GTV First Loop: Sante Fe

Day 32:  Mel here. Since we were near Sante Fe for the weekend (we’re sort of losing track of the days of the week here), we decided to take the opportunity to visit with friends and family. Waking up in funky Salida Colorado, we first opted to take care of some bidness—Jeff heading out for a mountain bike ride while I washed the World’s Dirtiest Dog. A quick stop at a gallery and then it was southward bound, along the Sangre de Cristo mountains (the pretty way of course, not the fast way), to New Mexico where Aunt Bonnie and Joe provided a much-needed and deeply appreciated break from our tiny travelling house.

Addendum to Day 32:  Flynn here. My plan to take over the entire back seat—as well as the pillows belonging to the givers of food—is now in full effect. When the humans noticed that I had jumped up without asking, I simply gave them “the look.”™ Works every time.

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Day 33:  Jeff here. We awoke incredibly rested. A stay with Bonnie and Joe’s lovey home is a treat any day, but after a month of van living it was pretty much heaven. While Mel went for a run in the hills, I started a much-needed load of laundry (more thanks to our generous hosts!), and we headed to TJ’s t restock on the easy meal stuff, along with a crappy buzz cut at the inaptly named “Great Clips.”

Then on to meet one of my high school friends (and a favorite of Mel’s too!) Seth and his son Zeke for an amazing lunch at the Tune Up Café. Megan joined us after work, and we all hung out for the rest of the day at their place. After many hours of good company and searching for he required pieces, Jabba’s palace was constructed. So great to catch up with old friends.

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Day 34:  Mel here. Our second full day in Santa Fe was mellow; we perused downtown a bit, then headed to the unique International Folk Art Museum. With a little time left to kill before we met Bonnie and Joe for an early dinner, we wandered Canyon Road—the longest stretch of gallery after gallery after gallery that I’ve ever encountered. Such a neat area.

After dinner at Pasquales (YUM), we hit the hay early back at Bonnie and Joe’s, given that we were setting an alarm for 3:30AM in order to go see…

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Day 35:  Balloons!

Bonnie and Joe invited us to join them at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, and boy are we glad we said yes, even though (or perhaps because) it’s not the sort of thing we probably would have done on our own.

So. Cool. I mean, have you ever seen so many freaking hot air balloons?!?!?

Joe made friends with one of the outfits setting up, and we had front row seats for their launch (with Joe lending a hand).

From there we drove to—and through—Taos, picking up some quick beta on mountain biking and campsites that might be ungated (remember, the government is still shut down at this point) from the local outdoor store. Up the Red River Valley toward the Taos ski area, we camped in the Carson National Forest at a tiny and uninhabited and un-gated (yes!) campground right on the river, called Cuchilla del Medio.