We decided to take a chance and chose a Harvest Host place to stay in Santa Fe. We decided on an Alpaca Farm called Blue Thunder. We were all excited about it! Hoping it would be a really cool experience.
I talked to the owner Bob who gave us great directions in. Located just 15 minutes outside of Santa Fe, it was the perfect location to use as our home base. With Harvest Host you were able to stay for 24 hours, but had to be self contained. Meaning no Electric, Water or Sewer was provided to you. We made it as far as Albuquerque the night before, just over an hour and a half from them, allowing us a good night sleep and being able to head up to the Blue Thunder first thing in the morning.
We passed into New Mexico under blue skies........
Passing through the boarder patrol, asked us if we were US Citizens and waived us through......
Relaxing on the long drive from Alpine Texas to Albuquerque......
Gabe has me hooked on his "Escape" games on his kindle!
Then the rain started. I even had Joe pull over for a little while to see if there would be a break in the wind and rain:(
Sorry no other pictures, I was hiding in the back!
Finding a place to stay for overnight in Albuquerque was a bigger issue than we would of thought. By 930pm we were tired and cranky from dealing with heavy rain and storms most of the day and just wanted to go to sleep. Unfortunately there weren’t many options off of the highway to lay our head for the night. Rest areas were in short supply along with the truck stops. By the time we found one of the two truck stops in Albuquerque, the wind had picked up considerably. The parking spots were tight and half full already. By the time we got parked and settled in for the night the rain had started again. Being one of the few truck stops and gas stations along the highway, it was busy all through the night. There was even a security guard stationed at the front doors of the convenience store. Good feeling or bad?
At 930am we were pulling into our Harvest Host farm. The owners Bob and Louise met us at the main road in their little farm gator. They were originally from Boca Raton Florida! Small world. They moved out west 10 years ago, had enough of Florida and wanted to see the seasons change. They asked us what we thought of the storms that blew through last night with 60 mph winds. Reminded them of the tropical storms they used to deal with. But in Santa Fe these storms are quick, no need to baton down anything. They showed us where to park and after we got settled invited us for a tour around their 10 acre farm consisting not only of Alpacas but horses and donkeys as well. It was a beautiful day, blue sky and sunshine. Crisp in the 70s.
We met them over at the Alpaca area. Louise led us through the various penned areas with a cup of food each to feed the Alpacas. She showed us the correct way to feed them, and not to let them get near the cups of food as they were pushy and wanted it all. There were 65 Alpacas in all.
Awe giving Tina a kiss!
We started in the pregnant female pen. Not sure what to expect we gingerly walked around them and started to feed them. They were pretty well behaved and as she explained they are used to people, not skittish at all. The Alpacas from the other pens started to put their heads over the fence to see us and try and get some food also.
They were shaved already in May, so they didn’t’ have a lot of hair on them. Their hair is where their worth is. Once they have been sheared, Louise picks through the bundles, cleans it and sends it out to be made into various things, yarn, clothes, blankets, what ever the call is for. We toured their small garage where the sheering are kept and sorted. On the property they had a small store full of Alpaca items. It was where we would be making our “donation” I’m sure! We finished with the Alpacas and headed over to see the horses.
They had 10 horses, a donkey and 2 mules. We learned the difference between the mule and a donkey and the various horses they had. Some were rescued others they bought. Bob and Louise were both in their early to late 60s and ran their farm with a few helpers that come in the morning to feed the animals. A lot of work, but you can tell they love it. Along with their Alpacas and horses they also have 2 dogs (that only go out at night, their main job is to chase away the coyotes) and 4 cats, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor barn cats to keep the rodents away.
Like at the end of most tours, you end up in the gift shop. It was a cute one room shop with all Alpaca items. From hats to socks to pocket books and blankets. Stuffed animals from small to large. We ended up picking up a few items, thanked them for their hospitality and headed back to the camper.
Tina had to get back to work, so Joe, Gabe and I went exploring. We drove along the old Route 66, lined with old garages and retro diners.
We were headed to a place called Tinker Town.
It was off of the “Turquoise Trail” about an hours drive from where we were. We had seen it on HGTV years ago on a show called “wacky places people live”. The owner, Ross Ward, started collecting trinkets and making wood carvings while in junior high school. He believed in using your imagination and following your dreams. It took 40 years to make the Tinker town Museum. It was a place full of little nooks and rooms filled with far out collections of all different things. He also built walls through out the museum with old glass bottles and cement. He recycled a lot of his displays, always using his imagination in whatever he did. Ross died at the age of 62 years old from Alzheimer’s Disease. His wife Carla runs the museum now, continuing on her husbands legacy. It was a magical, overwhelming display, showing the true imagination of a man who loved to create things from nothing. It only cost $3.00 each to get in, so you know it wasn’t about making money. If you get a chance look it up on line and see for yourself what this museum is all about.
We decided to eat dinner in the camper and then go into Santa Fe to walk around. While making dinner Bob came and knocked on the door, one of the Alpacas had their baby! We quickly went over to see. How exciting! Thankfully we didn’t see the whole process! We walked into the pen and all the Alpacas where surrounding the mom and baby. Apparently Alpacas are like Italian women. When a baby is born all the aunts and cousins and grandmothers surround the baby and mom, giving advice or opinion, whether you wanted it or not. There were other Alpacas trying to nudge the baby, nurse from the mom or just standing there over the baby. So Bob and Louise had to put the mom and baby into their own separate pen to get bond and nurse.
Santa Fe looks just as I pictured it. Small downtown, surrounded by restaurants and shops. In the center of the town square was a park. There was a concert going on, people with chairs and blankets spread through out the grass. Lights twinkled in the trees, making everything look magical.
The night was balmy, clear skies, so we decided to park and walk the town. At one end was a majestic Catholic Cathedral.
The doors were locked unfortunately. We love going into old churches when we travel, marveling at the workmanship from different eras.
We listened to the country music that was being played on stage in the town center, walked into various stores and ended up in front of a family owned and run diner. The menu was filled with so many choices, but what caught our eye was the deserts. The prices were high, for a slice of pie it was $6.00! But let me tell you, that slice was huge. We ended up taking half of Gabe's, mine and Tina's back with us and having them the next night.
The night was cool, in the 60’s! We were so happy to be able to turn off the air conditioning and open up the windows. We have 2 blankets each, albeit thin blankets. Hopefully it wouldn’t get much colder! Each of us where snug in our beds sound asleep until after midnight when we heard the horrible sounds of coyotes. I couldn’t tell you what they sounded like before that night, but knew it was them. The horses across the way in the neighbors ranch were whining, the dogs on the farm where we were staying at were barking and then there was the eerie sound of the coyotes howling. I got up to look out the window but it was to dark to see anything. The howling and barking went on for over an hour. Joe and Tina slept through it all. Gabe and I were the only ones heard it. Bob had told us there were an abundant of coyotes around, the reason why they had their 2 dogs that stay out at night to defend their animals.
We left our Harvest Host and headed to Albuquerque to stay at the American RV Campground. They came up with very good ratings on the RV review website, PLUS they included Continental Breakfast! Haven’t heard of that before. They had a pool, laundry, wifi and full hook ups, all for $36.00 a night. And they were only about 15 minutes to down town. The bath houses were extremely clean and the laundry was some of the cheapest we have seen, $1.50 for Wash and $.75 for dryer. Can’t beat that! Cost of washing our clothes along with the sheets and towels can add up quickly.
THIS IS WHERE THE SIGN FROM THE RV PARK WOULD GO BUT SOMEONE FORGOT TO TAKE IT........
Albuquerque didn’t impress us as much as the small town of Santa Fe. It was a lot more spread out, different neighbor hoods with a College in the middle of it. And not so nice areas in between. We headed to down town first. We took the old Route in.
Unfortunately most of the stores were closed by the time we made it there.
There was an old church in the center of the downtown square. Dated back to the 1700’s. The doors where unlocked, a sign welcoming in passerby’s. The church was small and not ornate as some that we have seen. Simple, but beautiful.
We had decided that we would eat in town that night, Gabe had done some research and found us a Mexican restaurant to try. Monicas. They were located around the corner from where we parked the car, so we walked to it. The hours on the door said they closed in 30 minutes. We went in, asked if they were still serving and they happily said yes!
So glad they did, it was hands down the best Mexican food we have had yet. Family run for decades, it was quaint with home cooked meals. In large amounts to. More left over’s! We each had something different to eat and tried each others. It was all good and the service was excellent. We walked back to the car rubbing our bellies. I could live in the west just based on the food we have been finding!
We spent the next morning taking care of laundry and setting our course for our next stop, the Four Corners! It was time to leave New Mexico and head to Colorado.
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