We did quite a bit of driving again today, and for much of the time we were open mouthed with amazement. The drive to Santa Fe, New Mexico was beautiful. Lovely mountains all around, and ranches dotting the plains and valleys, with small settlements and tiny villages.
The new Rv - Mary II
About to enter the desert in New Mexico
Santa Fe was everything we had come to expect - full of Spanish architecture - the houses, shops and even the public buildings and hotels are built in the same style. The shopping centre (Plaza area) is full of touristy type shops, and the goods are lovely, though the "Made in Bangladesh" and "Made in China" labels on what appeared to be Native American trinkets was a little off-putting. We did manage to find some genuine Native American street stalls selling authentic wares at a fraction of the prices in the shops, so the wallets were again loosened.
Restaurant in Santa Fe
The oldest church in the US
Donkeys - how many?
Typical Spanish architecture in Santa Fe
Brian & Maureen take time out at a sculpture titled "Where Old Friends Meet"
We found a great French Restaurant !!! and had a beautiful lunch before heading off across the desert towards our destination, Gallup, New Mexico.
The drive across the desert was the most spectaular drive we have ever encountered. At every turn in the road or at every crest in the highway there was a new sight - fantastic vistas of desert landscapes and land formations - the colours were incredible - bright reds of the desert sands and blue hazes of distant hills. Measa, Buttes, wadis, scree slopes, washouts and even sand dunes - It was enough to make an old geographer's heart sing.
A huge dust storm on the desert highway - Route 66
The wind blowigng across the desert was savage. It blew the RV around quite a bit, and we were thankful that we sere not still trying to drive Mary, or we might not have made it at all. At one point we encountered a massive dust storm which cut visibility to a few hundred metres, and when it cleared another stunning vista emerged.
Beautiful colours on heavily eroded cliffs on the side of a huge mesa
It is hard to describe how beautiful this area is - or how wild and savage the desert is. There is little wonder that the area is a Mecca for artists and photographers - the view changes by the hour as the light changes.
Once a mountain, all that is left is this butte after the thousands of years of wind and water erosion
If I seem to be prattling on, please forgive me. We all agree that we have never seen a more beautiful or stark landscape. We are impressed, or as big Kev would say "We are excited".
Typical stark desert scenery
If the Grand Canyon is anywhere near as spectacular as the drive today, then we will be delighted.
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