On the Road, Part Four

This post features the last stretch of my trip back to Arizona. The main focus is the area around Flagstaff, which I have loved since I first saw it about twenty years ago. This area best reflects the imagery I have held in my mind since childhood when someone mentions the American West: mountains, pine trees, meadows of wild flowers blooming. Maybe it has something to do with my childhood vacations to the Black Hills of South Dakota, Estes Park in Colorado, and the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, but to this day, whenever someone mentions the Western United States I have snowcapped mountains and pine trees on my mind.  So, back to point, most of these photos cover my entering the Flagstaff area, but the latter photos document my descent into desert, ending with the Black Canyon region, right before the habitat of the saguaro and ocotillo begins. Arizona is an amazingly beautiful state, and I hope you will enjoy the few photos I have here of my adopted home.

Arizona

 Storm clouds shroud the San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Arizona

Desert rises into mountains.

Arizona

 The beginning of Flagstaff. Wildflowers hug the side of the road.

Arizona 

Arizona

 The beginning of pine trees and beautiful green!

Arizona

There is nothing more beautiful than being on the road with pine trees surrounding you on both sides. There is a lush kind of stillness that permeates such evergreen forests. There is a calm and soothing peace, a sense of repose.

Arizona 

Arizona

The wildflowers bring a sense of joy and lightheartedness to the scene.

Arizona

Leaving Flagstaff and descending into desert.

Arizona

Rain hangs over the mountains in the distance while parts of the desert bask in sunlight.

Arizona

The area around Black Canyon, before the habitat of saguaro and ocotillo begins.

Arizona

A vast landscape of mountains and desert. Wide open space suggests the wealth of possibility.

On the Road, Part Three

New Mexico is truly the Land of Enchantment. I lived in Santa Fe for approximately three years and the land of New Mexico left me with a haunting beauty that resonates to this day. It is a land of parched red earth and mountains shrouded blue with shadow and distance. There is a stillness in the air that is reminiscent of timelessness, and you feel like life has slowed down, giving you respite.

When I lived in New Mexico, I used to love going out for a New Mexican breakfast. I would order my huevos rancheros Christmas-style (with both red and green chile) or I would enjoy a plate of blue corn pancakes, and yes, the corn is naturally blue in color. Another New Mexican favorite of mine are hot, fluffy sopapillas that are often served with an entree. There is nothing better than drizzling honey on one of these puffy fried bread squares and eating it as a sweet counterpoint to your chicken enchiladas' hot chile sauce. New Mexico is truly a magical place. No wonder this land seduced great artists like Ansel Adams and Georgia O'Keefe and continues to seduce artists to this day.

I wish I could have made it up to Santa Fe, or Madrid, or to Cerrillos, or gone all the way up to Taos, or made a trip to Chimayo, but time did not permit. Unfortunately, this was a cross-country move and not a vacation. But I believe I might have some old photographs of New Mexico that I can share in a later post. In the meantime, enjoy this sampling of New Mexico beauty.

Northeastern New Mexico

The clouds just seem to hover in the air, a beautiful stillness, while the land rolls according to a subtle, undulating rhythm.

Northeastern New Mexico

Northeastern New Mexico

Northeastern New Mexico 

The scenery here is suggestive of what you will find outside of Santa Fe.

Northeastern New Mexico

I took this photo outside of Cline's Corner, a popular travel stop east of Albuquerque. From here, you can also take a road to Santa Fe.

Northeastern New Mexico

Mountains blue with distance. Getting closer to Albuquerque.

West of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Working westward from Albuquerque to Gallup and into Arizona. The land becomes more reddish brown and the rolling hills flatten to become mesas.

West of Albuquerque, New Mexico

Wide open land with a haunting spaciousness.

Northwestern New Mexico 

Northwestern New Mexico

East of Gallup, New Mexico

East of Gallup, New Mexico

The last two photos were taken at the Refinery travel stop, fittingly located next to a refinery, just east of Gallup, New Mexico. When traveling through this area, I always get a craving for a green chile cheeseburger from Blake's Lotaburger. What can I say, it's my own little traveling tradition!  

On the Road, Part Two

Texas

Since Texas is a state larger than life, I thought I should make it the sole feature of its own post. Honestly, the only part of Texas I have traveled to (or through) is the panhandle, although with a friend now living farther south I might just see other parts of it yet. The panhandle is mainly flat land used for farming or ranching, although the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon lies just outside of Amarillo and you would never know it, unless you traveled to it. Texas is also a state that is unabashedly different from so many others, and so you get treated to some interesting things. Here are some photos from my journey through Texas. Enjoy!

Outside Amarillo, Texas

They say everything is big in Texas, including their giant crosses. Hang 'em high!

Granary, outside of Amarillo, Texas 

Windmill outside Amarillo, Texas

I just thought this was a beautiful and classic representation of rural America, and so I couldn't resist taking a photograph of this. I love the big, blue sky littered with clouds.

Outside of Amarillo, Texas

Yep, it's Texas! What a fascinating travel center! I wonder if they sell salvation at bargain prices.

The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas 

The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas

The Big Texan is a Western-themed steakhouse, but there is also a neighboring Western-themed hotel. Yes, definitely over-the-top, but that is Texas. Confession: I stayed at the hotel once as a kid on vacation with my parents, and I also ate at the steakhouse. Happily, there were no gunslingers present on the grounds at the time.

The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas

Ah yes, everything is big in Texas, including cowboy boots.

The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas 

In Texas, it's all about the steer.

The Big Texan, Amarillo, Texas

 A cowboy welcome.

Painted horse, Amarillo, Texas

I could not resist taking a photograph of this horse statue in downtown Amarillo. It bears the logo of Wells Fargo Bank.

Texas

Miles and miles of land and sky!

Texas 

Texas

Still in Texas, but getting closer to the New Mexico border.

On the Road, Part One

The road trip to Phoenix from Chicago was a long one, but also a rewarding one in terms of sights seen. I have always loved road trips, especially through some of the states that were part of this journey. Because of being pressed for time, I didn't have much of an opportunity to do any proper sightseeing, so many of these photos were taken through a front windshield when I was seated on the passenger side of a moving car. This is my longwinded way of apologizing for the quality of some of these photos, which is not consistently ideal. However, I did the best I could, and some came out remarkably good, all things considered. I chose to include some photos because they represent the best of the bunch, while others I chose, even if they weren't of the best quality, because I journeyed through middle America, and some things must be seen to be believed. Yes, heartland America can be an interesting place. I will group the photos of this series chronologically by state. I forgot to take photos of rural Illinois, but I think we will all survive the deprivation. At any rate, here is the first batch.

Missouri

On the outskirts of Rolla, Missouri

I have always found the wooded areas of Missouri to be incredibly beautiful, especially with all the forests of oak trees.

Missouri

A beautiful day on the road!

Missouri

Missouri

There are mountains in Missouri. After all, it is Ozark country!

Missouri

And this is what gives me pause about Missouri: I was reminded right here that I had arrived in Bible Belt Country. There are signs throughout Missouri, and some of the other states I traveled through, that aggressively promote a Christian message. Maybe such sights just make me feel out of place in my surroundings. After all, I don't suppose I would find a synagogue in these parts of the country!

Missouri

Missouri

Again, Missouri is such a beautiful state!

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

I have often viewed Oklahoma as one of the gateways to the West. In the east, similar to Missouri, there is a lot of forested land, but as you work your way west those forests recede, giving way to farms and ranches, preparing you for the Texas pandhandle.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Yes, the start of Big Sky Country! Just beautiful!