Farmington - Santa Fe, New Mexico
Monday, May 6
After a good night's sleep, we woke up and started getting ready for a new day and the next leg of the adventure. While we showered, dressed, and started getting things ready to load, Cousin Joan was busy fixing a delightful breakfast...far better than the breakfast room meals we've had throughout the journey.
When all was ready for travel, we took time for some photos.
Joan and I are holding a photo of our grandparents, Harvey and Cornelia Little (Grandma and Dad, to all of their grandchildren).
With the photo session over, it was time to bundle up (it was pretty cold out this morning and we would be riding at a high altitude across northern New Mexico), said our goodbyes and promised to see each other again soon, and then climbed on Taz and headed east on U.S. 64 toward Bloomfield, Dulce, and Chama.
The off-road terrain of northern New Mexico can be forbidding at best, and downright treacherous at its worst. A hiker who has the misfortune to fall and break a leg can wait a long time for assistance.
Travel on the road isn't necessarily treacherous (even though there are some pretty dicey turns along the way), but it can be very slow when one gets behind big trucks and vehicles towing heavy loads.
We began to wonder just where this road was headed when we saw the vehicles ahead of us going into this curve.
Okay...there is a highway ahead of us. Unfortunately, those two vehicles are also ahead of us and there is no way to get around them.
The two vehicles ahead of us finally turned off, leaving us free to pick up the pace a little.
From a distance, it looked as if there was a good sized river flowing along the highway, but when we got close, we saw it was nearly all sand and gravel, with a few small pools of water in it.
What keeps this from toppling over...looks like a strong gust of wind could create a great rockfall.
We commented several times this morning that if someone had a body they needed to get rid of, this part of New Mexico would be as good a place as any, since it might never be found.
With Chama in view, we prepared for a rest stop for us and a refill for Taz. We'd been booking it pretty good across U.S. 64 and were ready for a serious break.
By now, we had joined with U.S. 84 and were headed south by southeast toward Espanola.
While riding this morning, we saw a sign pointing to a monastery several miles off the highway. That led to questions about the differences between priests, monks, and brothers, and what their duties were. Barbara got a good signal on her phone and googled the various terms, leading to about a 30-minute conversation and learning experience for both of us...gotta love good phone service, Google, and a good intercom system!
As we finished our "classroom on wheels," we came to a rest area overlooking the Abiquiu Reservoir. The break allowed us to take photos of the reservoir, surrounding countryside, unique rock formations across the highway, and even ourselves.
The ride from the overlook to Espanola was downhill all the way. We passed through the village of Abiquiu, the home of artist Georgia O'Keefe from 1949 until her death in 1986, and through changing terrain as we moved into a lower elevation.
As we approached Espanola on U.S. 84, we noticed this housing "development." There was obviously no form of zoning here, but whether the residents wake up each morning in a mobile home, a double-wide, or a house, the view is magnificent.
We stopped in Espanola for a Sonic meal and a lengthy break before pushing on down the highway toward Santa Fe.
Our next stop was at the Tesuque Pueblo to take photos of the iconic Camel Rock. We've passed it many times over the years of traveling through here, but never took the time to stop and really look at it.
Our final stop for the day was in Santa Fe at the home of our friend Max Johnson. We had text Max to get his address so we could navigate to the house. We didn't have any problem getting there, but Max was waiting out front, just in case we needed last-minute guidance.
Max Johnson and I grew up in Artesia and have been friends since I was in junior high school. Max was three years ahead of me in school, but we were both trumpet players in the bands, and that made us family...that's just the way it was back then. When Max graduated from high school, he went to Eastern New Mexico University as a music major. I followed in those footsteps three years later.
It was during freshman orientation in 1962 that Max and I met Bob Stevens, a freshman trumpet player from Albuquerque, and we began a friendship that has lasted for nearly 52 years.
Tonight, Bob and his wife, Teresa, drove up from Albuquerque to have dinner and spend an evening reminiscing not just about college days, but about all those years since...our years as band directors, our military service, and our families. Each of the five of us initiated or participated in multiple conversations, particularly about our experiences in the field of education and how it has changed (not necessarily for the better) over the years.
To say the night was wonderful would be an understatement...good friends, good food, and a special time to relive and renew special friendships...it just doesn't get any better!
The evening in photos...
Left to right...Jim, Max, Bob
Where two or more were gathered, there was a lot of conversation going on.
Max whipped up a great meal, Bob and Teresa brought their world-famous potato salad, and Barbara and I brought our appetites. We were all well-rewarded!
Max even made a special dessert for the occasion.
As the evening wound down, we decided we'd better have a photo session to capture the five of us in the moment. It took two cameras and a lot of snaps, but we finally got 'er done.
Bob and Teresa had to leave to prepare for a trip from Albuquerque to El Paso to watch one of their granddaughters in a music contest, so we said our goodbyes and saw them off. Then, it was time for Max, Barbara, and me to call it quits for the night. It had been a long day for us and Max had even more planned for us tomorrow.
Today was a "free day" for Taz as we slept in, got up and had a leisurely breakfast with Max (the leftover roast from last night made a wonderful machaca), and then set out in Max's new Hummer for a bit of exploration.
Our first stop was at the New Mexico National Guard Bataan Memorial Museum, unfortunately one of the best-kept secrets in the state.
This was the site of a New Mexico National Guard Armory from 1940 - 1942, and served as the World War II Induction Center from 1941 - 1945. During its time as an induction center, more than 57,000 men passed through the front doors to receive physical exams, immunizations, and assignments as they entered military service for our nation.
I must confess my ignorance of the part the New Mexico National Guard played during the battles of the Philippines and the infamous Bataan Death March during World War II. A large force of the NM National Guard was assigned to the Philippines during that time, most of whom were captured by the Japanese and forced to endure or die on the 65-mile forced march. I remember having a couple of teachers who survived the Death March, but like many other veterans of World War II, they never talked about their experiences.. After today, I understand why.
This sculpture in the museum is in honor of all prisoners of war in the Philippine Conflict.
70,000 soldiers began the 55-mile forced march from from Mariveles to San Fernando, those who survived that part of the trip were then loaded onto freight cars and taken 29 miles north to Capas, and then forced to march another 8 miles to Camp O'Donnell. Those who were too ill to walk or be carried were slaughtered by the Japanese. Likewise, any Philippine natives who offered assistance were beheaded. Only 54,000 soldiers arrived at Camp O'Donnell...16,000 troops died from illness or wounds, or were killed along the way by their captors.
Members of the New Mexico National Guard have served proudly in campaigns around the world since the beginning of World War II..
Some of the displays in the museum...
While Max visited with one of his friends who works at the museum, Barbara and I went to the theater and watched a documentary film about the Bataan Death March. It was impossible to watch all the way through without shedding tears for the brave troops who were ordered by the U.S. Government to surrender to the Japanese, and who were subsequently forced to fend for themselves as other theaters of the war were considered more vital and important than the Philippines.
One of the items on display is this World War I era Harley motorcycle, produced for the war effort. I couldn't help myself...
Outside the museum is an area of static displays of military vehicles and equipment. Max showed me several that he had traveled on or operated during his career with the National Guard.
While Max and I were doing the military bit, Barbara went to the art museum in the lot behind the National Guard Museum and took pictures of a large sculpture that stands outside the building.
Before we climbed back into Max's Hummer, we staged this shot to send to Jaycie...told her it was Grams' new ride.
From the museums (and there are many of them in Santa Fe...a person could spend many days just going from one to another), Max took us across town and treated us to a meal at Super Salad, a build-your own, eat-all-you-can, pitch-'til you win (Barbara's dad's term), soup and salad buffet. This was a new experience for us as we had never seen this particular name. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the time we spent together just talking and still getting caught up on each other's lives. Little did we know how memorable this meal would become, but that's a story for another day.
After eating, Max took us out to get a distant look at the new law enforcement center and the New Mexico Penitentiary. We either didn't know or didn't remember that the penitentiary was the setting for the movie, "The Longest Yard." We couldn't get close enough to take photos that would show anything, but that's just as well, since that's the closest any of us ever want to be to a state prison.
On the way back to the house, Barbara got this shot of the landscape south of I-25. There is just nothing like New Mexico landscapes set against a blue New Mexico sky with those white clouds.
We returned to the house, worked in a short nap, and then spent the afternoon and evening washing clothes, visiting, and watching movies. Max had a DVD of "The Great Raid," a movie depicting a raid to free 500 prisoners of war at a detention center in the Philippines during World War," so our education continued.
We were physically exhausted from the walking we did during the day and emotionally exhausted from the movie, so we all called it a day and headed for bed. Tomorrow would be a big travel day for us and we needed to get ready for it.
Resting comfortably in Santa Fe,
Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsy
After a good night's sleep, we woke up and started getting ready for a new day and the next leg of the adventure. While we showered, dressed, and started getting things ready to load, Cousin Joan was busy fixing a delightful breakfast...far better than the breakfast room meals we've had throughout the journey.
When all was ready for travel, we took time for some photos.
Joan and I are holding a photo of our grandparents, Harvey and Cornelia Little (Grandma and Dad, to all of their grandchildren).
With the photo session over, it was time to bundle up (it was pretty cold out this morning and we would be riding at a high altitude across northern New Mexico), said our goodbyes and promised to see each other again soon, and then climbed on Taz and headed east on U.S. 64 toward Bloomfield, Dulce, and Chama.
The off-road terrain of northern New Mexico can be forbidding at best, and downright treacherous at its worst. A hiker who has the misfortune to fall and break a leg can wait a long time for assistance.
Travel on the road isn't necessarily treacherous (even though there are some pretty dicey turns along the way), but it can be very slow when one gets behind big trucks and vehicles towing heavy loads.
We began to wonder just where this road was headed when we saw the vehicles ahead of us going into this curve.
Okay...there is a highway ahead of us. Unfortunately, those two vehicles are also ahead of us and there is no way to get around them.
The two vehicles ahead of us finally turned off, leaving us free to pick up the pace a little.
From a distance, it looked as if there was a good sized river flowing along the highway, but when we got close, we saw it was nearly all sand and gravel, with a few small pools of water in it.
There wasn't much in the way of housing along this stretch of highway.
What keeps this from toppling over...looks like a strong gust of wind could create a great rockfall.
We commented several times this morning that if someone had a body they needed to get rid of, this part of New Mexico would be as good a place as any, since it might never be found.
With Chama in view, we prepared for a rest stop for us and a refill for Taz. We'd been booking it pretty good across U.S. 64 and were ready for a serious break.
By now, we had joined with U.S. 84 and were headed south by southeast toward Espanola.
While riding this morning, we saw a sign pointing to a monastery several miles off the highway. That led to questions about the differences between priests, monks, and brothers, and what their duties were. Barbara got a good signal on her phone and googled the various terms, leading to about a 30-minute conversation and learning experience for both of us...gotta love good phone service, Google, and a good intercom system!
As we finished our "classroom on wheels," we came to a rest area overlooking the Abiquiu Reservoir. The break allowed us to take photos of the reservoir, surrounding countryside, unique rock formations across the highway, and even ourselves.
The ride from the overlook to Espanola was downhill all the way. We passed through the village of Abiquiu, the home of artist Georgia O'Keefe from 1949 until her death in 1986, and through changing terrain as we moved into a lower elevation.
As we approached Espanola on U.S. 84, we noticed this housing "development." There was obviously no form of zoning here, but whether the residents wake up each morning in a mobile home, a double-wide, or a house, the view is magnificent.
We stopped in Espanola for a Sonic meal and a lengthy break before pushing on down the highway toward Santa Fe.
Our next stop was at the Tesuque Pueblo to take photos of the iconic Camel Rock. We've passed it many times over the years of traveling through here, but never took the time to stop and really look at it.
Our final stop for the day was in Santa Fe at the home of our friend Max Johnson. We had text Max to get his address so we could navigate to the house. We didn't have any problem getting there, but Max was waiting out front, just in case we needed last-minute guidance.
Max Johnson and I grew up in Artesia and have been friends since I was in junior high school. Max was three years ahead of me in school, but we were both trumpet players in the bands, and that made us family...that's just the way it was back then. When Max graduated from high school, he went to Eastern New Mexico University as a music major. I followed in those footsteps three years later.
It was during freshman orientation in 1962 that Max and I met Bob Stevens, a freshman trumpet player from Albuquerque, and we began a friendship that has lasted for nearly 52 years.
Tonight, Bob and his wife, Teresa, drove up from Albuquerque to have dinner and spend an evening reminiscing not just about college days, but about all those years since...our years as band directors, our military service, and our families. Each of the five of us initiated or participated in multiple conversations, particularly about our experiences in the field of education and how it has changed (not necessarily for the better) over the years.
To say the night was wonderful would be an understatement...good friends, good food, and a special time to relive and renew special friendships...it just doesn't get any better!
The evening in photos...
Left to right...Jim, Max, Bob
Where two or more were gathered, there was a lot of conversation going on.
Max whipped up a great meal, Bob and Teresa brought their world-famous potato salad, and Barbara and I brought our appetites. We were all well-rewarded!
Max even made a special dessert for the occasion.
As the evening wound down, we decided we'd better have a photo session to capture the five of us in the moment. It took two cameras and a lot of snaps, but we finally got 'er done.
Bob and Teresa had to leave to prepare for a trip from Albuquerque to El Paso to watch one of their granddaughters in a music contest, so we said our goodbyes and saw them off. Then, it was time for Max, Barbara, and me to call it quits for the night. It had been a long day for us and Max had even more planned for us tomorrow.
+++++++
Tuesday, May 7Today was a "free day" for Taz as we slept in, got up and had a leisurely breakfast with Max (the leftover roast from last night made a wonderful machaca), and then set out in Max's new Hummer for a bit of exploration.
Our first stop was at the New Mexico National Guard Bataan Memorial Museum, unfortunately one of the best-kept secrets in the state.
This was the site of a New Mexico National Guard Armory from 1940 - 1942, and served as the World War II Induction Center from 1941 - 1945. During its time as an induction center, more than 57,000 men passed through the front doors to receive physical exams, immunizations, and assignments as they entered military service for our nation.
I must confess my ignorance of the part the New Mexico National Guard played during the battles of the Philippines and the infamous Bataan Death March during World War II. A large force of the NM National Guard was assigned to the Philippines during that time, most of whom were captured by the Japanese and forced to endure or die on the 65-mile forced march. I remember having a couple of teachers who survived the Death March, but like many other veterans of World War II, they never talked about their experiences.. After today, I understand why.
This sculpture in the museum is in honor of all prisoners of war in the Philippine Conflict.
70,000 soldiers began the 55-mile forced march from from Mariveles to San Fernando, those who survived that part of the trip were then loaded onto freight cars and taken 29 miles north to Capas, and then forced to march another 8 miles to Camp O'Donnell. Those who were too ill to walk or be carried were slaughtered by the Japanese. Likewise, any Philippine natives who offered assistance were beheaded. Only 54,000 soldiers arrived at Camp O'Donnell...16,000 troops died from illness or wounds, or were killed along the way by their captors.
Members of the New Mexico National Guard have served proudly in campaigns around the world since the beginning of World War II..
Some of the displays in the museum...
While Max visited with one of his friends who works at the museum, Barbara and I went to the theater and watched a documentary film about the Bataan Death March. It was impossible to watch all the way through without shedding tears for the brave troops who were ordered by the U.S. Government to surrender to the Japanese, and who were subsequently forced to fend for themselves as other theaters of the war were considered more vital and important than the Philippines.
One of the items on display is this World War I era Harley motorcycle, produced for the war effort. I couldn't help myself...
Outside the museum is an area of static displays of military vehicles and equipment. Max showed me several that he had traveled on or operated during his career with the National Guard.
While Max and I were doing the military bit, Barbara went to the art museum in the lot behind the National Guard Museum and took pictures of a large sculpture that stands outside the building.
Before we climbed back into Max's Hummer, we staged this shot to send to Jaycie...told her it was Grams' new ride.
From the museums (and there are many of them in Santa Fe...a person could spend many days just going from one to another), Max took us across town and treated us to a meal at Super Salad, a build-your own, eat-all-you-can, pitch-'til you win (Barbara's dad's term), soup and salad buffet. This was a new experience for us as we had never seen this particular name. We thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the time we spent together just talking and still getting caught up on each other's lives. Little did we know how memorable this meal would become, but that's a story for another day.
After eating, Max took us out to get a distant look at the new law enforcement center and the New Mexico Penitentiary. We either didn't know or didn't remember that the penitentiary was the setting for the movie, "The Longest Yard." We couldn't get close enough to take photos that would show anything, but that's just as well, since that's the closest any of us ever want to be to a state prison.
On the way back to the house, Barbara got this shot of the landscape south of I-25. There is just nothing like New Mexico landscapes set against a blue New Mexico sky with those white clouds.
We returned to the house, worked in a short nap, and then spent the afternoon and evening washing clothes, visiting, and watching movies. Max had a DVD of "The Great Raid," a movie depicting a raid to free 500 prisoners of war at a detention center in the Philippines during World War," so our education continued.
We were physically exhausted from the walking we did during the day and emotionally exhausted from the movie, so we all called it a day and headed for bed. Tomorrow would be a big travel day for us and we needed to get ready for it.
+++++++
Resting comfortably in Santa Fe,
Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsy
