THE TEXAS TRIP - DAY 5 - Wednesday, December 19, 2001

I went to Sante Fe, NM and then off to Albuquerque, NM. along the I-40 which has the famed historic route 66 going parallel to the interstate. Santa Fe – I must have taken a wrong turn at “Rock Vegas” and landed in Bedrock! The architecture of the homes and buildings is like something straight out of the Flintstones. Pueblo Indians settled the area, and everything is built with adobe and has to conform to strict historical building codes in regard to their design and color. I saw the oldest home in America, built in 1250. I saw oldest church in America, built in 1610. On Hwy. I25S to Albuquerque, just outside of Santa Fe, the trees on the median strip dividing the highway were decorated for Christmas. Beige rolling hills with tufts of green, roundish woodland juniper trees, interspersed with orange/red rock. Mountain ranges on all sides. No grass, just clumps of sagebrush. There were red cliffs along I-40W on the way to Gallup, N.M. with mountains as back drop (San Mateo Mtns.) Grants, N.M. – stopped for photo of lava rock beside highway. I also grabbed a sample. Thoreau, N.M. – stopped to take a photo leaning against the historic Route 66 sign. The continental Divide was just past Thoreau. At the Santa Fe Tourist Information Center, the fellow there told me about his brush with a UFO when I asked for info about Roswell. I car camped overnight at the Flying J Truck Stop in Winslow, AZ.

This is the oldest church in the USA.

This picture was taken inside the oldest church in the USA.

How effective is this for vehicle protection?

Such interesting architecture in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

With that wooden ladder on the roof, it sure reminded me of a "Flintstones" type of house. Was I in Bedrock?

Take a balloon ride over Albuquerque!

A view of Albuquerque from a very busy Flying J truck stop.

I captured this scenic shot along the I-40 on film as I drove.

The old route 66 runs along I-40.

Hurray! I made it to Arizona. Sure was chilly and look at the snow. Where is that warm snowbird weather of the south?