Road Trippin' - New Mexico

Oklahoma shares a small border with New Mexico, at the end of a long ‘panhandle’ that consists of nothing. Nothing but rolling plains, cattle and dust. It is quite amazing to drive through, well once anyway. All 5 hours of it. The plains go as far as the eye can see, as does the road. Which is a bit depressing from a ‘getting there’ point of view. But get there we did. To our ultimate destination for day 1 – New Mexico. We left the plains behind us at the Cimarron canyon, a beautiful winding road through the floor of the canyon flanked by auburn trees resplendent with fall foliage.

Road through Cimarron Canyon

 

The day ended in the old town of Taos, high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Finally; some good food and wine and the odd mountain to break the skyline...

Main St of Taos Old Town

 

We enjoyed great mediterranean food, Muga Spanish rose (reminded me of those summer evenings on the deck at Ennever St - you can get it at Wine Experience in Rosalie for all those wanting to try an awesome, not so sweet rose) and well, hornets in our room at the Lodge. Never mind, can’t have everything I suppose. After a couple of days of ancient pueblos, adobe churches and incredible scenery we moved south to Sante Fe. More of the same – life’s tough.

Sante Fe

Microbrewery and pizzeria right on the Old Town square of Sante Fe

 

Leaving Sante Fe we drove through Los Alamos (not an atomic bomb in sight but we did have to drive through a National Security checkpoint to get out of town) and across the Jemez mountains. Huge green valleys suspended between jagged mountain ranges and grazing bison. New Mexico is so diverse – desert, mountains, bleached cattle skulls on gateposts, adobe villages and great New Mexican food. So close to Oklahoma yet so far.....

Valle Grande