Day 9

Wednesday - July 25

On to Santa Fe via NM-84 (Historic Route 66). Scenery getting more and more dramatic. Startling mesas rising abruptly, mountains more striking, cloud formations incredible, you can see forever.


Spent a few hours in Santa Fe, a little too artsy yet beautiful and historic. Did the shop thing and then found the plaza and the nearby Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi. One side of the plaza lined with street vendors sitting on blankets selling all varieties of native american trinkets, jewelry, pottery and woven goods. Lunched on fajitas sold at a stand on the corner of the plaza. Left Santa Fe headed for Farmington. Missed a turn and lost an hour and $12.00 worth of gas but who's counting? Drove past the Rio Grande in its more infant stage. Another spectacular 2-lane jaunt through the southern Rockies, past Abiquiu Dam, then at 5:15 PM crossed the Continental Divide at 7,000+ feet.


Heading towards Navaho Lake State Park, we began to see storm clouds ahead of us. By the time we reached the park it seemed like we were going to get the storm of a lifetime. Had to cross the dam with fierce winds, whitecaps on the lake and no guard rails. The storm passed by with little effect so camp set up quickly. Didn't want to drive back to town so dined on pretzels, fruit cocktail and V-8. Then emerged an extraordinary rainbow to bless us for the evening.