Tucumcari, New Mexico to Holbrook, Arizona    450 Miles (913 Miles Total)     Sunny - 84F

 Holbrook, Arizona

A few more shots of the Blue Swallow and Tucumcari before hitting the road...

Inside the garage and out...

The mural was still being painted...

Heading west from Tucumcari on I-40 and the parallel historic Route 66 we encountered more mountainous terrain. The temperature was still in the low 60s when we stopped at Albuquerque for lunch at an Olive Garden.

Triple-stack trailer action... one of many mesas (mesi? meese?)

Nearing Grants, New Mexico

Crossing the state line into Arizona, we exited the interstate to visit the very scenic Petrified Forest and Painted Desert National Park. Well worth the detour off of I-40, the colors in the painted desert were spectacular in the gradually setting evening sun. We even took time to take a hike around Blue Mesa to get a close-up look at the red, green, blue and grey bands in the sedimentary rocks. My geology professor would be proud...

the petroglyphs date to ancient civilizations that lived in a Pueblo on a ridge in what is now the park

The Teepees

Blue Mesa trail

on top of Blue Mesa... petrified wood

The walk through the "Crystal Forest" was interesting but not as spectacular as it once was. Pollution, vandals and 1950s tourists have removed many of the most colorful petrified wood crystals. The remaining petrified wood specimens are more well protected today, as all vehicles leaving the park are subject to a "wood inspection", the source of many jokes on the remaining drive to Holbrook.

the pictures don't do the colors and crystals justice

Tonight's destination was the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. The genuine Route 66 landmark dates to the 1940s and consists of 15 individual wigwam rooms that surround a central parking area and office. Each wigwam comes complete with a classic car parked out front. The circular conical interiors of the wigwams are decorated in a southwestern style, and the slope of the walls makes for some interesting bathroom geometry: a mirror where you can stand at the sink and see your feet and one of the most complicated shower tile jobs I've ever seen.

...more neon...

Being the Sunday of a long weekend, all of the sidewalks in Holbrook were rolled up and we settled for carry-out from the local Pizza Hut (and no, they didn't have a Ms. Pac-Man...) and settled into our cozy wigwam...

posted May 30, 2004 by Tyler