Roswell, NM to Flagstaff, Az

WOW!  I can't believe how much the terrain changes here.  We left San Antonio on Wednesday morning.  Decided that we would not go to San Diego.  Drove to Fort Stockton, Texas along I10 and then headed north on Highway 285 towards Roswell, NM..  We couldn't have imagined how boring this drive would be.  When we turned north on 285, we ended up driving about 300 miles along a highway where all we saw were barren fields, dessert like scrub lands and oil derricks.  And then every 20 miles or so we literally saw ghost towns.  I wish I had my camera out to show you this, but I was driving, so I didn't.  I didn't think this drive would ever end.  But, it did!  In Roswell, New Mexico!!!!!!

After our stop at the visitors centre, we checked into our hotel and then headed to the main street.  Took the obligatory tourist pics!

And then found a wine tasting room!  I know...you aren't surprised.  The wines here were 100 times better than the wines we had in Fredericksburg, TX.

We then headed to Pepper's Bar and Grill for some happy hour Margherita's and some good food!

After a good night's sleep, we got up and hit the road for Flagstaff, Arizona.  It was about an 8 hour drive so we thought we'd break it up by stopping in Albuquerque, NM Old Town.  The drive here was amazing.  Yesterday, while driving up 285, the temperature hit 33 celcius.  When we woke up today it was 4!!!!!  A look at the temps for the next few days here show the highs going back to the low 30's.  Weird!  How can the temps fluctuate so much????  As we drove north, the temp dipped to -1 as we hit the higher elevations. WOW!  By the time we got to Albuquerque, the temp was about 10.  The other crazy thing about the weather is the winds.  They were crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!

We walked around Old Town for a while and took in the sights.

Left Albuquerque and headed west.  We crossed the Continental Divide at 7275 feet above sea level.  Weird to think that just a few days ago in New Orleans we were at/below sea level!!!!!  The scenery was amazing.  I'll put some pics in, but of course they won't do justice to what we saw!

The really amazing part of the drive over the past 2 days has been how drastically the scenery has changed.  When we started up 285 in Texas, it was barren, flat and desert like, scrub land and much the same in New Mexico.  Lots of ghost towns and oil well pumping stations scattered around.  When we left Roswell and finally got to I40, however, the landscape changed.  We finally got to see some great hills/mountains etc....

And then we finally got to Arizona!  I thought it would be super warm, but it wasn't.  Still very nice though!

Got to Flagstaff just after the welcome centre closed:(  Checked into our hotel where we will be staying for 3 nights.  Then headed to Historic Downtown Flagstaff for a walk before dinner.

Decided to go to Collin's Irish Pub for dinner and drinks. Casey got a pulled pork sandwich and I got a salad (surprise).  Happy hour prices for wine/beer were great!  $2.50 each!!!!!

Back to our hotel for the night.  We are heading to the Grand Canyon tomorrow!!!!!  Can't wait.  And then on Saturday we are going to explore the area around Flagstaff and Sedona.  Apparently they have some great wineries!!!!

Another time zone change!  And then we have to put the clocks ahead on Saturday for Daylight Savings Time.  I'm so confused!!!!!

Still thinking of all our family and friends back home!

Enjoy!