On The Road to Villanueva

OK, we broke protocol.

Kind of.

After 4 weeks around the house, except for the not-frequent visits to a hardware store, and a supermarket, it was time to head out.

The 323 mile journey, during which our only contact with fellow New Mexicans was a friendly wave along the highway, and at the drive-thru window at Wendy's, away we went.

Here's what we saw.

State Road Three - between I-40 and Villanueva!

These 345,000 volt electric soldiers, I recall from my years in the electric utility business, carry power across the sagebrush plains between switching stations in Bernalillo and Blackwater (near Clovis).   It's 216 miles long.  I think, now, in additional to traditional power generation sources (coal fired power plants), the lines are used to transmit power from solar and wind generation used by PNM and other utilities across the west.

Villanueva State Park, on the banks of the Pecos River was tranquil.  It had been opened up for day use, only.   There were picnickers in one site - and nary another soul around - except for the state park employee who kindly told us that day-use at the park didn't require payment of a fee!

Along the way we visited another state park - Storrie Lake near Las Vegas.  There, our trusty Teddy, looked longingly at the lapping blue waters, probably wondering how he could get to the ducks that were quacking in the distance.  But, not wanting to get his little feet wet!

On thru Mora, Cleveland, Holman, Tres Ritos, SiPaPu, Vadito, Penasco, Las Trampas, Ojo Sarco, Truchas and skirting Picuris, Nambe, Pojoaque, Tesuque, Cochiti, San Felipe, Santa Ana and Sandia pueblos we went.

Arriving back in The Big Duke City 8 hours later.

It was worth it!