October 15, 2013 - DETOUR!

If ever there was a verse from the Bible that epitomized our trip, 
                       it would be Proverbs 16:9...
                                                ...man plans his way, but the Lord orders his steps.

The highest peak of the trip, Monarch Pass - which we were to go over next, had snow on the roads...

...and a cold front was coming in the next day, with more snow, and sleet, and freezing fog (whatever that is!).

We looked at the other mountains we would have to take in the Rockies...they had snow too.

We were at a crossroads.  It was either call it quits or find another way.  Well, we aren't partial to quitting, so Greg looked on the maps and followed the longitudinal line directly south...to an area southeast of El Paso, Texas!  

Adventure Cycling also had a route along the southern states!  He ordered the maps to take him through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, southern California and all the way up to San Fran!   The guy at Adventure Cycling was so helpful - he sent the first part of the route via email to Greg and the rest was sent as general delivery to the Silver City NM Post Office! We would pick them up along the route in a couple of days.

Forging ahead, the next morning we started driving, through the rest of Colorado, then New Mexico and into Texas!   (This trip is, lol, SO INSANE!!!)   

Here we go!

Colorado!

This made me think of the movie Sahara...never saw so many solar panels!!!

Liked the name of this town...Bountiful

New Mexico!

It just amazes me how the terrain changes from one state to another!  So interesting!




The color scheme in New Mexico is filled with hues of tan and orange and aqua - and I just LOVE that they decorate structures everywhere!

<== Nice rest stop!




Had stopped at Walmart in Truth or Consequences, NM...found out the host of the show by that same name, had challenged America to consider renaming their town to "T or C". This town was selected - it used to be called Hot Springs!   The host Ralph Edwards did their 10th anniversary show there and he visited every year from 1950 to the late 1990's to be part of their Fiesta celebration, bringing with him a host of Hollywood stars!

Camel Rock...

Texas!

Palm trees!

Texas does it too!                    Look at that bridge!   So cool!                               

The city of El Paso is gigantic and is on the border of Mexico.
The lights of this international area were just beautiful at night...