TD2 2021 Adventure -- Week 5 -- "Finally Heading East!"

Howdy folks,

Here's your seventh installment of Thistle Dew Too's (TD2) 2021 Adventure.  This is Week 5, and it's hard to believe that we are only now beginning the long journey home!  But we've been able to already see so many amazing sights, who knows, perhaps this part of the journey will go a bit faster.  Indeed this week, we travelled through parts of CA, NV, UT, AZ, and NM -- phew!

The overall plan was to head toward Santa Fe, NM simply because it's a location we've never checked out and we thought it might be interesting.  Plus I'd recently read a book ("One Blade of Grass") by Henry Shukman, a Zen teacher at Mountain Cloud Zen Center and thought it might be cool to check that out as well.  Strange the things that motivate my route selection.  Well, that and my trusty 2007 Rand McNally Atlas, which identifies "scenic roads".  That has guided most of this year's rather circuitous route selections.

So this week we'll have our first encounter with less-than-perfect weather, some extraterrestrial fun in Rachel, NV, a last-minute decision to drive through Zion National Park, travel through some Hopi lands, a nice visit to artsy Madrid, a little Zen serenity, a quick visit to Santa Fe, and then head off into the sunset ... rainbow?  Oh well, you'll just have to check out the pictures -- and here are some preview shots:

Gotta admit that's an unexpected mural to find out in the desert

Loving the contrasting colors and textures in Zion NP

And really loving the late afternoon shadow patterns

Maybe I just have a thing for adobe structures

Please click this link to access the full set of photos for Week 5 ("Finally Heading East") of our TD2 2021 adventure.  As you move your cursor over each photo, you will see a descriptive caption, and if needed, place the cursor on the caption itself to read the whole thing, or just double-click the photo.  

Next up, we'll be turning North and looking to gain some altitude to try and avoid the heat, in Week 6 (Heading North).

So until next time ... wishing you all the best and hoping you are having fun! 

 

Turquoise Highway aka Historic Route 66

We spent the night in Albuquerque, after stopping at an Apple Store to have Carol check out what Apple Watch she wanted for her birthday.  That's now been ordered and will be waiting for her when we arrive at my sister's house in a couple of weeks.

So we figured we would head north to Sante Fe.  The easy and quick way would be up I-25, but that is definitely not our style.  So after a little research we found another way -- called the Turquoise Highway, and it was part of the original Route 66.  That is definitely our style!

The drive itself is very beautiful, and I recommend it to anyone when they are in New Mexico.  But what was even more amazing was stumbling on this little town of Madrid, NM (emphasis on the first syllable, so not like the one in Spain).  It is full of artsy, free-spirits, with unique galleries, shops, and dining.  We loved it and spent the day there (and in fact the night as well).

See if you can catch the spirit and friendliness of this really great place with some of these pictures:

Route 66 Thunderbird, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

The Real McCoy, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Colorful and Quirky, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Moonrise over Sneakers?, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Lunch at The Hollar, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Have a Heart, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Welcome Frog, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Dogs Rule in Madrid, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Dark Hibiscus Chocolate? OMG Yes!, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

Curious Thangs Indeed, Madrid, NM, March 2017 © Steven Crisp  [Click on the photo to enlarge]

After lunch, I asked some of the locals if there was any place we could park for the night.  They didn't know of any, but said if needed, park next to the school ball field, and no one would bother us.

Well, we looked online and found a nearby State Park that listed camping as one of its services.  Drove there, only to find, the internet was wrong!  No, say it isn't so!  So we were thankful to be able to drive back to that ball field for the night!  Thank you Madrid!