Twisty, Curvy Roads

High Bridge over the Rio Grand Gorge US 84 Looking North after leaving IH40 Friday morning, after leaving the Waylon Jennings RV Park in Littlefield, Texas, I drove on to Billy The Kid's stomping grounds around Fort Sumpter, New Mexico, and then turned north on Route 84 toward Las Vegas, New Mexico. I decided to take the Eastern route from Las Vegas, north through the Mora Valley, and then west across the mountains to Taos. Pueblo, Rio on New Mexico 518 Near Taos, NM. This is a nice drive and has the advantage of reaching some high country sooner than sticking with 84 through Santa Fe and Espanola. At one time, Taos was an interesting village. Mountain man, Kit Carson made his home there. Even twenty years ago Taos retained some charm. I could wander the streets, meet some interesting people, and browse the art in the shops.  Today, Taos seems more of a crowded tourist trap that depends upon narrow streets and Adobe architecture for what charm it can ...

I was sleeping the sleep of the dead when Max decided to wake me at seven this morning. After a few preemptory scratches behind his ear, I immediately turned over for another couple of hours of sleep. So it was close to nine-thirty when we finally rolled out of Walon Jennings Park in Littlefield, Texas. We pointed the FJ toward Clovis, New Mexico where I would have to decide upon the next leg of our route. My choices were to head north from Clovis and strike a wonderfully little traveled road between Tucumcari and Las Vegas, or stick with 84 through Billy The Kid's old stomping ground, Ft. Sumner. I decided to stick with 84, partially because it would save some time, but really because of the memories of traveling that route with my friend, Vic Williams back when I first began to explore New Mexico and Colorado in the seventies. My friend, Vic Williams Vic had encyclopedic knowledge and kept up a running travelogue as we would progress in his VW bus from Austin to wher...

Listen to this article read aloud: Your browser does not support the audio element. The Sign Marker at Stony Pass Today is the day that I hope to accomplish something that has been on my mind for almost forty years.  I hiked through Stony Pass when I hiked the Continental Divide Trail many years ago. Here at Stony Pass, the foot trail crosses a jeep trail and I have wanted to follow the jeep trail ever since. This is the first time that I have had a vehicle suited to this rugged terrain. In fact, I bought my Toyota FJ Cruiser with this particular trip in mind! Today, We will see if the reality matches the dream? I took my time driving here from Round Rock, Texas. My pup, Max, and I stayed on the lesser-traveled roads as much as possible.  Driving through West Texas has never been particularly high on my list of things that I am dying to do, but it is the only way to get from where I live in Central Texas, to the mountai...