Around the USA in 80 motels and 123 days - 2015 - New Mexico to Vegas via the Rockies

[AndyGB]

A reminder that this post is taken from a journal written by my DW (Laura) but entered here by me (Andy)

Written 7:45 AM Monday 11th May - Super 8 - Santa Fe

Yesterday morning we left the motel and drove through downtown Albuquerque for a look and then on to the National Museum of Nuclear Science.

This was Andy's choice as it had planes and stuff and was quite interesting. A very friendly museum man kept popping up at various times to give us more information, we were there about 90 minutes and then had a coffee stop at Starbucks.

We then continued onto Santa Fe, stopping at a scenic stop for some photos. We got to the motel a bit early and our room wasn't ready so we had a little wait and then a change of room. This is a bit different to the other motels we have stayed in - more like a Travelodge in the UK with all the rooms inside the building. We left just before 5:00 PM to go to the nearby cinema to see The Avengers - Age of Ultron. The seats rocked and were very comfortable and the film was good. Afterwards we stopped for pizza at Pizza Hut.

Written 6:00 PM Tuesday 12th May – The Grizzly Inn - Alamosa

Yesterday we went to Santa Fe, we got there a little early for the museum so we walked around the Central Plaza

and then had a coffee in Starbucks. Just after 10 AM we went to the New Mexico History Museum which is based in the old Palace of the Governors. The first part is mostly about the building and archaeological finds. The second part is in a more modern building and a comprehensive history of New Mexico from the 1500s to present day. We were there a good couple of hours.

We then went to a souvenir shop where I bought some postcards, a necklace and a little Mexican hat for Hannibal.

We shared a burger for lunch on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Plaza on very high stools with a wobbly table. We then drove to Walmart where I got some shoes (my Primark ones are wearing through) and also a polystyrene cool box which unfortunately is a bit too big for the car. In the evening we went back into Santa Fe to go for a meal, it was however surprisingly quiet and the restaurant we were aiming for (one Andy had been to on a previous visit) was shut. Eventually we found another rooftop terrace, this time of pizzeria. As it got dark and a little cooler, Andy and I were the only ones still eating outside, it was really nice looking at the ‘big sky’.

This morning we first stopped at a store near our hotel called the Hobby Lobby where i found some things for Sunday school, and Andy bought a rocket he is going to attempt to launch when we're in the desert and a little Uncle Sam hat for Hannibal to wear on the 4th of July. Then we drive on to Los Alamos and to the Bradbury Science Museum there that tells the Storey of the Manhattan project that brought scientists to Los Alamos in World War Two to build a new atomic weapon. It also had sections on research, defence and what the Los Alamos laboratory is doing now. After the museum we stopped for a sandwich for lunch and then drive on to the grizzly inn in Alamosa to spend the night. The room is very big but the plumbing is a bit antiquated.

Written 2:30 PM Thursday 14th May - Ramada - Denver

We set off quite early yesterday and stopped for fuel. We thought we were going to have a problem when the fuel cap wouldn't open to allow the nozzle of the fuel pump in. Andy tried locking and unlocking the car several times and moving forwards and backwards; but it wouldn't shift. He drove around the corner and got the owners manual out and was thinking of calling the hire company roadside assistance number but he decided to drive to the other fuel station in town just to be sure. Luckily this worked fine so it must have been a problem with the original pump.

I drove for the first 3 1/2 hours to Denver which was good practise for going around bends through the mountains, and Andy drove for the last hour. We were too early to check in so we stopped at Panda Express for some lunch. The hotel is very nice, again more hotel then motel and we were given tickets for each day's breakfast, served on actual china plates, not the usual plastic. In the evening and he had a craving for curry, so we drove into Denver town centre to a nice place called Little India.

This morning we returned to Denver to walk along the pedestrianised 16th St, which is a mile of shops, cafes etc, until we got to the Capitol building, where if you stand on the 13th step you are one mile above sea level. After a quick lunch at Chili's we returned to the hotel. Andy is about to go and try and find a car wash and some cable ties to hold up the front of the car and tonight we are hoping to go on go to a drive in movie.

Written 9:30 AM Saturday 16th May – The Tyrolean Lodge - Aspen

The drive in movie in Denver was really good. We got there quite early and drove around the block a couple of times, then went in; there were about four cars before us but it never got that full, about a dozen tops. We parked near the front and checked we could get the sound through their radio. It was too rainy for us to have the roof down. We had to pay only $8.00 each and that meant we could stay for all three films these were ‘home’ , ‘hot pursuit’, and ‘furious 7’; but we only stayed for home (which was good) because that didn't finish until 10:00 PM so anymore would be a very late night.

The restrooms were weird cubicles with swinging saloon doors that didn't lock. We bought a pizza, a Coke and Diet Coke. There were lots of staff or friends of staff in the snack bar - it was all very casual. They burnt our first pizza so we had to wait for a second which we got just before the film started. There was a very cheesy 1950s type intro film and then a couple of previews . It felt like a proper drive in experience.

Yesterday we left Denver. Because we didn't want to follow the same road out that we are driven in, we drove down the Interstate to Colorado Springs where we stopped for a coffee, then had a more scenic route to Buena Vista, where we stopped for lunch in the nice local cafe.

When we left Buena Vista we put the roof down and carried on like that even when it started to snow, which was fun (you don't really get wet when you're moving). As we were driving we saw some mountain goats and then later a wild wolf crossed in front of us. Unfortunately about an hour later we came to a road closed sign and had to retrace our journey for about 30 minutes and then detour up to the interstate and down to Aspen by a different route, which meant an extra 2 hours driving so we didn't arrive here until 6:30 PM. it did however mean we got to see some wild deer right by the side of the road and I got to drive through Glenwood Canyon , which was very impressive.

As we approached Aspen it started to rain very heavily so we couldn't see much. However after checking into this very nice motel the rain and clouds cleared and we got to walk the 10 minutes or so into the town, see the mountains and have a very nice dinner at a place a bit like an English pub restaurant called Little Annie's. Andy had a couple of brandies and a pudding and looked very contented.

Written Sunday 17th May - Blue Mountain Horsehead Inn - Monticello

There was no breakfast provided at the Tyrolean Lodge yesterday so Andy walked back into town to buy some bakery products and we set off about 10:30 AM. The fuel in Aspen was expensive at almost $3 for a US gallon but still half the price of the UK. We drive with the top down again to start with, up through a mountain pass where we were both starting to get a little breathless due to the high altitude but saw some (literally) breath-taking views. At one point a large kestrel type bird was gliding just a couple of feet above and in front of us.

The skies blackened and we put the roof up just in time before a bit of a downpour. We had a pitstop at McDonald's and then used the Interstate to get to the Arches National Park, crossing the state line from Colorado into Utah. The Arches National Park is a virtual layer cake of rock, miles thick, with an array of arches, fins and spires. We arrived there about 3:45 PM and drove to the top end, did a trail around Landscape Arch and then went to the Fiery Furnace viewpoint. By then it was 6:00 PM and starting to spit with rain and more dark clouds threatening, so we decided to drive the 50 miles down to our motel here in Monticello and return to the park in the morning as there was still so much to see.

Written 4:15 PM Monday 18th May - Fosters Motel - Bryce

We did indeed return to Arches National Park yesterday morning and spent a very enjoyable 2 1/2 hours. We viewed The Windows, the Double Arch and the Balanced Rock !

The weather was perfect, sunny, but not too hot and we got lots of lovely photos. We then returned south, past Monticello, until we got to the Mokee Dugway, which is a very steep, twisting, unmade road down the side of a cliff.

We drove through Monument Valley and took some photos from a distance, but decided not to return for a close look as movement around the rocks is quite restricted.

We spent the night in Caliente, Arizona, in a very pleasant, if expensive motel, and had dinner in a nice nearby hotels restaurant where i had a glass of non-alcohol wine (restrictions due to it being Navaho territory I think) and a medicine man salad that included Indian flat bread.

When we got back to the motel Andy went out for a drive into the desert for a couple of hours to see the stars without any lights around. He saw lots apparently. This morning we headed back into Utah and towards Bryce Canyon where because of the wet weather today we are planning to spend some time tomorrow morning.

Written Wednesday 20th May 12:30 PM - Excalibur Hotel - Las Vegas

Yesterday morning the rain had cleared and we headed to Bryce Canyon where it was chilly but bright. We started at sunset point where the views of the hoodoos (spires of red and orange rock formations) were amazing. We walked along the rim trail to sunrise point which didn't take long. On the way we saw some deer. We then decided to take the moderate trail down into the Canyon. It was very steep but again the views were amazing and as we started it began to snow a little. The snow showers stopped as we descended and the sun came out making it quite warm. We passed lots of out of breath people who were going up the steep slopes.

At the bottom we walked along the Canyon for just over a mile during which time it rained quite a bit and then the sun came out again. We then ascended by the easier , less deep trail to sunrise point, which was still quite exerting but there were plenty of places to stop, take photos and catch our breath. We left Bryce Canyon around 12:30 PM and then drove down the Interstate , arriving in Vegas at around 4:15 PM Pacific Time.

We checked into the Excalibur hotel, on the 23rd floor room number 23124, I worked out there were approximately 3600 rooms in the hotel ! (the one in the middle of our room number denotes tower one). After a little explore we had dinner in the hotels Italian restaurant, then a couple of drinks in the bar, we both had a go on a slot machine and Andy made a 325% profit by cashing in $4.25 from his initial stake of $1.

This morning I went down to Krispy Kreme to get a glazed doughnut and then Starbucks for a croissant and latte for Andy's breakfast, an order he says he wants each day we're here! We then drove to the car rental place where we had to leave the black Mustang we had been driving for the last six weeks as it needed an oil change and the insurance tag expired in June. We had done 158 hours and 3 minutes driving in her and travelled 7359 miles. We now have a newer white Mustang. We stopped at Walmart on the way back to the hotel to stock up on water, diet cokes etc and are now debating whether to go to the pool ( our original plan) as there isn't any sunshine ; It is a warm but cloudy day.

Written Thursday 21st May 4:30 PM - Excalibur Hotel - Las Vegas

We did decide to go down to the pool yesterday afternoon and had a nice 3 1/2 hours there. The cloud cleared and the sun came out in the evening we went to the buffet in the hotel. Tonight we are planning to go to the one at the MGM Grand where we stayed five years ago with the girls to compare them.

This morning I got Andy his doughnut, croissant and latte and then we headed off to Hoover Dam. We did the power plant tour which was quite interesting and not over long. We took photos, walked across the dam, visited the visitor centre and then drove up to the new bridge that was being built last time we were there.
When we got back to the hotel we went to the food court where I had a hot dog on a stick from Hot Dog on a Stick . Andy he came with me to see what they sold ! but decided to go to Popeyes for fried chicken instead. We then went downstairs to the fun dungeon which is like a kids amusement arcade and played air-hockey which I won 5-4.

Written Saturday 23rd May 5:00 PM - Americas Best Value Inn - 29 Palms

Thursday evening we went to the MGM Grand where drinks are a lot more expensive than at Excalibur but the food is of a better quality. Friday morning we went for a walk down the strip, bought some postcards and had a wander through some of the other hotel casinos. We took shelter whilst there was a bit of a shower. Apparently about that time (just before noon) there was an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale 100 miles or so North of Vegas which caused some road damage and traffic congestion.

We went back to the hotel, had lunch in the food court and then spent the afternoon by the pool where it was warm but not particularly sunny. In the evening we went back to the MGM Grand and had a lovely meal in their posh Italian restaurant followed by a few drinks in their Rouge bar.

This morning we left Vegas and drove through the desert to California. We struggled to find the motel as it has been renamed and we were looking for Country Inn, 29 palms on top of which the office was locked and I had to register in the hotel next door (which had also been renamed) but the staff there were very friendly and our room and the facilities are very good.

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