5/19/12 Across the Great Divide

Starting off our food frenzy today, we enjoyed breakfast on the terrace outside the lobby at the El Rey Inn.  As Caitlin mentioned, this is a large complex but full of trees, shrubs, and flowers that it feels very intimate.  A longer stay here would have seen us relaxing around the pool and more time at "our" hot tub.  

Dead Man's Curve

After a few days break from the Route, we returned to it this morning heading toward Albuquerque with a lovely drive between Algodones and Bernalillo.  Back into Albuquerque, we felt as if we'd returned home as we traveled the Route through the neighborhoods we visited a few days ago.  West of Alburquerque, the Route parallels the interstate with several crossings of I-40, however, a great section west of Mesita diverts from the interstate curving through mesas passing Owl Rock and Dead Man's Curve (were Jan and Dean here?) that aptly got it's name.  

From this area, we've been rewarded with beautiful red cliffs and hills through small towns and reservations having a mid-day lunch in Grants, NM (sharing a tasty Mexican pizza), stopping for photo op's at the Continental Divide and an interesting dead-end Route sign, and finally passing colorful rock cliffs and spires as we arrived for the night in Gallup, New Mexico.  We wanted to stay at the 66-famous El Rancho Hotel but found they were booked for the night.  We opted for plan B (Super 8) and finished our day on the road with a Giant Alert! and great sandwiches (and even better fries) at the Coal St Pub in downtown Gallup.  


We cross into Arizona tomorrow, and we realize we have so much more to see and do.  Early start tomorrow...


Happy trails, S