That's a wrap - New Mexico summer

Hat tip to Evelyn and Donna, two of my in-person RVing pals who joined us for dinner at Cochiti Lake. Evelyn describes the dinner as "Yum yum!" which is all you need to read to know I wasn't cooking.

After four days of parking lot resorts in Bernalillo, my nerves were frayed. How a city can change so much from one exit to the next baffles me. When we finally set out for Tijeras, I created such traffic chaos I'm still looking over my shoulder for Albuquerque's Finest. Finally seeing my chance to get off I-40 ("Hell"), I took Exit 333 and accidentally experienced The Singing Road on Route 66. 

In Tijeras ("scissors"), NM, I met up with Barb. She's an old friend from back when I was also gainfully employed. We had brunch at Roots Farm Cafe - loved it!

Next stop: Madrid, NM. They say "MAD rid."

The main attraction is a tightly-clustered quarter-mile or so of brightly colored shops and interesting art on Route 14. Turquoise is a big draw on the Turquoise Trail, says Captain Obvious.

He has the right-of-way.

Between Madrid and the state park is a summer Sufi retreat. I was intrigued. 

Abo Ruins

If you find yourself passing through on 60, Abo is the easiest and most convenient ruins to visit quickly. West of Mountainair, NM. 

Kiva. The ventilation hole (left) is always on the east side. Don't say I never taught you anything.

Abo Ruins

We stayed at Manzano Mountains State Park, which is nicely located for seeing all three 17th century ruins. Also a very pleasant park, if you're looking for trees and a little elevation.

Gran Quivira. Ranger Pilgrim was a great host.

Quarai Ruins.

Quarai Ruins were my favorite, just because of the feel. 

We wrapped up this phase of a relationship. If you believe relationships end, then that's what this one did. I think we all just disentangle and loosen the knot, and alter the nature of the thing. Interesting and fun five summers!

I'm back in TorC, and back at "work" this week with four big, nice dogs. It's good to be here.

Mountainair, New Mexico. Maybe I'm in the bakery.

As I move around, I accumulate villages and cities where I intend to live for at least a month. Those towns are where I'll write the Greater American Novel, or several outstanding blog posts. Mountainair is one of those places.

Some say the GAN will require more than intention and photographs. I say "pfffft."

I read the information on the outside of the National Forest Service building. A tiny lady peeked around the corner and said "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"I'm reading this information. But what am I doing?" She said "I mean, are you going inside?" I hadn't intended to, and I didn't, but she told me what I wanted to know.

I also intend to find this bakery open one day.

I stopped into a thrift store (the Greyhound building); the woman said, "Well, you're not from here, so where ARE you from?"

The woman at the grocery store charged us for only one coffee, because we took the last of it.

We did not need the police department.

If I'm missing from wherever it is I'm supposed to be, check around Mountainair.

Mountainair in the rear view

I liked Mountainair a lot, and somehow I skipped over it literarily, but not literally.

There are two art galleries in town, one of which is fully prepared to offer workshops as soon as the town can reliably support visitors and the hotel is on firm footing. I suggested catering to RVers, who bring their own homes.

Bakery

I was passing through on my way to re-meet someone even more interesting than Mountainair, so I gave the town short shrift. Don't judge me!

You'll go to Mountainair to visit three sets of ruins in the area. I visited none of them, but don't follow my rocky path to perdition. Stop and see them.

I'm enjoying the hospitality of a friend in Albuquerque until tomorrow, when she will begin to enjoy not being so hospitable. Thanks, Joy! You got me through that expected rough patch. Now I'm drifting on my own like milkweed in a breeze: unpredictable and fluffy.