Part Three, the Journey Home

Sunday morning, we had a most enjoyable three course breakfast with our hosts Leo and Joyce, and four other couples.  Leo told the most charming stories he had written down from guests of the past, with titles such as "Why I'm Divorced", etc.  Joyce was a guest four years ago, and Leo gives her credit for getting the B&B organized and pulling through the economic slump that did in most B&B's in the area.  Leo admitted that there were other "Laces" before Joyce.

Leo and Joyce (photo stolen from the web).

 The view of  Pike's Peak from our balcony.  Well, time to get in Dusty and do the drive to Taos, New Mexico.

 We took the scenic route to Taos, going through mountains and across plains.

We had a lovely room at the Historic Taos Inn.  However, twice in the middle of the night, Gail got up to take out a mouse that climbed into the waste basket.

We thought of Andria when we saw this mural in town.

 The two most interesting things we found around Taos were the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, and the headquarters for Earthship.

 The bridge spans 1,280 feet, and is 565 feet above the Rio Grande River.

 The river cuts a deep trench on a flat plain.

 Way down below I spotted some bighorn sheep.

 This is how you spot them from a distance!

 No collars on these sheep.

 There was also a car body down below.

 People are free to walk both sides of the bridge.  Unfortunately, it is the site of many suicides.

 We spotted several more bighorn sheep near the water's edge.

 Like a little Grand Canyon!

 Native Americans set up shop next to the bridge.

Our next stop was a mile or two down the road - the world headquarters of Earthship.

 This is the visitor center and demonstration home for Earthship,  These homes are built with natural and recycled materials, and use the sun, wind, water collection, and sewage treatment to be off the grid.

 A residence nearby.

 Part of the homes are used to grow vegetables and collect heat in winter.

 Another more modest home.

 The walls of the homes and around the homes are built with adobe, tires, bottles, and cans.

 The homes were scattered off into the distance.

 Bottles are used in walls as building blocks held together with adobe.

 A new home being built.

 ...and another.

 We had seen the documentary following architect Mike Reynolds and his environmentally conscious "Earthship" houses titled Garbage Warrior some time ago.  It was inspiring to actually visit his projects!

 Well, it was time to head off down to Santa Fe through more mountains and beautiful countryside.

Our destination was The Silver Saddle Motel, an original Route 66 lodging.

 For $48 per night, in Santa Fe, this was a real find!

 We made friends with Dawn, the owner, and she showed us her collection of stuff around the back of the building.  We ended up buying an old Indian made snake and bird from her.  You will be seeing them soon in our yard!  We also stopped by her "ranch" in Albuquerque where she plans to have a motel of vintage trailers.  I think she and Gail could be BFF's!

This is a tribute to "Chuffy", the short legged long horn steer that was an ill fated experiment.

 We had the "Happy Trails" room.

 Meanwhile, in the plaza, filming for "Graves" was taking place.

 The fall colors kept on coming.

 I had to show Gail the Canyon Road galleries.  We found out that there was a book arts exhibit in the Capitol Building, by artists from around the country.

 We visited the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary.

 Gail likes to dress for the local ambiance!

 Part of the center.  We took a pleasant nature walk up the mountain and then through a river bottom before dusk.

 The golden glow was everywhere, mainly from the cottonwood trees.

Well, we said good bye to Dawn, and headed south to Albuquerque (what a word!)  After visiting Dawn's ranch south of the city, we drove into the old town section.

 Church.

We happened to see a Breaking Bad Tour flier, and noticed that it dropped in on the infamous  Pollo Hermanos.  We looked up Pollo Hermanos and realized that we had just driven by it minutes earlier.  We had to go see - the place where Gus, the owner, bought meth from Walter White and distributed it in his reefer trucks!

The restaurant is actually Twisters in real life.  People from as far away as China come to see it and eat the guacamole Walter enjoyed.

 The Interior.

The restaurant does little to capitalize on its fame, but does have this tribute and a couple posters.

Here I am in Walter's favorite seat.

Well, it was off to Flagstaff, our next one night stand.

 Around Gallup, it started to snow.  This California boy is not comfortable driving in the white stuff!

 By the time we got to Flagstaff, the snow had built up 2 or three inches.  The best thing I can say for this motel is that they had a free happy hour!

 I'm sure our bikes have never had icicles hanging from them before!

 On the road the next morning we had to watch for ice.

 It was pretty and sunny!

 In about an hour, this is what we were seeing!

...and this near the Mexican border.  We took Interstate 8 from Gila Bend to San(d) Diego.

The End