On to New Mexico and the Doanes

April 12

We left Kayenta AZ this morning at 8:30 after a hot breakfast at our Hampton Inn. 

Another beautiful day, 53 degrees, top down with scarves and jackets. After perusing our itinerary, we changed it a little and headed NE on Rt. 160 toward Four Corners. Once again we had the road (2 lanes, flat, straight, 65 mph) almost to ourselves!  At 5000 feet we're still in the high desert with lots of sagebrush, red sandstone cliffs and green-clad rock mesas off in the distance and a well-maintained road. The first couple of days we had to scrape the bugs off the windshield but, since turning south through UT, suddenly, no bugs!  What more could we ask for? Although, the cell phone coverage is spotty as is the GPS!  Fortunately we're a little old-fashioned so we have plenty of maps with us! Never go on a road trip without maps!!  

We arrived at Four Corners at 10:00. The park, run by Native Americans, has an Entrance fee, $5.00 each, no NP card accepted!  There's a plaque in the ground where AZ, UT, CO and NM meet at perfect 45 degree angles!  This is the only place in the U.S. this happens!  The plaque is surrounded by booths where Native Americans sell their wares. Small native gardens and not much else!  Peter bought a t-shirt and I bought hematite necklace and earrings. 

Back on the road at 11 to NM. Rt. 160 to 64 to 550 south toward Albuquerque in Navajo countryl. Still 2 lanes, then 4 lanes, and 55 mph, temp 65 degrees. How lucky are we?!?! However, there were clouds in the distance. We hit a commercial area in Shiprock on 64E and it continued  at 55 mph with some construction (35 mph) until at 1 PM when we reached 550 S, 70 mph and a more scenic drive. 

Again we viewed high desert with sage brush covered hills near and far. And then sandstone rock formations and mesas. The sky got grayer, totally cloudy with rain in the distance and sprinkles on us. Top up at 7000 feet and 53 degrees!!  And then our first official rain! Our luck had run out; we had been dodging rain for days. We left Navajo country and entered Apache country and the same beautiful high desert landscape continued. We crossed the Continental Divide at 2:20 at 8000 feet. Put the top back down after 15 minutes of rain!  As we have seen on previous road trips, there are lots of memorials/ crosses at the side of the roads where deaths have occurred. We saw a Mustang police car that had pulled someone over!

We arrived at the Doanes at 4:28, 2 minutes early!  What a stunning home just outside the Sandia Mountains in Sandia Park NM. After a tour of the house and a stroll around the neighborhood, we had cocktails, appetizers and a delicious dinner topped of by a homemade raspberry pie and then some cards. Conversation was flowing with 2 often going on at the same time!!  We had some time to catch up on!  And we'll continue tomorrow!