Having crisscrossed the United States on most of those ‘get from point A to point B’ expressways that get you there as quickly as possible, this year we have ventured off those rivers of asphalt to travel from our home in Surprise, Arizona to visit family and friends in Canada by only going on local or State roads similar to that bygone era of Route 66. No hurry - no worry.
Finally the trip begins as we leave the Valley of the Sun and start driving East - our first nights’ stop being Socorro, New Mexico. During the day we encountered sporadic torrential rains which actually being desert dwellers, was most welcome, but prevented me from getting any panoramic views of Arizona’s beautiful, green high country. Close to Socorro we did visit VLA, The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array, a radio astronomy observatory located on the Plains of San Agustin ,the sight of numerous antenna dishes aimed skyward collecting information of the heavens.
Leaving Socorro for Tucumcari, NM we first spent time at the famous Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Reserve where winter brings tens of thousands migrating Sand Hill Cranes and other winged species, while now we just viewed the beautiful landscape, imagining the migration. During our drive, we viewed the Laguna del Perra Salt Flats, a barren area of commercial salt retrieval, and passed through isolated communities, struggling for survival. To bring attention to their apparently dying communities, and to cover the decaying buildings, murals have been painted by local artists. |
Murals along historic Route 66
Driving to Wichita, Kansas through and passing many small towns in Texas and Oklahoma provided uninspiring views of vast fields of corn, silos, oil rigs and wind swept fields left fallow in the oppressive heat of summer.
Continuing northeast across Kansas to Overland Park we cruised the scenic byway of the Flint Hills Reserve stopping to view the remnants of a bygone era in many communities with names honoring pioneers of the 1800’s.
Continuing northeast across Kansas to Overland Park we cruised the scenic byway of the Flint Hills Reserve stopping to view the remnants of a bygone era in many communities with names honoring pioneers of the 1800’s.
Leaving Kansas, and driving through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, the land lacks character with views of never-ending farmland filled with corn and the smattering of small towns suspended in the past changing, to rolling hills the further East we go. We head for the international border on the St. Lawrence river and the beauty of the famous 1000 Islands and the St. Lawrence Seaway into Canada. Our journey East has ended as we turn West to visit family and friends before continuing our drive back to our home in Arizona.
Coming Soon - The Western edition