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.
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| 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...
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| 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.
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| Sante Fe |
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| 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.....
