2023 WB Day 12 - Elation at Elevation

The Blue Swallow image of car and motel is one of the most iconic on America's Main Street.

And that poster at Kix on 66 where we had breakfast said it all.

West of Tucumcari that old main street comes ever so close to the oncoming interstate traffic...

...but we ran unnoticed for the first time time squeezing under the i40 following our own path.

Building relics provide backdrops for future memories as we moved on through Newkirk and Cuervo in search of Santa Rosa.

Bozo was working on an original unmolested '65 El Camino pick up barn find when we found him.

Amongst other things there was also a modified '57 Chevy conversion under way.

Many will end up with the others across the road in his R66 museum,

providing personal favourites.

Audrey's, the 280z.

Robert's, the V8 BBQ!

There was no time to stop for lunch in Santa Rosa,

...the adobe capital of the states was calling, so we pressed on.

Rising up in elevation the i25 north is an early alignment, up through to Santa Fe, at its peek just over 7500 feet, the highest elevation we will see.

It was a beautiful vista in every direction, another day on the road revealing brilliant new landscspes, and the familiarity of things dying by the edge of the road.

Appropriately Historic Route 66 runs right through tre centre of town....

but the big reveal in New Mexico's capital wasn't just the shops in Canyon Road or the Miraculous Staircase at Loretto Chapel...

or even the oldest house in USA.

It was the local 'vintage' car club's gathering in the town square.

It was a festival atmosphere... and a feast of automotive art.

All under the watchful eye of the law, who are all here on overtime at the behest of the City. Remarkably their bosses see value in providing a Police presence amongst the community at family events like this, without compromising their regular duties - a price they're willing to pay.