We crossed the border from Oklahoma into Texas. We were only driving through the little top-knot portion of the state. There was the quick stop at a rest area, and the discovery of tumbleweeds, prickly burrs, and the very real habitat of rattlesnakes. Next came windmills and the largest free-standing cross in the Western hemisphere where fifteen years ago I got a terrific speeding ticket. Then we zipped right across and popped over the border into New Mexico.
We stayed the night in Santa Rosa at an RV park with an original 1980s playground. The kids were amazed that the slide went so fast and the jungle gym was so high. I just told them not to lick the paint and enjoy.
We saw the Blue Hole - which was an unexpected surprise. In the middle of the plains there is an 80 foot hole full of clear blue water that constantly springs up from an underground spring and pours out thousands of gallons of water every hour. It was beautiful. We took a drive down a road that went straight for miles. This was a bustling place on Historic Route 66. Now, it isn't.
Jack was quiet a lot of the time when we were driving through the town - evidence everywhere of former glory now decayed. I asked him at one point what he was feeling and he sighed and said, "I don't know. It's just kind of beautiful and sad."
He was right. The RV park we stayed at was run by passionate people but had seen better days. We visited a Route 66 Automotive Museum run by passionate people who had seen the town in it's better days.
It was beautiful. But also sad.
The next day we were back on the road.
We landed west of Albuquerque at an RV park on the grounds of a casino. I'd had my doubts but they were completely unfounded. It was the nicest, cleanest, best laid out RV park that we had been to yet. Josh and I both were very impressed. It wasn't necessarily a place you'd stay awhile with kids - no playground, etc - but when he and I come back by here in our sprinter van you can bet we will park for a bit.
We often will say "when we have the Sprinter van we will do such-and-such" to the point where if I suggest an historical stop that the kids aren't interested in Madelyn will pat my shoulder and say, "that sounds like a good stop for when you're in the Sprinter van."
Noted, kid.
We took the kids into Albuquerque and showed them Old Town. Josh took them to an incredible kids discovery museum. We were also able to see some of the Petroglyphs Monument. These are ancient human rock carvings that were discovered in and around Albuquerque and other places in the southwest. A good reminder that American history didn't begin in 1776. Also kind of funny to "oo" and "ah" over what was essentially just really old graffiti.
The climb was no joke and I had failed to take into account the elevation change. The kids were winded by the time we got to the top and I was full-on wheezing.
After a few refreshing days we were back on the road. Arizona, here we come!
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