We got up from our motel in Santa Rosa to begin our journey westward. We have found we have an affinity for Best Westerns among major chain motels. I do not like chains or corporations at all. I prefer locally owned and operated mom and pop operations. However, sometimes life doesn't give you that choice. When we do more research and travel in areas better we might find that we can locate good rooms that are non corporate. Until that time, when we choose something that is a chain, we go with Best Westerns because they are actually a franchise that in many cases are a locally owned and operated motel -- oftentimes a restored or well maintained older motel. I think the one in Santa Rosa is one such motel. If things were working out better on this trip, including the fact that I didn't screw up the itinerary so bad, we might have stayed in Tucumcari. It was good to give Santa Rosa a look see.
Monday, October 22, 2012 08:27:02
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| This classsic cafe sign was outside our motel in Santa Rosa, New Mexico |
Monday, October 22, 2012 08:27:28
Monday, October 22, 2012 08:27:36
Monday, October 22, 2012 08:27:38
We started out west on old 66/US-54 Expressway/business 40/Will Rogers Drive in Santa Rosa. Our first major stop is Santa Fe, New Mexico on the old route 66 alignment. At one time, route 66 ran to Santa Fe. A re-alignment in 1938 (some say was politically motivated), moved the alignment to its present course, which is actually straighter.
Old 66/US-54 Expressway/business 40/Will Rogers Drive curves to the southwest and becomes Parker Avenue through Santa Rosa, then curves to the northwest and becomes Coronada Avenue before merging onto I-40. We headed west until we hit the Santa Fe Cut off, which is State Route 219/US 84. This heads north until we hit highway 25. Here, we made a bathroom stop...
Oct 22, 2012 11:01:52 AM
Las Vegas, NM 87701, USA
Subway
1 (505) 454-9470
01 Romeroville Frontage Road, Las Vegas, NM 87701
We met an older couple there who were on their way south. They were camping out of a cargo trailer that they had converted into a camper. I was curious about that as I am considering the possibilities of getting a camper or motor home. I've considered just converting a cargo trailer the way I want it and thereby having a useful trailer for hauling and camping. Our experience with a big truck in a small crowded parking lot at Ted Drewes in St. Louis is making us lean more towards the camper van idea.
We got on the north outer road for I-25 south as it is the old alignment of the route before 1938. The highway heads south then bends west. The outer road, for the most part follows it then crosses over to the south side. Sout of Pecos, you cross back over, then drive into Pecos on highway 63. You turn left on 50, in Pecos and head west back towards the highway.
Oct 22, 2012 11:36:18 AM
Pecos, NM 87552, USA
You pass into a civil war battle site -- Glorietta Pass.
We intersected I-25 and took it southwest until we got off at Old Las Vega Highway. This ran along the highway and then intersected 486/Old Pecos Trail. This then made a right at the intersection of St. Michaels Drive and Old Pecos Trail. South of downtown Santa Fe, Old Pecos Trail merges with Old Santa Fe Trail. We took this to East Alameda Street and went west a couple of blocks. Route 66 alignments get confusing in here. There are a lot of references all over the area, so I think there were quite a few alignments. We stopped and found a place to park, so we could walk around downtown.Santa Fe, New Mexico
- 2012/10/22 Monday 10:30
La Boca
1 (505) 982-3433
72 West Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
- 2012/10/22 Monday 10:39
- 2012/10/22 Monday 11:42
We were hoping to see our friends, Mark and Russell. We knew it would be a long shot, however as the timing was pretty bad. Both are busy and Mark, who works at a tv station in Albuquerque was in the midst of getting ready for ratings, which meant he barely had time for lunch. We stayed with them in October 2009, and again in May 2012. Their hospitality is unbeatable. I hope I can return the favor some day. I wish we could've visited a little this time around, but it just wasn't meant to be. I have to learn to plan my trips better.
We spent a couple of hours walking around downtown. Suyen was in the mood to get back on the road and head west. We were thinking of eating lunch here, but we couldn't find anything downtown that fit our tastes. We just took some pictures and headed on.
Monday, October 22, 2012 12:45:27
Kateri Tekakwitha was just canonized the day before our visit here.
Live Broadcast Schedule:
Click on the link to open a new window....
21:00 to 01:00 Wed through Sat -- Battlecam.com/Chrometuna
Chrome could use your help these days as his living situation
has become like so many others, desperate. Click on his
channel for details.
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