Rollin' rollin' rollin'
We're more than halfway to our destination. Here are how the last few days went:
Day 5 - Durango, CO - Woke early in the morning to go for a walk/jog down to the river. The air is so clean and the sky crystal blue. We soaked up all the water and green we could for the next leg back into desert. Four hours to Taos, NM, watching the scenery change from horse pastures to scrub. We passed houses half buried in the soil, brightly painted with strange sculptures all around. Taos was a welcome stop for food, and I loved how spicy everything was, especially the salsa. Looked through the shops at beautiful jewelry and fossils. Another 2 hours to Santa Fe. So tired that night, didn't do much else.
Day 6 - The first of the 2 Dreaded Days of Driving, this one from Santa Fe to Oklahoma City, 8 hours. It was odd seeing a pure white building in the landscape outside of Santa Fe. The various brown adobe colors blended in so well. Was diverted off the road by a sign that read "Dinosaur Museum" (how could I *not* stop?) and a very well done one at that, especially the full size bronzes cast from the bones. Wow. Drive, drive, drive. Stop in Texas for BBQ in a GIANT barn restaurant with sinks in the shape of Texas in the bathroom. Yep, they do nothing small in Texas. Drive, drive, drive. Oklahoma, OK!
Day 7 - Drag carcasses out of bed and hit the road. Oklahoma became Arkansas which became Tennessee (I don't have too much to say about the landscape. I enjoy watching the world go by, but after a while of the same thing, I had to entertain myself by taking pictures of my own feet in the car--I blame the heat.) Memphis, yay! Down to Beale Street for some Blues. Dinner at the Peabody Hotel (portobello mushroom ravioli and white chocolate and berry summer tiramisu), though the ducks that live in the fountain had been put to sleep for the night. Back to Beale Street for more music and street performances before bed.
Day 8 - Nashville. From the home of the Blues to the home of Bluegrass. I'm in heaven. Pull into historic Hermitage Hotel. After a nap, and tea to curb the appetite it's time to go out and see what this 3rd largest fireworks festival is like. Not hard to find since about 100,000 other people helped point the way. Normally, I would hate a crowd that size, but everyone was really well behaved. We wandered to the riverside and climbed up to nestle into an empty space on the grass next to a family who offered us a blanket to keep the chiggers off. We decided to plant ourselves even though it was a few hours before nightfall. B brought back the books and we chatted with folks around us. Music on stage, welcome breezes periodically to ease the humid heat, people watching like mad. We were not disappointed when the sun went down. It was the most amazing firework display I've ever seen. Back to the hotel for cheese and sherry. Great day.
Day 9 - Not quite as exciting, but it is certainly time for a rest. We started the day at the Parthenon, and this time I got to see the inside of it, unlike my last great driving adventure. The gilded Athena was impressive. We decided to go straight to the next hotel, just outside Nashville and look for a laundry--reading and washing took up the afternoon and lounging and reading have taken up most of the evening.
Tomorrow, up to Knoxville and then the trip up the Blue Ridge begins.
More to come when we get a chance. Miss all of you!
Day 5 - Durango, CO - Woke early in the morning to go for a walk/jog down to the river. The air is so clean and the sky crystal blue. We soaked up all the water and green we could for the next leg back into desert. Four hours to Taos, NM, watching the scenery change from horse pastures to scrub. We passed houses half buried in the soil, brightly painted with strange sculptures all around. Taos was a welcome stop for food, and I loved how spicy everything was, especially the salsa. Looked through the shops at beautiful jewelry and fossils. Another 2 hours to Santa Fe. So tired that night, didn't do much else.
Day 6 - The first of the 2 Dreaded Days of Driving, this one from Santa Fe to Oklahoma City, 8 hours. It was odd seeing a pure white building in the landscape outside of Santa Fe. The various brown adobe colors blended in so well. Was diverted off the road by a sign that read "Dinosaur Museum" (how could I *not* stop?) and a very well done one at that, especially the full size bronzes cast from the bones. Wow. Drive, drive, drive. Stop in Texas for BBQ in a GIANT barn restaurant with sinks in the shape of Texas in the bathroom. Yep, they do nothing small in Texas. Drive, drive, drive. Oklahoma, OK!
Day 7 - Drag carcasses out of bed and hit the road. Oklahoma became Arkansas which became Tennessee (I don't have too much to say about the landscape. I enjoy watching the world go by, but after a while of the same thing, I had to entertain myself by taking pictures of my own feet in the car--I blame the heat.) Memphis, yay! Down to Beale Street for some Blues. Dinner at the Peabody Hotel (portobello mushroom ravioli and white chocolate and berry summer tiramisu), though the ducks that live in the fountain had been put to sleep for the night. Back to Beale Street for more music and street performances before bed.
Day 8 - Nashville. From the home of the Blues to the home of Bluegrass. I'm in heaven. Pull into historic Hermitage Hotel. After a nap, and tea to curb the appetite it's time to go out and see what this 3rd largest fireworks festival is like. Not hard to find since about 100,000 other people helped point the way. Normally, I would hate a crowd that size, but everyone was really well behaved. We wandered to the riverside and climbed up to nestle into an empty space on the grass next to a family who offered us a blanket to keep the chiggers off. We decided to plant ourselves even though it was a few hours before nightfall. B brought back the books and we chatted with folks around us. Music on stage, welcome breezes periodically to ease the humid heat, people watching like mad. We were not disappointed when the sun went down. It was the most amazing firework display I've ever seen. Back to the hotel for cheese and sherry. Great day.
Day 9 - Not quite as exciting, but it is certainly time for a rest. We started the day at the Parthenon, and this time I got to see the inside of it, unlike my last great driving adventure. The gilded Athena was impressive. We decided to go straight to the next hotel, just outside Nashville and look for a laundry--reading and washing took up the afternoon and lounging and reading have taken up most of the evening.
Tomorrow, up to Knoxville and then the trip up the Blue Ridge begins.
More to come when we get a chance. Miss all of you!