shape and others that are severely deteriorated. We drove through the town of
Grants. There are some old motels and signs. Some have been restored.
The “Grants Café” is one of these even though the café no
longer exists.
On the eastern outskirts of Grants is a “junk yard” of old
cars. Actually it’s a gold mine for the owner.
We stayed at the Sky City Casino RV Park. Here are pictures
of sunrises & sunsets.
We took a trip to see the Ice Cave and Bandero Volcano. On
the way there we stopped at the El Mapais Information Center. This is an area
of lava flows that occurred 200 -3000 years ago. The two main things to see
other than many square miles of frozen lava is the Sandstone Bluffs Overlook
and the La Ventura Arch. There had been heavy rains the day before and the road
leading in was under repair due to flooding and rock slides. So, we visited
with the Park Ranger and took some pictures of the flowers and then it was on
to the Ice Cave.
There 70 steps leading down to the cave. The Ice is colored
by the minerals in the water.
Next was the volcano. The Bandera Crater is about 8300 feet
high and last erupted about 10,000 years ago. I find it difficult to get good
pictures of lave formations. I think it is because the lava is pretty uniform
in color, masking the features. I hiked to near the top. The attendant told me
that the Continental Divide is at the turn around point. Later drive on the
road that bypasses the volcano we found a Continental Divide marker.
There is a store, artifacts and a rest/picnic area. I
especially liked the gas pump
More pictures at: https://jackbarbic.shutterfly.com/10210
El Moro is a cuesta, which describes
a long rock formation that gently slopes up and then drops off abruptly. Since
the time of the Zunjs (about 2000 years ago) this location has been a source of
water and a place to rest, as it is on an ancient trade route.
More pictures at: https://jackbarbic.shutterfly.com/10279
In Grants NM there is a
mining Museum. This area was a source for Uranium ore in the 1950s to early
1960s. The first floor of the museum houses mineral and pottery displays and a
theater showing films on mining. Below this floor is a replica of a mine. A
volunteer named Jack Farley gave us a tour and shard stories of his experience
mining in this area. He told us that he started as a kid doing the menial tasks
and worked his way up to being superintendent of three mines. He said mining
was his passion and that he loved being underground.
We took a day to explore Rt.
66 going east to Albuquerque. Along the way we passed great scenery, a rock
that looked like a camel, Owl Rock and followed the road around Dead Mans
Curve.
There was a stretch of
road warned of potholes, bumps, etc. We drove it in the car, it would shake the
fillings out of your teeth. We saw a couple of Rangers patrolling the area and
came upon a ranch entrance.
In Albuquerque we saw old stores
and abandon motels.
Then there is Budville. Here’s
the short story, (taken in part, from an Exploring Route 66 Visitor Guide). Bud
(Howard Neal Rice) and wife Flossie run a wrecker service, garage, trading post
& gas station. In 1967 Bud is murdered in a hold up, no one knows who did
it. In 1997 Flossie sells the wrecker and closes the garage. Gus Rainey,
retired Texas lawman and a close friend of Bub's suspects Flossie’s new (ex con) husband. Gus shoots
Flossie’s second husband dead. Gus was never tried for the killing…………….New
Mexico law in action.
More pictures at: https://jackbarbic.shutterfly.com/10151
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