a bowl of chicpeas

Thursday, August 21, 2008

R66 day 6: divided rain, mysterious Mesita + swallow havens

The 1st stop for us on day 6 brought us to the Continental Divide (rainfall divides at this point: to the west it drains into the Pacific Ocean, and to the east into the Atlantic). Our last drive through this area was in nightfall, so we were happy to have finally staggered our trip enough to be seeing in daylight what we had previously missed in the dark.

Between Bluewater and Prewitt we were looking forward to checking out the Route 66 Swap Meet. I was hoping to exit the car and get some photographs, but the property is surrounded by wire fence, and we were disappointed to find that the side of the building adorned in license plates is totally out of view + facing the superslab, instead of the mother road. Within a moment of pulling to the side of the road, a man emerged from the house nextdoor... + with an unwelcoming wave of his arm, we were once again on the road. hm.

In Grants we photographed vintage motels, and shortly after we were passing the Budville Trading Company. Approaching Mesita we passed Owl Rock, a large rock on the edge of, and towering over, the road. At the edge of Mesita is a large sign which reads:

NO CAMERAS

NO VIDEO TAPING

NO SKETCHING

NO TAPE RECORDING

PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL

PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE OUR RULES WILL BE CITED AND FINED

THANK YOU,

MESITA VILLAGE OFFICIALS

We contemplated investigating further, but decided against it... again. What's the deal with this place? Perhaps locals are just sick of road travellers trampling through town. I am so curious about this place and simply must return one day.

Somewhere before Albuquerque we came across this little diner that had been recently painted. Is this an original R66 roadside diner which is re-opening? + if so... when did it close, and who is re-opening it? It's so small, colourful and welcoming... and our stomachs were loud with disappointment that it was closed.

After a necessary stop at Flying C Ranch, we decided against heading Northward towards Santa Fe, and following the superslab we were soon approaching Santa Rosa. As we drove through this stretch I envisioned the breathtaking rainbows we took in during our last R66 tour.

Between Santa Rosa and Cuervo we pulled into an abdandoned gas station. Every knob and button had long since been stripped, and we sat for a while staring at the hollowed buildings as countless swallows circled overhead. As the sun began to set over the horizon I snapped a few pictures to remember the moment, and we were on our way.

In Tucumari stopped at Blue Swallow Motel, met the current owner, chatted about our adventure + took in his R66 stories. He gave us a tour of the grounds and the only available accomodations left - a cozy little room with welcoming quilts and antique phone and fixtures. We snapped a few photographs ... + then our (lack off) funds regretfully re-directed us to a cheaper motel on the same strip.

Labels: a paltry bit of me, photography, R66 roadtrip No.2, roadtrips, Route 66, travel

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in ~~vancouver~~ Tdot who can't get enough of her sweet J, loves mauling her 2 kiTs, roadtrips + crafty goodness, sends random snail mail art into the world, can't keep track of numbers, always has a camera in her hand... + can't devour enough peppered chicpeas.

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