Leg 4 – OK to NM. We left Oklahoma in a slight rainstorm and headed west to New Mexico through northern Texas. If I had my stuff together, I could have posted an update to the blog from the road, because it turns out that all official Texas safety rest stops have free WiFi! However, heading through northern Texas, we actually only came across ONE official Texas Safety Rest Area. It was pretty impressive though – built into a hill, with very high walls. By “safety” they mean it was a safe haven for tornados (which thankfully we didn’t run into, despite the teen girls fears that Oklahoma was Tornado alley and we were taking our lives in our hands while traveling through that state). The only other stops on that LONG almost 200 mile stretch were just picnic areas. Hey Texas, what’s up – don’t you think travelers have to use the potty more than once in 200 miles (especially those with small children). Thank heaven for truck stops. Also, the speed limit was 75 (wow!), so it didn’t take as long as it could have. We entered New Mexico sometime during the middle of the night and continued on to Albuquerque, arriving Monday.
We arrived to a warm welcome at mom’s house and the kids were grateful for the respite from the car and a chance to watch television, which they hadn’t been able to do since Tennessee. And cable too! And I was happy to take a hot shower, since the last campsite – although extremely beautiful by the lake – had less-than-desirable bathhouses, and no way was I going to take a shower there. Once we rested up (and bathed and did laundry), we wanted to see some of the countryside, so I took the kids on a trip up the nearby mountain (Sandia Crest) on a tram. Sandia Crest has two tram cable cars that go to the top – 10378 ft altitude.
We went to the top and were taken unawares by the cool air. I had forgotten how cool it was in high altitudes. We hiked a self-guided nature trail and took lots of scenic photos.
The next day (Tuesday) we took a side trip to Jemez Springs and saw beautiful red rock formations (as well as a variety of Indian casinos). We were interested in seeing the Jemez Pueblo, but they are only open the public during certain feast days, so we weren’t able to get in.
We drove past the town, and spotted the town sign, which specifically mentioned “No Photography” in the pueblo, or in the town. Wayne had an extremely hard time restraining himself, but he managed.
However, we did see the filming of the STARZ TV series “Crash” based on the movie of the same name right across the street from the pueblo’s welcome center. We sat around eating fresh Indian fry bread (from a roadside stand) while we watched the film crew work. Jordan remembered getting fry bread at a powwow in Virginia (Chickahominy powwow I think). The lady working the stand asked if the fry bread in the east tasted the same. Apparently they make them differently depending on the tribe. She told us the Oklahoma Indians make them differently than the New Mexico Indians. This fry bread was thin and crispy and delicious. I tried not to think of the calorie count as I devoured one covered in honey. Mmm mmm good! Wayne got the fry bread chili combination – liberally spiced with hot chilis.
We drove a little farther down the road and the kids got to play in a waterfall and climb rocks at Soda Dam in Jemez Springs.
Jemez Springs was a very interesting little town. We dubbed it “Hippietown.” It was tucked away in the mountains next to a river, and had beautiful cottonwood trees shading most of the area and an eclectic assortment of inhabitants with many quaint shops and art galleries. We stopped at a National Forest campground to see what it was like (in case we might want to camp there someday) and found some of the campsites right on the banks of the river. Absolutely beautiful. There were no mosquitoes next to this river, but we did see warning signs for bears. We reluctantly left this scenic spot and headed back to Albuquerque to pack up and get ready for our departure the next day (Wednesday). Our next leg is NM to Colorado, via Four Corners.
Leg 4 – OK to NM. We left Oklahoma in a slight rainstorm and headed west to New Mexico through northern Texas. If I had my stuff together, I could have posted an update to the blog from the road, because it turns out that all official Texas safety rest stops have free WiFi! However, heading through northern Texas, we actually only came across ONE official Texas Safety Rest Area. It was pretty impressive though – built into a hill, with very high walls. By “safety” they mean it was a safe haven for tornados (which thankfully we didn’t run into, despite the teen girls fears that Oklahoma was Tornado alley and we were taking our lives in our hands while traveling through that state). The only other stops on that LONG almost 200 mile stretch were just picnic areas. Hey Texas, what’s up – don’t you think travelers have to use the potty more than once in 200 miles (especially those with small children). Thank heaven for truck stops. Also, the speed limit was 75 (wow!), so it didn’t take as long as it could have. We entered New Mexico sometime during the middle of the night and continued on to Albuquerque, arriving Monday.
We arrived to a warm welcome at mom’s house and the kids were grateful for the respite from the car and a chance to watch television, which they hadn’t been able to do since Tennessee. And cable too! And I was happy to take a hot shower, since the last campsite – although extremely beautiful by the lake – had less-than-desirable bathhouses, and no way was I going to take a shower there. Once we rested up (and bathed and did laundry), we wanted to see some of the countryside, so I took the kids on a trip up the nearby mountain (Sandia Crest) on a tram. Sandia Crest has two tram cable cars that go to the top – 10378 ft altitude. 
We went to the top and were taken unawares by the cool air. I had forgotten how cool it was in high altitudes. We hiked a self-guided nature trail and took lots of scenic photos.
The next day (Tuesday) we took a side trip to Jemez Springs and saw beautiful red rock formations (as well as a variety of Indian casinos). We were interested in seeing the Jemez Pueblo, but they are only open the public during certain feast days, so we weren’t able to get in. 
We drove past the town, and spotted the town sign, which specifically mentioned “No Photography” in the pueblo, or in the town. Wayne had an extremely hard time restraining himself, but he managed. 
However, we did see the filming of the STARZ TV series “Crash” based on the movie of the same name right across the street from the pueblo’s welcome center. We sat around eating fresh Indian fry bread (from a roadside stand) while we watched the film crew work. Jordan remembered getting fry bread at a powwow in Virginia (Chickahominy powwow I think). The lady working the stand asked if the fry bread in the east tasted the same. Apparently they make them differently depending on the tribe. She told us the Oklahoma Indians make them differently than the New Mexico Indians. This fry bread was thin and crispy and delicious. I tried not to think of the calorie count as I devoured one covered in honey. Mmm mmm good! Wayne got the fry bread chili combination – liberally spiced with hot chilis. 
We drove a little farther down the road and the kids got to play in a waterfall and climb rocks at Soda Dam in Jemez Springs. 
Jemez Springs was a very interesting little town. We dubbed it “Hippietown.” It was tucked away in the mountains next to a river, and had beautiful cottonwood trees shading most of the area and an eclectic assortment of inhabitants with many quaint shops and art galleries. We stopped at a National Forest campground to see what it was like (in case we might want to camp there someday) and found some of the campsites right on the banks of the river. Absolutely beautiful. There were no mosquitoes next to this river, but we did see warning signs for bears. We reluctantly left this scenic spot and headed back to Albuquerque to pack up and get ready for our departure the next day (Wednesday). Our next leg is NM to Colorado, via Four Corners.
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