May 17 Tucumcari to Santa Fe 192 miles. Silver Saddle Motel for 2 nights. We are in #16 , The "Happy Trails" room.
Covered a lot of miles today but made pretty good time. Only a few stops and the roads have been good although there are once again sections where travel on the interstate was required . We've seen a massive number of wind turbines over the past few days and their size continues to amaze us. We passed a truck hauling just one blade - pretty amazing.
Our first stop some 55 miles away from Tucumcari is a feature in Santa Rosa called "The Blue Hole". It's a natural spring that creates a unique feature this town was formed around. It's relatively small area wise - maybe 100' across but 60' deep. It's fed by a series of caverns that reach down to almost 200'. Very popular site for scuba divers due to crystal clear water - plus it's the only place around other than a swimming pool to go diving. Not much fun for swimmers as the water is a constant 61 degrees and no place to stand. On a sunny day the water is an iridescent blue but today with cloud cover it was a bit disappointing.
Scenery changed throughout the day. Mostly just a degree of how much vegetation. Some areas almost nothing, other areas covered in juniper bushes. Some flatter lands in the AM giving way as we travel into the higher country. Elevation ranged from 4000' in Tucumcari up to 7200' here in Santa Fe. Route 66 follows the old Santa Fe trail - which followed the path of old Indian trading paths. Much colder day today - 40's in AM so back to wearing long pants. Made it into the low 60's although that changed when we hit a front coming into Santa Fe. Crazy change up with rain, sleet and hail and temperature drop to 47 in a few minutes. Higher ridges outside town got a covering of snow.
Hail on the hood of the car - glad it only lasted a few minutes
Mountain tops got a little bit more frozen precipitation
Second stop for the day was at Pecos National Historical Park, home of the remains of the Pecos Pueblo and a missionary church. The Pecos Pueblo had been established for centuries by the time the first Spanish explorers arrived in 1540. They didn't return until 1598 bringing Franciscan priests with them to establish a mission. The first and largest mission church was completed by 1625 although subsequently burned in the revolt of 1680. Another church was built within the ruins of the old church and completed by 1717. It's what remains today. At it's zenith the Pueblo housed 2000 Pecos. Due to Spanish settlements in the area, draught, and decimation from foreign disease by 1838 the few remaining Pecos left their Pueblo and walked to the Jemez Pueblo where their descendants live today. In 1862 this area was also the general location for a key civil war engagement. The Pecos Pueblo location was on a ridge overlooking Glorieta Pass - a key passage through the mountains heading west. Texan Confederate soldiers were heading west to capture the Colorado silver mines for financial support and then capture California to open a new supply route. Union troops from New Mexico and Colorado were able to stop the advancing Confederate troops ending all hope for their westward goals.
Mission remnants
Foundation from first church surrounds the second church
Remains of Pueblo rooms - these are estimated to be roughly on the 3rd story of a 5 story building
Made it into Santa Fe. Will spend 2 nights here. Seems like a nice town. Capital of New Mexico. Cool downtown - very southwestern adobe buildings on narrow streets. Lots of art museums and galleries. Lots of food options. Should be fun.
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