Hysterical Journey to Historic Places

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DAY ONE: April 22, 2013



I got underway at 0915 in a freshly washed Jeep with 12066 miles on the odometer. It was a later start than hoped for and caused to me to switch routes already.



Grand Canyon



Arizona has two grand canyons. One of them is the National Park where the Colorado River flows through on its merry way to water cropland in Mexico. At some point the bureaucrats in charge of the river system decided to rename it the Colorado River. It used to be named the Grand River. There were places along it called Grand Junction, CO. It flowed onward through Grand County, UT and eventually reached the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Dunno why they changed it. The photos show the grand canyon of the Salt River from a turnout on Highway 60.



Pie Town



In due course Hwy 60 finds its way into New Mexico and as it crosses the Continental Divide comes upon a little place called Pie Town. That little town owes its entire existence to pie. An early rancher living nearby hungered for company and began baking pies for his friends. It was good pie and before long he had many friends. When the highway went in he started in baking pies full time and left the hard work and risk of ranching to his friends. Far as I am concerned it is the best place to eat in all of New Mexico. I had a slice of apple pie with green chilies and pinion nuts. They close at 4pm so you better hurry.







The Plain of San Augustine



In previous days the Plain of San Augustine was a lake, then it filled up with silt and became a dry lake, then it got uplifted during the process of building mountains. It is now a wide expanse of pretty flat ground; it has enough elevation for clear atmospheric conditions, and is far removed from the light of a city. It was a perfect site to locate the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Radio waves are collected there by huge antennas that are arrayed spatially over a wide area using railroad tracks and small locomotives. It is called the “Very Large Array” The wide array of antennas is kind of analogous to having an optical telescope with a mirror several miles across. Observations deep into space are possible there. The National Science Foundation has taken over operation of the VLA from the government and the whole place seems to be undergoing a phase of maintenance and upgrade. None of the antennas seem to be gathering data at this time. It is still an immensely interesting place to visit, but it closes at 4pm too. Part of the movie Contact, starring Jodie Foster, was filmed there.



I came to roost this evening in Socorro after a drive of 387.3 miles. I prefer the Super 8 Motel in this little town. It has soft mattresses that are good for side sleepers and a sufficient amount of electrical wall plugs for chargers, computers and CPAP machines. A little eating place is next door called K-Bob’s steakhouse. Over the years I have eaten three meals in that place and never been poisoned once. Stick with the chicken fried steak in there. Tomorrow I am headed for the Trinity Site, and then on to Fort Sumner and the site where Billy the Kid, that little rat, was captured by a posse led by Sheriff Pat Garret.

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Photos

SALT RIVER CANYON
Quite scenic, I guess.

KAYAC THIS
The picture was taken almost vertically from he turnout. It is a very steep canyon. There two waterfalls in the picture that appear to have a drop of about 30 feet. Both probably drop onto boulders.

PIE TOWN
They have other stuff besides pie, of course. I saw some cinnamon rolls tat pinion nuts too. The have full breakfast and lunch menu, but they are serious about closing at 4pm

PLAIN OF SAN AUGUSTINE
All of the antennas are parked. Photo was taken from the rail crossing at Hwy 60.

VERY LARGE ARRAY
There is lent o sky to see from here.

Comments

[phil and gion]

already enjoying your adventure! we will keep on reading