Tucson to Southern Colorado - Rocky Ford

We headed off from Tucson onward for a quick stay in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hatch, New Mexico is interesting to drive through. We have never stopped there but to eat a quick breakfast burrito. This is a town famous for it's "hatch chilies", duh, dried and hanging up on buildings.

Hatch chilies dried.

 

The route we drove toward Santa Fe took us through Truth or Consequences. Yes, there really is a town by that name. I wonder if Bob Barker was ever there.

We arrived in Santa Fe later on in the day to rest at our reserved hotel.  It was too cold to camp. Santa Fe is a very artsy, funky town but we did not have time to stop and check out the art scene. We have done so in the past so totally did not feel cheated. We did, however, have time to go out to a favourite restaurant for breakfast the next morning - The Pantry Restaurant. The breakfast hash-browns are so worth going out of the way for. I wanted my eggs done "a la Mexicana". Our waiter of Mexican descent did not know what I was taking about, odd I thought. I immediately missed Cocinarte in Ajijic and the breakfasts there.

When driving the long distances that we do, stopping at regular intervals is mandatory. Somehow we manage to stop often at the same old places, sometimes not realizing it until we go inside the restaurant or service station. This happened to us in Springer, NM at some huge truck stop in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Missing the horses of La Floresta we saw a massive horse trailer with the inhabitants taking a break. Their heads were all sticking out facing the same direction. These horses were taking a break, too.

Below is the most inventive sign I have encountered directing people to a male or female restroom.

Our aim for this days drive was Rocky Ford, Colorado. Our friends, Kelly and Randy, from Riberas, Mexico live in Rocky Ford during the warmer months.