Smoked Homemade Sausage

Roadtrip - Day 14: Route 66

Get Your Kicks Route 66 is ... (click )




respectively after the entry swept, cleaned the sinks of the bathroom and emptied the trash (we had set the alarm, we chose the less boring!) , you leave without regret this hostel bizarre

We'll have breakfast in downtown Santa Fe It confirms my opinion on American cities (I exclude New York, San Francisco and perhaps Boston) : in general it's not worth seeing ... Santa Fe is apparently the second oldest city of the United States, meaning that it dates from around 1600, but apart from the Old Town which consists of a few more streets Plaza with beautiful adobe houses "(named after the material), there is not much to visit, and even the center is of extreme interest (well that's my opinion!). In fact I think it really lacks charm ... We did find super good croissants and pain au chocolate (but not in the store there I think)!

And it's time to hit the road, south-west this time, toward Albuquerque (I'm still not pronounce it!):

I always look for my collection of "Pictures Djizeuss"

A Albuquerque (the largest city in New Mexico with its 500 000 inhabitants), it falls on the famous Route 66. It runs from Chicago to Los Angeles, but today there remains much of the authentic Historic Route 66 (it is no longer called that way since 1985). Here she is now called Interstate 40, but the crossing of Albuquerque has retained a lot of motels, diners and old neon signs typical of this road. We still lack a car that goes with it, not like some:

The famous and bizarre Aztec Motel:

We know we are on track!

Really, no doubt:

And here also necessarily Old Town (nicer than Santa Fe finally, mostly because it was more animated):

A small chili?

Americaaaaaaaaaan Proud to be ...

After doing a little souvenir shopping, we continue westward

And we discover a concept that does not yet know, the rest area for animals!

The landscape changes a bit, you start to see the mountains (and still freight trains to 30 km long!):

And the red

Sometimes (not often ;-)) was lucky and found in some supermarkets super good bread (here with olives and another with dried tomatoes) and the Maille mustard (very rare), the pike lunch deluxe!

And in the collection vehicles, today we offer the yellow ladybug behind the RV!

We just realized we had a little souvenir of Albuquerque on the windshield. Fortunately not a ticket, but a "ray of hope":

Ooh la la, we arrive in India ;-)

It is also the dividing line Atlantic waters / Pacific. It is at 2200 m altitude.

And it's beautiful :-)

Ooh la la There are too many signs here!

And some are a bit scared anyway ...

Vroom, vroom ...

And we're back in Arizona!

It also happens in the area of Indian reserves, and it shows:

Here Cheap!

And when night falls, wild animals come out to hunt, you must be careful.

Ca cares a little pissed off, anyway ...

"Uh, you're sure that the girls camped tonight ?"...

Kates Playground Klit

Roadtrip - Day 13: White Sands

Remember (I know it's been ...), we had stopped just at the entrance to White Sands.

In the white paradise ...



were planted (well more than we are laying the plant for that matter) in the tent Oliver Lee State Park at the foot of the Sacramento Mountains :

The sun rises over the valley

After a short drive, we are back to White Sands :

As their name suggests, white sands that are large sand dunes white.

It's pretty surreal that expanse of white in the middle of the desert

Marcel is happy, he says he will be able to make pies!

Training of White Sands is explained in detail here . In summary (I'm not a geologist!), They are gypsum crystals that have settled there when there was water there are millions of years and have surrélevés during the formation of the Rockies.

It really looks like snow!

There is a appropriate place to play in the sand, children are having a field day!

It's hard to leave this place really amazing, but the road trip continues ... It takes the northern route this time to join Santa Fe is one of the most deserted roads we do! However, one can always crosses specimens vehicular interesting!

And the scenery is always nice:

is confusing as many "no" over such large areas! But it's beautiful ...

Sometimes a freight train still :

You will not believe this?

When I say it's desert, I'm exaggerating, there is at least one sign of life every 50 km! For example, a gift shop here:

It's getting bad ...

Oh the green :-)

town Oh! Let us explain what the panel:

Population: 210 (1990 census), Altitude: 6666 feet (the city of the devil!), Founded in 1903, incorporated in 1947.

The first people to settle in the region were English farmers who raised sheep and cattle in large areas around Corona. In the 1850s, a stagecoach line was established from Las Vegas to Fort Stanton and White Oaks, carrying passengers, mail and goods to the army. Mining operations began in 1881 in the Gallinas Mountains region but proved unprofitable because the miners had to carry the ore on to smelters in Soccoro trucks and El Paso. With the establishment of a railway line passing through Corona, production increased ore became possible. At peak production, about 300 people were employed in the industry. Corona was established as a "railroad town" in 1903 during construction of the El Paso and South Western Railroad from Carrizozo to Santa Rosa where he was connected to the Rock Island Line. This led many farmers in the region and initiated the growth of Corona as a clearinghouse, allowing farmers and ranchers to ship their products to market. In the 1950s, transmission lines were put gas in the region and houses were built to host the thirty families used. Recognized as one of the best in the state, the school has long been a focal point community. The coaches have now gone, the mines are closed, agricultural activities are minimal, the train depot was moved, trains no longer stop here and gas lines have been automated. Corona is always the center of trade in the region, the school is still the heart of the Communities of Corona and is, again, a breeding ground.

That it reflects the profile of many surrounding towns: ultra rapid growth around 100 or 150 years ago when interest deposits are discovered and mines open, then an equally rapid decline when mines are exhausted, or more profitable, to arrive at these ghost towns lost in the middle of nowhere ... Here it has arrested 30 minutes for a picnic, we have not seen a single person! We really believe in these western towns deserted with signs swaying, grinding, dust flying in the "Main Street" and 2 or 3 vultures flying over a scene (well there we still did not see vultures!).

The road goes on ...

Again and again ... lalala

We get tired of it :-)

After this exciting road (it's true it's a bit repetitive but it's quite fascinating, another world ...), we get to Santa Fe , the capital of New Mexico (good since there are only 2 cities with more 50 people is not a feat ;-)). To get a full night's sleep (the night before we thought we were going to fly with the tent so Y'avait wind!), We decided to call to reserve a room at the hostel the city (y 'one). Arrived on site is a bit disillusioned, it's super weird, the guy who welcomed us explained that it is a kind of community, so they do not we pay taxes to the city but we must compensate for help with household chores in the morning, the tasks being written on paper from 7am, and of course first come first served, so we had better set the alarm if it does not clean the toilets: S-L
The hostel is nearly full, occupied by a group of Amish Mennonite or (I know the exact difference), pretty weird. We therefore carapate fast enough to eat!

The historical center of Santa Fe:

In the next post, you will discover what our chores had to make three adventurers : Washing dishes for 50 people? scrubbing the toilets at the toothbrush? off chewing gum stuck under the kitchen table? Do not miss your soap after thrilling :-)