Today was an exciting day for the bold crone as we entered the Southwest. Oh yeah. 💃🏻🕺🏽 From the flat high plains of Oklahoma and Texas, the Prius went over a hill and boom! Suddenly the landscape changed to sagebrush and red earth. There was a distant butte on the horizon, and cheery Mexican music on the radio. “Olé!” I exclaimed.
Mind you, we first had to cross West Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle. From the La Quinta in Weatherford, OK, it was one hour to the Texas border, and another before I pulled into pit stop number one, a modest sized Love’s in Panhandle proper, heart of windmill country. (Weirdly, the windmills were not spinning this morning. I remember last year almost being hypnotized by their massive arms, waving at me like giants.)
As an aside, I’ve been quite impressed by the number of Indian truck stop restaurants advertised all through the Midwest and into Texas. I love Indian food! Maybe I’ll try Punjabi Dhabba on my way back.
I can’t remember exactly how far it was from Panhandle to the New Mexico border, but our next stop, two and a quarter hours from Love’s, was at the magical Pajarito Rest Area. If you ever do this drive, please note that Pajarito is the second rest area on I-40 after you cross into New Mexico. There is an earlier rest area, very close to the border, which I have not visited.
I stopped here last year, too. Always a highlight. (Can I say “always” after only twice?) Scenic views, several different areas to walk around, and the restrooms are pretty clean.
From this wonderful rest stop it was only an hour and a half to reach tonight’s destination: Edgewood, New Mexico. We stayed here last year, too, in the same Comfort Inn. Edgewood is a cute little town with an excellent grocery store called Smith’s, where I picked up dinner and replenished my supplies.
At sunset I looked for the new moon and its graceful curve. New moons signify renewal—fresh growth, and new beginnings. May all who pass this way be renewed and refreshed, in peace and joy. 🙏🏼OBC 🌿🦉🌵
New moon, Edgewood, NM. 10/16/23
One Bold Crone 