Adventures with Liz

Look at Miss Ohio

Road trip day 5: Amarillo, TX to Santa Fe, NM.

Note: Once again, the internet will not let me upload pictures, which is sad because I have some really awesome ones. So I'll try to stop somewhere tomorrow to upload some.

Danny and I allowed ourselves a little extra sleep this morning, and then headed out of Amarillo towards Cimarron, NM, where the Philmont Scout Rance is located. New Mexico is stunning... I saw everything from mesas to mountains to flat, open land that seemed to stretch on forever. We took a route that avoided major highways, so most of our drive was along winding back roads. Cimarron is a pretty little town that sits at the base of the mountain range. We stopped there for lunch, and then Danny took me to a few of his favorite places in the area, which involved a meandering drive through the mountains along a river to a natural spring with literally the best water I have ever tasted, and the palisades, which are sheer rocky cliff faces with the river running along the base. Standing at the bottom surrounded on all sides by mountains, I felt very small and finite. It was an intense sort of feeling that I really don't have words for. The area was just so quiet and peaceful and beautiful. All of New Mexico is pretty much that way. It's been without a doubt my favorite state so far.

From the palisades, Danny left me to go back to Philmont, and I continued through the mountains toward Santa Fe. Our goodbye was unexpectedly difficult; I didn't think I'd be so scared to be venturing out on my own. So after a slight panic attack, I just let the drive and the scenery calm me. As I made my way out of the mountain range, the horizon opened up in front of me to reveal a huge, sparkling blue lake backed by a second snow capped mountain range. Again... I really just can't describe how awesome New Mexico is. The mountain scenery doesn't get old.

At Danny's recommendation, I stopped in Taos, a charming town built in the classic southwestern adobe style full of local arts, crafts, jewelry, and food, with a view of the mountains at every corner. I spent most of my visit in the central plaza, which reminded me of the plazas in Spanish cities, with a few adaptations to fit the southwestern U.S. I met a very friendly, helpful man from Cairo in a jewelry shop. People out here are genuinely interested in you; they ask about what you're doing and where you're from. So we had a lovely little chat exchanging the abridged versions of our life stories, and I got a unique little turquoise ring to remind me of my time here. The jewelry shop salesman told me about a place I could pull over to see the Rio Grande, which I found easily as I continued my drive. So now I have touched both the Mississippi River and the Rio Grande River all in one trip! I met a photographer by the water, and she also wanted to hear about my trip and what I was doing, so we talked for a little while and then continued on our way. Meeting people on the road helped alleviate some of the initial loneliness I was feeling from finally being on my own.

I made it to Espanola, where I checked into my hotel, and then drove into Santa Fe. I walked around the city's plaza, and had dinner at an amazing restaurant where the portions were huge and the food was cheap but delicious. Probably the best quesadilla and one of the best margaritas ever!

So ended my adventure for the day. Tomorrow it's on to the Grand Canyon. I am loving the west. It's so pretty and quiet out here. It'd be a great place to end up. And I could even have a vineyard... I've drove by plenty! So Beth, I hope you're ok with moving out west! ;-)

posted by Liz @ 10:49 PM