The short answer is yes, we do. The timing of our departure from the Corzette’s home in Livermore in mid-October tipped the scales towards taking a more southerly route along I-40 once we turned our rig eastward in Barstow CA. Although we were increasingly anxious to return home, we we decided to include a modest detour to Santa Fe NM. Both of us have vivid memories of our last visit to this visually stunning, culturally rich and historic city situated on a high mountain plateau at about 7,000 ft in elevation.
On the way, we made brief stops in Barstow, CA, followed by a two nighter near Winslow AZ where we visited the famous “corner” memorialized in “ Take It Easy” by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Petrified Forest NP, and one of the only meteor impact craters in the world. Northern AZ is an amazing place that could easily consume weeks of time to adequately explore, but thoughts of Santa Fe compelled us to get back on the road.
We decided to stay in Santa Fe for five nights. The weather couldn’t have been better with almost cloudless skies and pleasant temperatures every day. Enjoying great food (see Vernon enjoying a Santa Fe specialty, Frito pie, below) walking the city streets and ducking into beguiling Southwestern art galleries, and visiting ancient places that told the story of this unique place filled our days. We spent our last night with two Alaska caravan friends, Carmen and Daniel Tucker. It was a wonderful to see both of them again. They treated us to a wonderful night out, and we made an unexpected stop by Daniel’s art studio. Daniel has an impressive body of work that includes art book publishing, paper making and painting, which has received international acclaim, and he’s a heck of a good hiker!
Well rested and our larder restocked, we returned to the road. Later in the day a storm overtook us in the panhandle of TX. With high winds and heavy rains buffeting us, we decided to get off the road and spend an unplanned night in the dusty town of Shamrock, which is situated along the infamous Route 66. We had been told that Shamrock’s U- Drop Inn was the inspiration for the 2005 Disney-Pixar film “Cars.” Our little detour off I-40 gave us a chance to see the old place and experience the friendliness of folks in West Texas, too. Yet another reminder of why we love road trips, and slowing down on roads less traveled.
We made a brief overnight stop boondocking ( no services) with a Harvest Host in Arkansas. For those of you unfamiliar with Harvest Hosts, it is a nationwide network of farms, orchards, wineries, micro breweries around the country that can provide members with a safe place to spend a night. Our AR host was a Vietnam War vet by the name of Pete Hagen. Pete’s bucolic farm was beyond our expeditions, and Pete is amongst the most generous souls we have ever encountered on our many travels.
The next two nights were spent outside of Memphis TN. We had visited Memphis last year for the first time, and really enjoyed it. Our two night stop gave us just enough time to grab a wonderful meal at a spot we found last year, and visit Sun Studios, which is considered by many to be the birthplace of rock and roll and, quite possibly, the beginning of Vernon’s singing career!
The remainder of the trip was pretty much a haul back home with quick stops Tennessee, Virginia and DC.