Day 18 Aug 17

Albuquerque to Grants NM

Total mileage 73


Today summary would be surprise Surprise, then Spectacle Scenery and done.

The route followed along and on I-40.

Towns of note:

  • Albuquerque (Glad to through there as I am tried of trying to spell it)
  • Mestla
  • Laguna
  • New Laguna
  • Paraje
  • Budville
  • Villa de Cubero
  • San Fidel
  • McCartys Pueblo
  • Grants

If they are maps I would be surprised as I passed through them and some I did not see at all and other not much except a tavern or gas pump.  

We did stop in Laguna for burger the local was Laguna burger and it was very good with local green chillies.

This morning the first surprise was the nut that holds the rear fender up was gone.  Kind of explain the thump I heard yesterday afternoon when hitting bumps.  The fix was not bad we stopped at Aiden Diesel Service.  They replaced the bolt and help us out right away.  

Then the next surprise was 7 miles out the crossing of the bridge to keep us on route was closed.  I checked I maps and it showed that about 7.4 miles out there was road crossing colored gray.  At five miles the landfill site turned off and the sign side no outlet.  The road went from bad to worse to even more worse to horribly bad and then it became worse.  But right at the 7.5 miles we found a drain tunnel like the last one we passed under.  And it all worked out. 

Once on the route again we had a 23 mile ride on I-40 it was not bad but not great either but we finished it non the worse for the wear.  

After we picked up the route the scenery became spectacular again.  

Arrived in Grants and at the hotel we met a fellow by the name of Todd and he wanted to know all the details of the ride.  We explained the information to him as best we could but in the end we agree that anyone that this trip must be crazy.

After a short rest toured the Mining Museum here and did a photo stop.  Mexican for dinner and off to bed now.


Leaving Albuquerque 




                                                                                        In Grant









                                                                        Just some of the Scenery 


                                    Where we joined the route there was only one of these tunnels and it had a little water in it too.




Most of the land is the red limestone seen other pictures.  However we passed right through an ancient lava flow.  (the picture does not do it credit)


Sites seen

  • 3 chuches
  • 6 bars 
  • 2 two old cars from 50s restored and running on route 66
  • 1 bicycle that looked to be riding route 66 but going east on the other side of the highway
  • 9 motorcycles 
  • about 5 old motels in Grants
  • about 7 old gas stations that were closed
  • 1 pair of panties and 1 bra on the road.
  • 3 small horse statues
  • 1 buffalo statue
  • 1 cattle statue
  • I statue of a stagecoach with horses 
  • 1 VW bug on top of school bus 
  • 5 wrecking yards with lots of old cars out front.
  • 2 old Route 66 Bridges
  • 2 really long trains


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