Day 1 of Eastbound, with the Hammer Down … Not Really! – New Mexico

We said our "see ya later" to a few more new friends this morning, before we departed Santa Fe Skies RV Resort, alone. This is the first time in 30 days that we have left alone, not following or being followed by another RV. We are radio less, no one calling out to #5 ... it will be strange for a while ... but we will adjust! We followed New Mexico Route 599, to get onto Interstate 25 North. At the Route 599 and I-25 intersection there is a large Rail Runner Station.

The New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX) commuter rail network provides fast and reliable transportation along the 100-mile Rio Grande corridor. There are more than 60 bus connections at Rail Runner Stations from Santa Fe to Belen that can take you as far north as Taos and as far south as Socorro. It is painted to mimic the state bird, the Roadrunner,

speeds through time as well as landscape. The Rail Runner Express zips though ancient pueblo land with stunning scenery. The scenery between Albuquerque and Santa Fe hasn’t changed much since Don Pedro de Peralta marched his army north along the Rio Grande and founded Santa Fe 400 years ago. The imposing peaks and buttes of the Jémez and Sangre de Cristo mountains frame the horizon with quintessential New Mexico scenery. The tracks cut through some of North America’s oldest settlements, the Sandia, San Felipe, Santa Domingo and Cochiti Pueblos with glimpses of the villages and mission churches. 

We learned from our Santa Fe Tour guides, that when you see brightly colored lettered signs, they are normally directing workers and actors to a film location. We spotted yellow and black "PG" signs along Interstate 25. We hoped, we could follow them to a TV or Movie filming site. While we were in Chama, we heard that Wolverine II is being filmed in New Mexico.

We only traveled on I-25 for 10 miles, we turned onto US 285 South our first of many two-lane roads for this adventure! We were happy to see that the "PG" signs turned onto US 285 with us! 

We passed the Galesteo Basin Preserve on US 285. The Galisteo Basin Preserve is a 13,200-acre conservation-based community development project located 15 miles southeast of Santa Fe. It is an area of exceptionally fragile and ecologically significant land and water resources, the Galisteo Basin is internationally celebrated for its spectacular scenic, cultural, and wildlife habitat. The vast majority of the Preserve—approximately 12,000 acres—will be permanently protected and restored. More than 50 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails are planned to wind throughout the Preserve and connect to trail networks linking to the City of Santa Fe.

We are getting close to something ... the speed limit decreased and we saw this special event sign.

There is not much on this two lane route, except lots, lots and lots of unique working windmills. I mean lots of windmills. I did not take pictures of all of them just a few! 




That is OK with us, we like windmills. The working windmill at the Hemlock Fair grounds is one of my favorite pieces at the fairgrounds!

You can see what theses working windmills do, as the cattle is gathered around the water basin that this windmill fills for them!

The "PG" signs finally stopped. 
There was one tent and then a mile or so later, there was another tent. 

I tried to google "movies filming on US 285" and I found nothing ... 


There was one lady sitting on the side of the road, I don't know what she was hoping to see ... 

I zoomed as much as my camera could and only saw several 4-wheeler. Oh, well we will have to see what comes out with a southwestern background.

On our way out west on Route 66, we passed by Clines Corner, but did not stop. This time, we were ready for a break. Cline's Corners is a prime example of perseverance and Roy Cline indeed persevered throughout the years. 

That perseverance has paid off even today, as Cline's Corners is now a prosperous stop along Interstate-40. It offers gas, food, and all types of souvenirs. But Cline's Corners hasn't always been at this same spot. This business that started back in the hey-day of Route 66 has been moved - more than once! Originally Cline's Corners was located in Lucy, New Mexico. Business was not good at his gas station back then. Location, location, location was in Roy's mind even then. 

He picked up his gas station and moved it down the road a piece to Highway 6 (later changed to Route 66). He purchased the land at the junction of Highway 6 and Highway 2. In 1937 Route 66 was re-aligned north of Cline's Corner so Roy picked up his building and moved with it. Once again Roy had to move when the state moved Highway 2 east. The building followed and finally settled at its final location. 

Today it sits at the junction of US 285 and I-40 (once Route 66) and business is very good indeed. When I came through the parking lot at Cline's Corners it was packed and the gas station and Trading Post were doing a fantastic business. You can find just about anything you want at the Trading Post too, except Salt and Pepper shakers! Yes, this salt and pepper collector had trouble finding salt and pepper sets for her collection!

We saw this snow fence along the road on US 285 and Charlie could not stop laughing. We are used to seeing snow fence in New York and most New England states, but you usually don't think about that much snow falling in the southwest! But, the wind was blowing across this road while we were driving.

Route 285 joined with Route 60 East. As we traveled on this combined route, we passed through the towns of Encino and Vaughan. Both towns had a post office, but not much else, except closed businesses and falling down buildings. In one there was an old hotel and in the other an old cafe. You know how I feel about old neon ... I am sure these signs were amazing in their better days!

US 60 East is almost as straight as Route 471 in central Florida. Route 471 in Florida is straight and flat. At least US 60 is straight, but has a few ups and downs!

Yeso, New Mexico was a small town on US Route 60 we passed through, after US 285 split off. This big town had a post office, two houses and old stone buildings that are in bad shape. How do towns this size rate a US Post Office?

Between Vaughan and Ft Sumner, there was no traffic heading east, with us and only 7 vehicles passed us heading west (3 tractor trailers, 2 campers and 2 cars.) There was some cattle and horses, but not much else! This is another reason we like to travel on the two lane roads!

We arrived at Travelers World RV Park for the night, in Clovis New Mexico. It is our home for just one night! We are about 10 miles from the New Mexico Texas border.