This is the third entry of a multi-entry series.
- First installment: On the Road Again: Going East Intro (http://wander-world.blogspot.com/2017/10/on-road-again-going-east-intro.html)
- Second installment: Eastward Bound: UT to NC – Day One – Moab, UT. Red Rocks (http://wander-world.blogspot.com/2017/10/eastward-bound-ut-to-nc-day-one-moab-ut.html)
I wonder why one needs so many churches in the desert. We drove today from Moab to Albuquerque, NM, in full desert landscape and I have seen no WalMarts, no full service grocery stores, but plenty of churches. I guess you can go hungry and miss basic necessities, as long as your soul is saved.
We're definitely not in Mormon Country anymore, as there have been no LDS churches to speak of. "Church of God", "Of Immaculate Conceptions", even a "Stoic Baptist Church", even a "Holy Ghost Recreating Area", but no "Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints."
You also know you're not in Utah anymore because of all the "Cold Beer" and "Cold Wine" signs on all the gas stations, and because of all the casinos. I suspect gambling is very much legal in New Mexico judging by all the casinos on the way down. I know pot is also legal in New Mexico, because of the "Minerva Cannabis Dispensary" in Bernalillo.
Right after leaving Moab, you go past beautiful red rock canyons, still, and the Wilson Arch, magnificent, almost above the highway. Then, right after Monticello, you see so many killed deer on the side of the road you're thinking the old times fur traders are roaming about back in business. Right as you cross the state border into Colorado, the land becomes milder and greener - lots of farmland, very nicely kept. There is only a short distance from Cortez, CO to the border with New Mexico. Once you enter New Mexico, the land becomes desert and empty again, but more yellow than red.
We were misinformed some and the trip was much harder than we expected, because the roads were so hilly. I thought the land will slope down right after we leave Utah, but no chance: we were in the 5500+ (all the way to 7000) feet elevation the entire trip. That and the winds were hard on the camper.
Native American landmarks swap up with Hispanic names - you cross three major Native reservations (Ute, Navajo and Apache) during this trip, and many other smaller ones. Then, in New Mexico, you run across names like Rio Puerco, Rio Grande, Bernalillo, Sadoval.
We walked into a Wendy's for lunch and the place was full of Native people - staff and customers alike. We were definitely out of place. Leonard Cohen was blasting on their radio (or whatever music device they had).
This country is so mixed, so diverse, and so gorgeous because of it that it always makes me humble and fortunate to roam it like this. Whoever sees it otherwise are lower than plain stupid.
Off we are on our third day today and ready to cross the great state of Texas.
Catch with you later on ...
PS: Please forgive any and all typos, due to the hardships of writing against the gun of the internet being taken away.
I thought the road sign next to the entering Colorado marker was appropriate: what we have seen of this state in the Four Corners region is nothing but beautiful farmland.
The most majestic Shiprock formation, outside of the town that bears its name, in new Mexico. It looks like a New York skyscraper.
All around Farmington, NM, we saw these gorgeous Native pots.
Wilson Arch, a few miles South of Moab. I love how the rock has little dimples through which the sun pierces.
Hard to believe that we have reached I-40 East which will take us ALL the way to NC! No turns from here on out. Just a straight drive.
One of the many churches in the desert.
Made it to the Albuquerque KOA for the night.
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