Getting ready for next leg of the journey, today’s destination: Mesa Verde. Hitting the road early enough to enjoy the sights (?) we’ll find out later how well that plan works out (and whether we’ll be breaking the 50mph mark š
Arrived in Santa Fe to find Dona and Luca (Italian sculptor- just returned to states) enjoying the gloaming on her porch. We had a sumptuous din and I had a long, hot bath. Friday a.m. Dona and I enjoyed a slow and easy latte (her specialty) and a nice visit before getting to work on respective arts. Garnet got an extra coat of sealant to protect her from the rain and Dona printed. We then went to Waldorf school graduation in the bug where I helped with cake and refreshments while Dona chatted with Maura Studie (Wes Studie’s wife) and other notable parents. Zenon gave me the teenage equivalent of a standing O when he took his schoolmates out to see the bug! Dona and I then supped at Zia diner where the food was delish (roasted beet, pecan and goat cheese salad) and the service was impeccable (Sam Rhule.)
Moments of deep awareness and concern arose as “Blanca” labored over Big Hills from ABQ to Santa Fe. Slumping to 43 mph to make our overall ascent of 7,000. in breaking record heat (a trend in all states I’ve been in) 102 in AustinĀ and 10+ degrees increase in Texas, OK, and NM. I passed the time in long conversation with dear brother, Jim, in the “meantime” and looked forward to visit with dear friend (and phenomonoal photographer) Dona Bollard www.thespottedponyphotography.com. Leaving Saturday a.m and glad to have opted for plan B (and fewer Mts.)
Realized as I secured the garage door to “Fort Morgan”that I”d left my cell phone inside. Doh.
With no hope of regaining entry; nor interest in the heroic effort necessary to track down Alan at U.N.M. I opted to kill timeĀ by driving a few miles to “olde town.” A veritable “shoppers/ “grazers” paradise” of galleries, curio, jewelry, S.Fe kitsch with delightfull sprinklings of wood sculptured birds, beadwork, “Day of the dead” art and of course, the Virgin mary After dolling out 12 bucks to park van -n- bug H.B and I moseyed around for a couple of hours (and had our photo taken as “cowboys”) In our ramblings we stumbled across ABQ’sĀ fine art museum via their bronze sculpture garden, gate (pictured.) I tentatively parked H.B. in protected courtyard (with water and shade) notified security guard, and dashed thru the museum (not wanting to leave her alone for too long.)
The permanent collection featured portraits of notable New Mexicans, several “painterly paintings,” an artists replica of a dashboard, Photos of early days of ABQ. airport (and portraits of birds from 1930’s) a youth photo art exhibit and their feature exhibit: “The Tiffany Girls” featuringĀ a dozen lamps, several fine windows, and paper templates used for lamp design. Apparently, much of what has been thought to be created by Tiffany was in fact, designed and executed by the “girls” under a Miss Driscoll (manager.) Hit 2 resale bookstores and found 2 inspirational books and met up with my hosts shortly thereafter to retrieve the phone, exhange hugs, and hit the road again.
Having a closer look and thought about my (crappy) cartography skills Betsey and I have come up with plan B. Less elevation, no Yellowstone and probably kinder to Blanca. Here it is: Santa fe to Cortez/ Mesa Verde to Moab to Provo to byo Brigham city to boise to Portland.
Well folks, this is what the next couple of weeks look like right now… Albuquerque to Santa Fe to Denver to Casper to greybull to Yellowstone to Jackson hole to Twin falls to Baker city to Portland (June 10th) til June 14th when I arrive in Seattle. But, as they say, Man makes plans and God laughs!
Will take tomorrow to relax, do some research, make some yum woon sen for my hosts and begin charting my course for my adventure beyond Santa Fe. Denver and Yellowstone are definately on the map…
Dallas morning news reviewed what I consider possibly the worst movie ever (“Hangover II”) and gave it a B- thus proving itself unworthy of ever being my home.
Drove past acres and acres of doomed cattle in Amarillo. Most reduced to laying down as they are too fat and weak to stand. Saw a billboard for angus burgers and was glad cows can’t read… drove on to Cadillac ranch in time to see paramedics labor to carry off a woman of similar body shape. Wondered whether it was the heat or her heart. Artist friend speculated that it was her reaction to the art so we deemed it an art-attack.
4 hours out of Tulsa I stopped at the Koa in Clinton/ Elk city. Propietors very nice and warm greetings by cat Liza (Liza Round) made me miss my cat. Wind so blustery I half expected flying monkeys and opted to sweat it out in the van in leu of blowing away. Awakened to gentle rain, cool breezes and hit the road for 8 hrs. to friends in Albuquerque.
