We got off to a slow start this morning. I was feeling a bit under the weather, but still ready to hit the road. We knew that we would reach New Mexico today and we were both looking forward to see the changes in landscape. When we left Amarillo, we jumped onto I 40 and headed to the west to find the Cadillac Ranch. It is an amusing installation: 10 Cadillac sedans buried nose-down in a flat field by the side of the road. If you weren’t looking for it, it would be easy to drive right by because it is set back from the road. There is a path back to the cars and they are covered with graffiti. We took several pictures and another kind visitor took a picture of both of us. We got back into the car and made two brief stops in Texas: Vega and Adrian. We couldn’t resist a picture of the Vega Motel for our friend Keith Vega. We stopped in Adrian to shoot pictures of the Midpoint Café. The Café bills itself as the midpoint in the trip from Chicago to Santa Monica. We only photographed it because we were not ready for another meal.
We loved the sign welcoming us to New Mexico! We stopped at the welcome center and had a conversation with a very friendly, knowledgeable staff member. She gave us maps, information folders and few tips about the road – very helpful. Major stretches of Rte 66 through New Mexico are on I 40 because the old road is in rough shape and unpaved in many places. The speed limit is 75 so we were cruising right along. Dennis spotted an old two-door Ford del Rio station wagon (see the cool photo). Dennis looked up the year and it appears to be a 1958. Those folks had a very cool way to discover the Mother Road.
We decided to stop at a Rte 66 icon for lunch, Kix on Rte 66, and we were really glad we did. The place was spotlessly clean, very friendly and had excellent food. While we were eating, we discussed how far we wanted to drive. We agreed to drive all the way to Santa Fe and to stay for two nights so we could see everything we wanted to see.
The drive was amazing. The changing terrain is dramatically different. Flat ranchlands have given way to foothills, mesas, and wide open vistas. The color of the landscape is different, too. Now it is tan and pink and lavender and dotted with pinion trees. The air is incredibly dry and the change in altitude is noticeable when we walk. This is a beautiful part of our country. The folks in Santa Fe take their history, culture, and arts seriously. I can’t wait to do some touring around tomorrow and to talk with some of the locals.
We found an iconic hotel for our stay. It is called the Del Rey Inn and has been open on Rte 66 for many years. It is an adobe building that has been well-maintained. Our room is charming, clean and has many unique touches – like the curved glass brick wall in the bathroom and the log beam ceiling. Dennis took several pictures and I’m sure he’ll post some.
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