On the Road - Santa Rosa, NM - Holbrook, AZ 05-31-11

When I woke up in the wee hours this morning this truck was parked right outside my second floor window - if it had been any closer I could have just stepped out on its roof.  I Googled Puratos, just curious to see what a company with such an elegant truck had to offer. 

http://www.puratos.us/about/default.aspx

This is about a 10am view of the view along I-40 in New Mexico.  Not a lot to look at.

And then there are a few juniper trees.

And more of the same, with more distant trees.  It is a rather uninteresting offering, but then there is all that sky!

I stopped in Albuquerque to find a USPost Office or a FedEx so I could mail a package - I found FedEx first and also a Starbuck's near the University..  I've always been impressed with the adobe colored cement used in the abutments and overpasses and ...  Very distinctive.

They have also introduced various outdoor art related to the local culture.  These two sculptures have the designs cut all the way through and appear to be wired for night viewing also.  They are along an on ramp to I-40.

Forty or more years ago when I first traveled extensively in the Southwest there was a lot more cavalier attitude to what happen when the road was under construction.  In NMexico and, to some extent, in AZ they just ran a grader around the affected area and one drove on dirty, rocks, mud or whatever popped up.   The "modern" way is not a lot better.  I felt as though there wouldn't be enough space for me to get through as this detour off the road become more and more narrow.  But the big trucks fit, so surely must I.

 

The yellow line on the left is normally the line marking the shoulder and just to the right of that is a strip of those teeth shuddering ridges meant to awaken drowsy drivers.   To avoid those I was right on the white line and feared I would scrap the guard-rail.  The speed limit said 55 - HA!  I was going about 35 and the trucker behind me was probably cursing me out.  I don't get scared whilst driving usually, but this raised my heart rate a bit.  

 
Soon after Albuquerque the highway rose up even higher and rock mesas and just piles appeared.  Thankfully, there was little wind, but lots of traffic in stretches, more than I have seen on this entire trip except for the Denver area.   I drove on to Holbrook, AZ, where I have stayed before.  I had hoped to do a marathon drive and be in Lake Havasu City tonight, but I only drove 363 miles today.  I seem to run out of energy very easily.  My back aches, my butt aches, my hands hurt - I have to stop somewhere and walk around, doing some squats and stretches. I don't know if the car seat has something to do with it or not.  It is probably just my ageing body.  I have only been in motel pools three times along the way and don't think it is very helpful.  First of all the pools are not hot enough, and secondly, at five feet they are not deep enough for the most helpful exercises which require floating vertically in the water.  Additionally, there is no railing to hang onto to do the squats and jumping jacks and "scissors" (or whatever the therapists call that).  So, I have done what I can, including just "water walking" and then spent a bit of time in the hot tub/jacuzzi.  I'll be glad to get home just so I can go to aqua therapy!