Another super day in New Mexico. Started out at the Science Museum about the invention of the atom bomb during WWII and the beginning of Los Alamos. Nice museum - Los Alamos didn't exist until the scientists were brought here to work on the bomb. After that, we proceeded to Bandelier National Park and the highlight of the trip for Cindy so far. I hiked up to the cliff dwelling ruins inhabited by Indians over 400 years ago. It was pretty cool and I was glad I could do it. There is was only similarity between New Mexico and Michigan - the Indian casinos. There are a ton of them here (we haven't gone to any). Tonight we are staying in Santa Fe. We are going to head down to the historic plaza soon and look for some more Mexican food for supper.

Comments from Eldon: I was never aware of this, but apparently Pueblo Indians used porta-potties for their crapper. New Mexico is truly amazing. The mountains are beautiful, but the altitude is a bit of a problem.

Comments from Larry: I spent an enjoyable, quiet afternoon with Eldon reading in the mountains.

I love New Mexico - it's starkly beautiful. Even though everything is brown, the canyons and mesas are gorgeous. We have traveled on parts of the Santa Fe Trail; I cannot imagine what it would have been like to cross this country in wagon train. Today we traveled from Taos to Los Alamos - not far in miles but it took all day to do it! We make a lot of scenic stops. A photography author we met suggested a drive to Chimayo. So, of course, we went. We were in the Rio Grande Gorge & followed the Rio Grande River at times (its not very big yet, but fast, white water). Chimayo has a Catholic shrine where the dirt is believed to have the power to heal. People come from all over (it's especially busy this week due to Easter) for its healing power. There were some discarded crutches in the church. We enjoyed another Mexican meal; I think that is all we've eaten for 3 days! We took a canyon road that turned into one lane with 10 mph hairpin turns up and down the canyon - that was almost too exciting. I feel like we have seen the "real" New Mexico. The pic is of the shrine in Chimayo.

Larry's Comments: I think I got a little car sick in the mountains today.

Eldon's comments: Los Alamos is supposedly the most educated town in the United States - most PhD's per population; kinda like St. Ignace but different.

Absolutely beautiful drive today (and no interstate). We had lunch in Las Vegas (yea, there's one in New Mexico too, but no gambling). We climbed the Sangre de Cristo mountains and arrived in Taos this afternoon. The highest elevation was around 12,000 feet I think - still lots of snow. The ski slopes close this weekend - Tom & Brenda you guys need to come here. We passed through some very impoverished communities on the way up the mountains. Taos is a artistic, attractive community. Here is Larry showing off his acrobatic skills after sitting all day in the car.

Larry's Comments: Today I saw horses & alpacas. I don't think alpacas are very bright but they do look warm.

Eldon's Comments: I must be getting better at driving, I only got flipped off once today.

I didn't have wirless last night, so now have catch up. We started Sunday from El Reno, OK on Route 66; due to lack of signs we didn't stay on it all day long (oh yea, back on I-40 again). We did stop at the National Route 66 museum in Elk River, OK. We saw many, many, many, many cows and miles of ranch land. We felt like we were driving in a western movie set, except for the occasional modern wind mill farm we passed. I thought it was an interesting drive as we have never been in that part of the country. We proceeded to the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo. What a quirky thing - its a line of 9 vintage Cadillacs stuck in the ground that people stop & spray paint on. Hard to believe how many people were stopped there - no signage, we only read about it in a book. A lady handed me a can of spray paint, so away I went! It was a quick, funny stop. We were going to stop in Amarillo TX, but decided to make it to Tucumcari. First time I've ever seen a 75 mile per hour speed limit sign once we hit New Mexico. That sped up our arrival in Tucumcari. Once again, we referred to the guide books (thank you Linda & John Monville for the Route 66 book) and stayed at the Blue Swallow Motel, an original traveler's court on Route 66. Fun, vintage place to stay; the owner loved Larry.

It's a dull day when the best thing I have to tell you about is lunch! We traveled on I-40 all day. When we started out this a.m. it was sunny & we traveled in the foothills of the Ozarks. It got colder & rainier as the day wore on. We stopped just west of Oklahoma City - OK is not a big attraction! So, about lunch, a brisket plate to go at the gas station we stopped at. The BBQ was a hut out back. Took the lunch to the Oklahoma welcome center picnic area. By then, the sun was gone & it was was windy & rainy. But lunch was excellent any way. Think we'll call that supper too. We are near Route 66; tomorrow we will try that, at least for a while. Texas tomorrow, for sure!

Comments from Larry: Oklahoma is boring.

Comments from Eldon: Oklahoma is boring. No wonder the Indians were crying on the Trail of Tears............

Top pic is Larry at the Red Roof Inn in Little Rock, Arkanasas - he's happy to be in a new state. 2nd & 3rd pic is Eldon at the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale Mississippi. 4th is a pic of Johnny Billington. Eldon took this in he Delta Blues Museum (where you are not supposed to take pictures). Johnny sat by us at Ground Zero & we started chatting. He's quite old and hunched over - turns out he knew some of Eldon's blues heroes personally, like Muddy Waters. He runs an academy to teach young, disadvantaged children how to play the blues. He said he wanted to teach kids respect and the blues. I looked him up on-line when I got back to the hotel to see if he was for real and there he was. Interesting man. The last pic is Eldon & Larry at "The Crossroads". I have to say everyone, black & white, that we have met are super friendly. Not only do they all ask how we are doing & where are we from, but want to have whole conversations with us. This is a good thing since we could use somebody else to talk to once in a while! Heading into Oklahoma tomorrow.

My posting last night is evidently lost in cyberspace. I have a poor wireless connection & keep getting disconnected, so I'll keep this short. On Wed. we went to Lookout Mountain/Rock City in Chattanooga where you can see seven states. Then we had a change of plans Wed. evening & headed to Clarksdale Mississippi to the home of the Delta Blues. Fun time last night - going to a few blues museums this a.m. - then heading west again...........

I didn't have wireless access last night, now I have to do 2 days! Yesterday we decided to go to Lookout Mountain/Rock City. It's just into Georgia, but really Chattanooga. You can see seven states from the top - VA, NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL. Pretty scenery; it was a long of driving though as went 600 miles. We stayed last night in the little burg of Stevenson, AL. A man at a gast station told us we did not want to go the route we had picked out through TN as it would take forever. So, at his suggestion we went into northern AL. The Tennesse Valley Authority is expansive through out the South. After looking at guide books last night, we changed our next day destination from Memphis. Had a drive through northern AL & MS including the Natchez Trace Parkway. We arrived in Clarksdale, Mississippi at 4:00. Eldon wants to see the Delta Blues Museum and place called Ground Zero, a juke joint, to hear the blues. He just finished reading a book about this area & Muddy Waters - so here we are! (It's in the 1,000 Places to See Before You Die book). We'll check it out tonight & let you know. Here are pics of Lookout Mountain from yesterday.

Comments from Eldon: I'm in heaven. Tomorrow I go to the crossroads of Robert Johnson - Rt. 61 & 49. (this is where he "sold his soul" to become a blues guitarist extraordinaire).

Comments from Larry: Motel rooms are all beginning to look alike.......boring..........

We had our first successful day of wandering. On Carlynn's suggestion, we headed from Richmond on Rte. 60 to Natural Bridge. Finally a drive off the interstate! Once we hit the Blue Ridge Mountains, we were treated to a true mountain drive on a narrow two lane road with many switchbacks - traveling at 25 - 30 mph was fast enough. We followed a logging truck at 10 mph for a little while - that was a little too slow. Natural Bridge is a like a jumbo Arch Rock on Mackinac Island. As it was a cold day, there was only a few people there. Included was a walk to a native Monacan Indian village reconstruction with an informative Native & a walk to a waterfall. All in a days work............Afterward, we broke our rule and got on the interstate (I-81) - hey, we have a lot of ground to cover! We are staying tonight in Whytheville, VA - its in the corner of NC, TN, and VA. We stopped at a Red Roof Inn & discovered pets are free & welcome at Red Roofs. No more sneaking Larry into a room - we might be seeing a lot of Red Roof Inns on this trip! We are heading toward Memphis tomorrow.

Our first successful day of wandering. On Carlynn's suggestion, we headed out Rte. 60 from Richmond to the Natural Bridge. Once we hit the Blue Ridge Mountains, we were treated to a true mountain drive. A narrow 2 lane road with winding switchbacks at a speed of 25 - 30 mph. Followed a logging truck at 10 mph for a while - that was a little too slow. Nice drive. Natural Bridge is like a jumbo Arch Rock on Mackinac Island. It was cold & we were about the only ones there. Also there was a native Monacan Indian village reproduction with an interesting native interpreter and a walk to a waterfall. All in a days work.............................then we broke our plan already & hopped on the Interstate (I-81) since it was right there - hey, we have a lot of ground to cover! Staying in Whytheville VA tonight - its in the corner of VA, TN & NC. A view of the Blue Ridges out our window at the Red Roof Inn. We'll probably see a lot of Red Roofs - we discovered pets stay free, so no more sneaking Larry in to a room. Heading for Memphis tomorrow.

Eldon at Natural Bridge and Larry on the suitcases in the car - he's ready to roll!

This time the picture is actually attached of Chad & Carlynn in front of their new home!

Chad & Carlynn in front of their lovely new home.

Larry's first venture out of the bedroom after 4 days at Chad's house.

Oh my gosh - I can actually do the pictures too! Here's Cooper.

OK - we're cooking now - I think I may actually be able to do this blogging thing. So, long story short, we were all set to do the "trip of a lifetime" wandering out West. Unfortunately, my father passed away on March 6. We were still in Michigan - in Big Rapids visiting Missy - when we got the call that my father did not have long to live. So we headed to Sarasota instead of the West. After ten days in Florida, we traveled to Chad & Carlynn's in Richmond VA to see their new house and our new grand-dog, Cooper. After a fun, five day visit in Richmond, we head west tomorrow.

I might be getting the hang of this.......we have been at Chad & Carlynn's house in Richmond VA for 5 days. Their house is great and so is their dog, Cooper. However, Larry does not agree with this opinion. He has not come out of the safety of the bedroom (even though Cooper could care less).

The real trip begins tomorrow, March 22, after a long and unfortunate detour to Sarasota, FL.