Day 17: Santa Fe to Gallup (New Mexico) along the Mother Road

Up early, still plenty of snow on the ground and in the trees. After another good breakfast we decided to visit the farmers market (over at the train station). Turns out our hotel, Guadalupe Innis only 400 metres from the train station, called the Rail Yard District. Very slushy roads, but deep snow on the foot paths. Made it to the Rail District Ok. Asked for directions to the Farmer market from a guy clearing snow. "No habla Inglish", turns out he spoke only Spanish. My Spanish is more like SpanEnglish. He did try to help me. After much to-ing and fro-ing I headed off to where I thought the entrance would be. When I looked behind at the others, they were in the distance waving wildly. I took this to mean I was on the wrong track (as it turns out they were indicating a closer entrance). It was the market, I walked through it and out the other side expecting to meet them, but they were nowhere to be seen. I then walked back to our point of origin and began texting Regan. I watched a rather large passenger train leave the station (as did Regan). Still couldn't locate them. More texts, asking Regan "to show himself", more walking and consulting Navmii (which was useless as it thought I was driving). Finally, they appeared. Their waving did indicate a closer entrance, but rather than use it they walked (in the snow up to the entrance I used), resulting in me missing them all together. I got the blame and little "telling off" from "her who cannot be named".

As it turned out there was very little in the way of stalls at the market. A real let down.

So back to the Inn, pack and leave for Albuquerque (well after putting air in the tires- would you believe they charge $1 for air. Our "Beast" of a car monitors the tire pressure and over the last few days had began to indicate our pressure was a little on the low side. While at the gas station we filled up (again). Regan worked it out that gas was around US 90 cents a litre ( NZ $2.20 a litre).

Made it to Old Town Albuquerque around 70 minutes later. Found the American International Rattlesnake Museum- closed (opens at 11:30). Took the opportunity to visit a gift store. I went in search of a coffee. Found a cantina, now coffee. They did offer to make some for me and they shared a little of their Mexican lunch with me (well a taste of a fried flour dounut thing, that you split open and pour honey into). I just had a nibble and a chat.

By now the Rattlesnake Museum was open. We paid our money and got a "Certificate of Bravery" for entering the realm of the rattlesnake. The museum had a good range of snakes plus a Gila monster, snapping turtles etc. Was an interesting diversion.

Now it was off to find JC Penny to pick up some smellies for Kerry (I must mention that Regans navigation system was a little off. We had a tiki tour of some local neighbourhoods or barrios. Eventually found JC, it was part on one of the biggest malls I have ever seen. It had Sears plus Macy's and JC plus hundreds of little shops (worth a full days investigation). Something Regan and Kerry are considering next year - a Mall Tour of America.

After a bite to eat we hit I-40 and headed to Grants and the Uranium mine museum. Spent a very informative 90 minutes there. Mainly underground in a reconstructed uranium mine. We had an old retired miner as our guide. He really made the tour, informative with lots of local stories that made the experience more realistic. Turns out the miners had a high cancer rate. This in part was due to the Radon gas they were breathing. Apparently if you smoked you had double the chance of getting lung cancer. All the mines are now closed (cheaper to get the material from Australia or India).

When we re-emerged from the museum the sun was beginning to set, so we bi-passed a trip to the wolf santuary and hit 40 again for Gallup and our La Quinta hotel. When we arrived the road (in parts) and the sidewalk was covered in ice.

Only resturante serving three big accommodation hotels is Denny's. So we ate there. Very impressed with their food. Even "she who cannot be named" said she would eat there again.

Route 66:

Driving through Grants meant we drove along part of the old Rte 66. Saw a number on now derelict motels and eating houses on this strip of 66.

Tomorrow we hit Arizona and a few interesting little towns associated with Rte 66 and "The Eagles"- Winslow, Arizona "Take it easy" fame. Should be an interesting day's travel.

When I get a chance to use Regan's laptop I will add a few photos.