Heading for New Mexico, it is nearing the end of our trip. We've been having that on edge feeling lately, which naturally comes with spending everyday with someone. Getting some much needed alone time in Colorado. I've also come to realize that I need to release the experiences from each place along the way in order to fully take in the next location and its experiences. Going from city to city and trying to take in all the experiences is a lot especially when there are so many different cultures and outlooks in each place. I am truly loving this road trip, each place has brought new and amazing aspects into my life. I love traveling and taking it all in and then once you leave the place or at the end of the trip you see what you actually got from everything. Alright enough with the deep and meaningful talk.
We are on our way to NM and are driving through this abandoned town, or at least it seemed abandoned. Chris gets pulled over for doing 53 in a 45, and by the way there is a 50mph sign about 15 yards away. He didn't give us a ticket, luckily. We were trying to make it to White Sands by sunset but that wasn't really happening. Check out White Sands, NM if you do not know about it...amazing. We decide to stop in Roswell, NM. Boy was that a disappointment. The "actual" ufo crash sites are unaccessible because people own the land and you could be shot if caught trespassing. There is a UFO museum and every store front and fast food restaurant has alien displays but it is not anything worth going to see. I don't even think we got out of the car.
We arrived in Albuquerque around 9:30pm and were pretty exhausted. Heather our couch surfing host raved about White Sands, so at some point in my life I would love to go see it. We hang out with Heather and have some local beers. She is an awesome host already; super outgoing, energetic and has some awesome hobbies. Her house is really cool, it is actually a big house that the landlord split into three different tenant areas. The fire place is awesome in itself...I forgot to take pictures. We end up again with our own room, which is connected to a room that has two snakes in it eeek. Sleep on a futon that if one person gets off it tips over, interesting especially if Chris needs to use the bathroom.
* the smaller snake
Wednesday, 09.25.2013
Woke up and headed out by 11am, we are now on mountain time. Old Town, Albuquerque is a nice environment. It is definitely a tourist section of the city, all of the art galleries and jewelry are all the same through out the town. We grab coffee and a snack and head to the Sandia Mountains.
*still a lot of Indian culture
We had planned a hike for the day. We get there around 2:30pm and decide to hike up the mountain to the Tramway that takes you back down to the lodge. I did not research this hike enough before we started...it quickly became very challenging. Chris ended up going ahead of me trying to guarantee that he makes it to the top by sunset. The last tram leaves by 8:30pm, so I have no chose but to keep pushing to make it to the top. There were serious times when I didn't think I could move anymore. With the steep elevation gain, the air quality and being super out of shape...it was very difficult. The entire hike ends up being 10 miles with a 3,375 ft elevation gain...the La Luz Trail. The views at every turn were amazing and I enjoyed hiking alone and taking it all in. However when it got to be 7:30pm and the sun was setting it was getting a bit sketchy, no one else is sight and no head lamp. I had to hike the last hour in the dark and was struggling really bad, my body did not want to move any further. Finally saw the tramway lodge which was still a mile ahead. I finally get there and the first thing you walk up to is a restaurant with all these people dressed in fancy clothes eating their dinners. I couldn't help but laugh because while they were concerned with what they were eating for dinner, I literally was struggling trying to make it up this mountain with no light and 10,000 ft up with steep cliffs at my side. I finally got there at about 8:15pm, the last tram being 8:30pm. Chris was there for an hour before I got there. People were boarding the tram in their restaurant attire and then there were about 5 hikers including us. Three of which passed me long ago. I definitely want to keep hiking so that I can get stronger and stronger. This hike was an accidental hike, extremely challenging especially for someone who hasn't legitimately hiked in a year. The tram is pretty awesome, it was dark so all you could see were the lights of the city. We get down and can not wait to eat. We were not prepared for the trip either, I had water and one cliff bar. I had no choice but to finish that hike. The restaurant at the bottom was closed so we head to a mexican place in Nob Hill. I was so exhausted I could barely even eat. Had a beer and stopped to see Heather, our host for a bit. She was down the street eating and drinking. We hang for a bit and then go back to shower and crash for the night. What a crazy day. The hike was insane and definitely one of the hardest things I have ever done.
Thursday, 09.26.2013
Today we are set to head to Santa Fe. When we first met Heather she talked about how when she would walk around and come across one shoe she would instantly wonder where the other shoe was. It was a random conversation that was pretty amusing. So naturally I thought it would be funny to go to Salvation Army and get an awesome pair of shoes. Leave one for Heather and have one with me. This was her parting gift. She loved it. We said goodbye and headed toward Tent Rocks. Tent Rocks are these rock formations that occurred from a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. They were beautiful.
Just driving through out New Mexico is absolutely beautiful. There are still a bunch of Indian Pueblos and a few Reservations left. We find a hostel in Santa Fe that is only $18. This hostel is awesome. It is an adobe building, almost all the houses and buildings I have seen in New Mexico are adobe. We get settled in and head into the Plaza area. Just like Albuquerque, the tourist part of town consists of many art galleries and jewelry everywhere. We got some advice from Heather's friend on Santa Fe so we knew of some awesome places to go. We decide to check out the bars in the area. El Paseo is a local bar and the bartender from Texas was talking to us about how cops are really strict with drinking. They watch the bartenders to see how many drinks they are serving each person and then your blood alcohol level doesn't really matter here. The cops are allowed to give you a DUI even if you blow a .02, it is totally to their discretion. That is a bit ridiculous because in most parts of New Mexico there is no access to public transportation. We are already a target because of the Pennsylvania license plates so we take it easy on the drinking. After El Paseo we walk around and end up at the Matadore, an awesome dive bar. We meet an Aussie who ends up hanging out with us for dinner. We go to Blue Corn, a local brewery and restaurant. Their beer is good but I didn't enjoy the food much. Eventually get back to the hostel, have another beer and go to bed. It is only 11pm and we are exhausted. I ended up waking up at 5am and not being about to go back to bed.
Friday, 09.27.2013
We make breakfast and do our chores before heading to Taos. The hostel requires you to complete a chore before you leave. They also get weekly donations from Whole Foods and everyone is welcome to anything. I find out that a lot of people working there also live there for free. This becomes an immediate attraction for me. I was already loving New Mexico and I hadn't even seen Taos yet. The drive to Taos is so amazing, there aren't even enough worlds to describe it.
*driving in the middle of no where, no service and climbing a mountain
The elevation is so high already and then you have to climb another mountain to then be at an even greater elevation. Right before you get to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge you drive pass all these earthships and people living completely off the grid. It is seriously amazing. I drive through the "roads" checking out the different homes and how they are living off the land. There is nothing else around but mountains and blue skies and even more mountains in the background.
The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge is another amazing site.
After you cross the bridge you get into Taos. Seriously a small town surrounded by mountains. We try to go check out a Pueblo but it is closed. We get food at Michael's Kitchen, a popular restaurant with Mexican food. We eat and decide to drive the Enchanted Circle Drive. A 85 mile drive through all the surrounding towns. The drive is through mountains and small towns and lakes and every other beautiful nature scene you could think of. It amazing. I am loving New Mexico. After driving and taking everything in we head to Colorado.
On the way we had to descend down the mountain into Pagosa Springs. We were so high up that it started snowing...a lot. My car was sliding down this mountain, I don't understand how they get around in the winter months. This part of the country gets so much snow.
Chris's Dad hooked us up with a time share in Pagosa Springs so we are living large these next few days. We check in, get settled and head to the local brewery. Had a few beers and before we knew it they were closing. The mountain towns all close early because they all wake up early and do outdoorsy activities unlike the late night lifestyle of most of the east coast. It was a great day. From seeing off the grid to Taos to Colorado and snow...pretty epic.
We'll be in Colorado for a few days before heading to Sedona. Talked to my friend in San Francisco and I have to be there by October 5th. This trip is coming to a quick end.
We'll be in Colorado for a few days before heading to Sedona. Talked to my friend in San Francisco and I have to be there by October 5th. This trip is coming to a quick end.
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