2019 WB Day 13 - Changing Terrain

We slipped out the old part of Albuquerque, past Unser Blvd, Victory Street and the location of Bobby Unser's original garage. Ironically back then though his workshop wasn't inside the city limit - that's progress isn't it!

Not far from the Route 66 Casino (they're popping up everywhere around here) is an historic but now disused Pony Truss bridge, ideal for another pose.

Much of today's running is on a road that either is under the interstate or beside it and we used a bit of both making our way across the remainder of New Mexico.

Acoma Pueblo is the old Indian 'Sky City', perched atop a Mesa.

An entire community established here several centuries ago and still prospering today thanks to some innovative thinking amongst their people and with the help of the state laws allowing gambling which has provided a useful income stream.

The only way up for visitors is with a pass, an organised bus tour and a permit sticker for your phone or camera! Well worth the visit if you haven't seen it before and definitely a step back in time.

The town folk, who mostly live elsewhere these days, attend the streets with their wares which are both intricate in design and reflective of their culture.

We stopped in Grants and managed the classic photo under their specifically designed R66 arch... and marvelled at the old neon signs wasting away.

The Route 66 Swap Meet is decaying further and further and sometime in the future it will no doubt be blown away with the wind that howls across these open plains.

For now it was time for Robyn and Paul to reflect on a special place they have seen change so dramatically in the past decade and one that reflects all that is both good and bad about the old road.

Moving on to Gallup and that wonderful Hotel - El Rancho, that was home to the stars of western movies shot in this state.

The economies of scale in USA are never indicated better than the massive freight trains that ply the lines stretching across the country as we moved into our sixth state - Arizona.

We saw at least five trains consecutively pulling their way up over the Continental Divide, the highest part of this alignment at 7,200 ft.

The geology of the landscape is changing too, black lava rock mixed with white and red mesas.

Through the Painted Desert that expanse and variety of geology is accentuated and the expected surprise for our guests who haven't been here is always rewarding.

It's a never ending vista that stretches from horizon to horizon bounded by Barry and his alter ego!

Crossing the interstate there are remnants of the old trail marked by lone abandoned poles that once were the lifeline between east and west.

Today they divide the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest where we again had another lesson in very old trees!

It was a big day, made even bigger by gaining another hour heading west but we settled in Holbrook for the night at the Wigwam Motels.