We're taking a road cruise

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We’re on the road again. This time, instead of sailing the seas on a luxury cruise liner, we’re driving the back roads of Northwestern New Mexico and Southwestern Colorado. Our plan is to stop in Grants, New Mexico to explore two National Monuments - El Malpais and El Morrow. Then, it’s on to Ouray, Colorado for some high mountain 4-wheel touring.

This morning our drive takes us from desert to mountains through some of my favorite countryside along the Arizona/New Mexico border. As the road climbs near the Gila National Wilderness, I make notes for future trips. Sparsely populated, the area offers plenty to see but few accommodations unless you are a camper or backpacker.

We are not alone on the road. Motorcyclists are everywhere. In Reserve, a gas station owner explains that the motorcyclists are holding a charity ride. There must be a hundred bikes parked at the saloon across the highway.

We stop for lunch on a national forest road somewhere between Apache Creek and Quemado. Alan parks the car in a clearing underneath the tall pines, where birds twitter while we eat our lunch of cheese, grapes, blueberries and crackers. A slight wind rustles through the pine boughs. Across the road, cattle graze under a deep blue sky decorated with white, puffy clouds.

We reach El Malpais National Monument by late afternoon. The setting sun paints a colorful picture as Highway 117 takes us between sandstone cliffs and the lava fields of El Malpais. Too tired for photo taking, we save our exploring for tomorrow.

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Comments

[AntiTourist]

I love New Mexico and Arizona.
It looks like you are familiar with area. Have you ever gone to Gallup and wandered through all the shops and trading posts? Once in a while you find a pretty neat thing. The last time we were in Ouray we spent the night overlooking the city in a snowstorm, beautiful!! Have you ever been to southern Arizona? Bisbee and Patagonia are a wee bit different. Happy trails to you, HamLou

[Alan and Donna]

Thanks, HamLou. We're very familiar with southern Arizona. Patagonia is a favorite. If you haven't been there, visit Chiricahua National Monument in Cochise County. Beautiful!