We made it!

After 1,753 miles in 4 days, we made it.  We drove most of the day today to make it to the Grand Canyon this evening.  We went straight to the Grand Canyon National Park and to the rim at the Visitor Center to get our first look at that magnificent sight.  What a perfect way to spend Easter evening seeing what a wonder God has made.  Every mile and every hour was worth it today.

 

Heading for Arizona, still enchanted

We left Santa Fe this beautiful Easter morning heading for Albuquerque, New Mexico and then on to Arizona and the Grand Canyon.  It is hard to believe that we are still seeing such beautiful scenery along the way to Arizona.  We are posting some of the pictures we took from the car to share.

This mesa in the far background is not black stone, it is dark because the clouds above it made a shadow.

A train always helps with the size perspective.

Warning signs like this are all over, even one that said: Dust storm warning.

We stopped in a small town in N.M. to get some lunch.  The waitress suggested a Sopaipilla that would be perfect to share. It was a native flat bread stuffed with meat, cheese, onions, chiles and topped with lettuce, tomatoe,cheese and red and green chile sauce.  It was delicious, but too big for the two of us.

Close to Flagstaff, AZ, we noticed another mountain with snow on the top of it.  The temperature was 70 degrees.

New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment

As we drove into New Mexico we really noticed the change in the topography.  The mesas were unlike anything we have ever seen.  At times the landscape looked barren yet very beautiful.  When we turned north toward Santa Fe, we could see the Sangre de Cristo (Blood of Christ) mountains in the distance.  At first we thought our eyes were deceiving us because the temperature was 73 degrees and there was no way that snow could be on those mountains.  The closer we got we realized it was snow.  When we were told we could drive up to the top of the mountain, our plans to go on to Albuquerque changed right then and there.  As we drove up the mountain it was amazing how quickly the temperature dropped and it wasn't long before we noticed the snow all along the road.  Even though the temperature was in the 50s the snow was on the ground everywhere.  These mountains are the foothills of the Rockies and the views are breathtaking.  We certainly understand why New Mexico calls itself the Land of Enchantment.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the when we first saw the snow on the top of the mountains.

 

This is a gas station where we got the best tamales we have ever had.  Cost: 2 for $2

 

 

 

A nice lady we met close to the top of the mountain offered to take our picture together.

This picture shows the ski trails at the very top of the mountain.

 

Sights along the way

We tried to see some sights along the old Route 66.   We thought Oklahoma would have had the most but that turned out to not be the case.  Anyway we found a few places that look pretty interesting along with the signs that Texas is trying to generate energy with wind.  The big wind mills or whatever you call them are very prominent.

This is a old gas station in Shamrock TX, that has been restored.  It is now the office of the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce.

 

Signs marking Route 66 can be found sporadically throughout OK, TX and NM.

These big wind mills are all along the highway and are much bigger than they appear.



This is taken from the car and it shows how big they are.

Amarillo by evening

After driving all day thru Oklahoma, we made it to Texas Friday afternoon and Amarillo by the evening.  Checked into a hotel and then we to a local Mexican restaurant for a great meal.  Now for a good nights sleep.

This restaurant had the absolute best guacamole.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

We went to see the Memorial in Oklahoma City today and that was really a moving experience.  Hard to believe it has been 18 years since that awful tragedy.

This is part of the Federal building that remained and is part of the memorial.

Welcome to Oklahoma!

We started out this morning in Fort Smith, Arkansas and headed toward Oklahoma City.    Check out the picnic tables at the OK welcome center.

Hard to see because the picture is kind of dark & it was raining a little, too, but it reads "Welcome to Oklahoma!"

Different kind of picnic table areas, cute huh?