On the Road Again
February 11, 12,13
Denver, Colorado to Paradise Valley, Arizona thru Albuquerque, New Mexico
Via I-25 and I-40, also known as Route 66
Snowing and frigid as we leave Denver, hopefully ahead of an Arctic blast. We’re heading to warmer climes, checking in on some dear friends, getting a change of scenery, enjoying some of the historic places and highways.
Pueblo, Colorado, is known as the "Home of Heroes" because it is the hometown of four recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for valor in the United States. It is also known as “Steel City of the West” and the steel factory employs a thousand people recycling and manufacturing steel products. Today Pueblo is also renown for its artwalk along the Arkansas River.
Sights along the way and lunch at one of my favorite stops in Walsenburg made the trip interesting and overnight in bustling Albuquerque was the halfway point. We’ve had almost every kind of weather from snow, freezing rain, sleet dense fog, fascinating cloudy punctuated with the sun. We’ve experienced climate change every five miles! The temperature in Denver is zero, so the 30 degree difference is welcome!
The Historic Route 66 is one of the oldest and renown highways. We’re also on the Purple Heart Trail, a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges, and other monuments that pay tribute to the US military men and Women awarded the Purple Heart, having been wounded or killed in combat.
This part of the US is steeped in Native American history and culture, and several Indian reservations including Zuni and Navajo which is the largest in the country. Both tribes are known for their distinctive handicrafts including jewelry. I’m happy to own several pieces of Zuni and other Indian jewelry and there’s many tempting shopping opportunities along the way!
The historic Hermosa Inn, in Paradise Valley, Arizona was a delightful destination to refresh our tired butts from driving, appreciate desert flora and fauna, and warm up in the Arizona sunshine. Ahh!
