Thursday, May 11 – Day 11

Finally a post on time. Rode 314 miles today to Gallup, NM, just on the edge of the Navajo reservation. We have ridden over 2,600 miles total so far. Beautiful countryside with red and white sandstone formations, buttes, cliffs, mountains and rolling hills. Gallup is over 6,400 feet above sea level and is cool and dry. Today’s high was 76F and tonight the temp will drop to 39F. We passed a mountain west of Albuquerque that had snow still on the summit. I’d never thought of NM as being so high above sea level. Turns out that northern NM is on the Colorado Plateau (which includes Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, and Southern Colorado – the four corner states). Learning all the time. 

Back to this morning (stream of consciousness) on the way out of Tucumcari (pronounced “Too-cum-carry”) we stopped by the newly renovated train station. It’s beautiful, though not yet open to the public. We learned that the city was a way-point for the Southern Pacific and the Rock Island railroads, and the Union Pacific line as well. Well blow me down!  Didn’t know the UP reached so far. Fellow Rail Baron fanatics will be amazed, I’m sure. The Burlington Northern line is also prominent here. We passed dozens of mile long trains along I-40 bearing the Burlington and Union Pacific logos. Thought you’d be thrilled to know.

Not a lot else to tell. (the state of our derrières will not be discussed) Tomorrow we head to Winslow, AZ and on to Grand Canyon Village on the south rim of the canyon. So looking forward to it. We hope you are all well. And we’re so pleased you look in from time to time to see how we’re doing. Now we wish you good luck and good night…

The aforementioned train station in Tucumcari.


The historic Route 66 goes from Chicago to Santa Monica, CA.  Here’s a sign in Tucumcari. 


A little blast from the past since we don’t have these gas stations in the Northeast.

Curious little bird on an arid type plant(?)

Route 40 in New Mexico, where curves are nearly nonexistent and you can see for miles and miles.

Scrub and arid conditions on one side of the road…

Beautiful red rock bluffs on the other…

And then a snow capped mountain in the distance.

We are clearly not in NJ (or the eastern US for that matter).  Just beautiful.

3 thoughts on “Thursday, May 11 – Day 11

  1. Debbie's avatar Debbie May 12, 2017 / 3:35 am

    Wow, wow, wow….OMG, there are no words to describe the sheer joy and pride I have in following your blog. You two are an inspiration. The pictures are amazing and “the blog(s)” themselves, I think I’m reading a traveling brochure. 🤗🤗🤗 Continued traveling mercies, my friends. You’re in my prayers.

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  2. Lisa's avatar Lisa May 12, 2017 / 12:13 pm

    Keep em coming. I enjoy and look forward to the stories as you journey. It’s a bit like I am there too.

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