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Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Driving South to Espanola, New Mexico






Eric turns south onto
U.S. 64.



He points out the steep
barn roofs.

Snow does not build
up on those roofs.



Colorado's Adopt-A-Highway
signs are purple with pine trees.

American Legion Post 108
cleans up this section of road.






The mountain sides are
covered with trees.





Horses graze in
a field.






Mesas appear as we
continue south.







We pass an abandoned
house...








...ranches...




... and re-enter
New Mexico.














We are driving on the




I learn about some interesting
northern New Mexico history at
a stop for New Mexico Visitor 
Information.






I love the rugged
terrain.











Foster's Hotel, Restaurant
& Saloon in Chama.







I learned that Chama Valley was very isolated in the first half of the twentieth century. The roads were made of dirt and rutted.  Travel was very difficult during the rainy season.  Nearly every home and farm had an illegal still during Prohibition.  Many moonshiners went north to Colorado to sell their illegal goods.

Several alarm systems created to give moonshiners time to hide their stills and illegal alcohol from federal agents.  Moonshiners relied on police, who were among their customers, to alert them of the approach of the feds.






Pumpkins




This roadside cross honors
Ambrose Velasquez.
















I think we're being
watched....











A "Frankentree" barely
disguises the cell tower
on this mesa.






The sky calls to me today...






A fist in the
sky





This rock formation looks
like a fortress.











We stopped & lingered over the view...






This formation looks like
the prow of a ship.





And cross the
Rio Grande....





...before turning south
















Our overnight parking
spot is at Walmart.





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