BITS AND PIECES OF THE FAST TRIP TO SLO AND BACK

The preceeding blog post was the "Farwell To California".  Following here is the fastest and the longest trip I've done in recent memory.  In one week - seven days -  I drove from the Mid Atlantic to San Luis Obispo, California to close on my last property there. Then I had to inspect other possible investments in Saint George, Utah and the Star Valley of Wyoming. 

Was in the saddle for the eight days with brief stays in hotels.  Logged 6,797.3 miles!  One day I was driving for eighteen hours straight.  Now that is a long day.  Oh did I mention it was mostly in rain.  And that day was an omen of what was to come!  More on that below.
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Saw a lot of this:

The route was Highway 40 to Highway 58 in Barstow, California.  BAck door to San Luis Obispo via
Highway 46. Plesant drive through the wine country of Paso Robles.  Wish I had the time to stop and sip the fine wines of the area.  It was late in the afternoon, and you know, I was tired. Had been a long drive. Left Flagstaff in the morning and the day before was a looooong day; started somewhere in eastern Oklahoma.    All I remember was my departure at around 4 AM; the night clerk told me the highway going east was closed due to ice. All the flashing red and blue lights made it look like a war zone with the police, ambulances and tow trucks attending to the crashes.   Well, I was going West.

By nineish I was in Tucumcari, New Mexico and drove the section of Highway 66 

In the hay days of Route 66 this was a thriving little town.  Now it is just a shell.   But even a shell can hold a pearl!   Been here before on many trips.  And as a regular reader of this blog, you know I don't miss a meal.  One of the best for diner is  DEL'S  and for breakfast KIX ON ROUTE 66.  

Let me tell you, the breakfast burrito above made of eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, cheese, chopped greenchile and smothered in red and green sauce; with the side of spicy  homemade sausage was .... well maybe I will go back tomorrow just for breakfast!  Don't pass this by!

With a full belly and coffee - lots of coffee; I was off again.  

Oh, if you are in Tucumcari in the evening dine at Del's.  Founded in 1956.
Still serving a great dinner!  Both owned by the family and the excellent meals and service shows why they are worth the stop.


Next stop was the Laguna Indian Reservation for a stop at the  San Jose de Laguna Mission.  Built between 1699 and 1701.  Still an active Catholic parish church serving the spiritual needs of the local Laguna residents.  A wonderful and well preserved  example of an old Spanish colonial mission.  You will find it about 40 miles East of Albuquerque on Highway 40.  So, stop in and say a prayer to Saint Christopher for a save journey.

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If you have traveled highway 40 in New Mexico or Arizona you have seen them:

BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS have been in business for over 100 years.  This family owned business began in 1912 when Claude M. Bowlin started a trading post and traded with the Native Americans.  Today there are a total of ten  "trading posts".  So when you see the signs don't pass it by.  Great place to find a meal or a gift and fuel up.  I remember on one hot long motorcycle trip I stopped for gas and the best ice cream cone ever had!

Arrived in San Luis Obispo and the iconic place to stay is the MADONNA INN

All the rooms at the Inn are unique!  Below are but three.  The resturant is elegant and very good.  The coffee shop is a good bet for breakfast.   

Availa Harbor

Turri Road Windmill

After a quick day in SLO, off for Star Valley, Wyoming   As you may have read above, this was not a vacation.  There was a timeline to keep to.  Over nighted in Saint George to visist a posible property and left in the mid morning.  Blased up Interstate 15 through Salt Lake and took Highway 89 to Bear Lake and onto Afton, Wyoming.  "89" is a beautiful Fall drive.  Below in April, before the trees leaf out it was rather bleek.  

When you get to Bear Lake stop and enjoy a Raspberry shake.  As you can see it is more of an ice cream
Trully a treat!

I arrived in Afton to check the properties I was interested in; but a family emergency required me to depart the night of arrival.  Turned out, thankfully, all was good.  The drive back to the Mid Atlantic on the other hand was not so good.    

It was a light snow at10PM inAfton, as I assended the mountains driving back to Salt Lake the snow intensity increased.  It snowed all day long as I turned East.  In fact as I continued on Highway 70 East of Denver - in the snow - it became a blizzard and found out later the "Colorado State trucks I had seen on the side of the highway were closing the highway as I passed by!  The snow turned to rain and indeed drove home all the way from Wyoming in snow, blizzards and rain.

As noted 6,797.3 miles in eight days.  Mostly in rain and snow.  Not interested in doing that again!

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See You Down The Road