Today was the biggest driving day of the trip so far with 320 miles into the heights of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. I started the day early with a photo op at the geographical midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, TX, just 14 miles west of the motel. Another 120 miles later, I was in Santa Rosa, NM for a round at the nine hole Tres Lagunas Golf Course. Then 104, mostly uphill miles to Santa Fe for a round at the nine hole Quail Run Golf Course and finally, 70 miles to Albuquerque ending at the Monterey Motel. As the drive came to an end, there was an issue with the Mustang transmission that may be related to overheating/vapor lock causing the engine to be starved for gas as it comes up to speed.
The Route 66 Midpoint in Adrian, TX Since my tee time in Santa Rosa, NM was at 7:15 A.M., I had to get the day started early. I left the motel before 6:00 A.M. knowing I would gain an hour driving into Mountain Standard Time.
Just 14 miles to the west of my motel is the Midpoint Cafe and a Midpoint Marker across Route 66. It was still dark when I parked to take a picture, the sun just trying to peak above the horizon. The midpoint is said to be exactly 1139 miles from Chicago and 1139 miles from Los Angeles.
Five miles later, it was necessary to enter I-40 since Route 66 is no longer accessible from I-40 Exit 18 to the border town of Glenrio, TX.
I got off at the Glenrio exit hoping to rejoin Route 66. I found a ghost town that was once a bustling border town. You can see what the interstate did to Glenrio.
Just 14 miles to the west of my motel is the Midpoint Cafe and a Midpoint Marker across Route 66. It was still dark when I parked to take a picture, the sun just trying to peak above the horizon. The midpoint is said to be exactly 1139 miles from Chicago and 1139 miles from Los Angeles.
Five miles later, it was necessary to enter I-40 since Route 66 is no longer accessible from I-40 Exit 18 to the border town of Glenrio, TX.
I got off at the Glenrio exit hoping to rejoin Route 66. I found a ghost town that was once a bustling border town. You can see what the interstate did to Glenrio.
 Motel Ruins in Glenrio, TX |  Gas Station Ruins in Glenrio, TX |
Into New Mexico I drove past the remains and soon hit "dirt 66". Not wanting to drive on gravel, I turned around and re-entered I-40. Once into New Mexico, I traveled on both the north and south I-40 Frontage roads, the old Route 66, passing through the town of San Jon and into
The Famous Blue Swallow Motel Sign in Tucumcari, NM Tucumcari where I snapped a picture of the famous Blue Swallow Motel. Looks like a good place to spend the night!
It is necessary to use I-40 for significant stretches through New Mexico as the remains of old Route 66 are not always driveable.
Out of Tucumcari, I drove about 18 miles on I-40 before using both the north and south Frontage roads to make my way into Santa Rosa where I would be playing the nine hole city course.
It is necessary to use I-40 for significant stretches through New Mexico as the remains of old Route 66 are not always driveable.
Out of Tucumcari, I drove about 18 miles on I-40 before using both the north and south Frontage roads to make my way into Santa Rosa where I would be playing the nine hole city course.
When I got to the course, I discovered it was actually named Tres Lagunas Golf Course. Russell Sanford, the Course Superintendent told me it takes its name from the three lagoons that are on the property, originally installed by the railroad to power the old steam locomotives.
Russell Sanford, Tres Lagunas GC Superintendant When I was planning the trip, I spoke to Russell on the phone and he indicated New Mexico had been experiencing drought conditions and the fairways were not in good shape.
So my expectations were pre-set. There was nobody at the course when I arrived even though the pro shop was unlocked. I stopped in, got a scorecard, put my bag on my back and headed out to the first tee.
The course apparently has not been measured by golf companies such as Sky Caddie so it was a good old fashioned round of golf with no measuring devices. There were 100, 150, and 200 yard markers but that was it.
As Russell had forewarned me, the fairways were burned out but the course had received rain in the recent past as the ground was soft. The teeing areas and green complexes were plush although the greens had not been mowed for a few days and were covered with morning dew. So the speed of these greens were a big contrast to the greens I putted yesterday at Amarillo Country Club.
After I finished the second hole, Russell met me at the third tee. He apologized that the greens had not been cut but both of his greens mowers were down. He had been out to borrow a mower from a local business.
Even given the above, it was a most enjoyable round in the cool, humid air, carrying the bag for nine holes.
Tres Lagunas has no logo balls although Russell told me he has discussed it with the city. He hopes to have logo balls in the future. So the count now stands at twenty-one for thirty-one.
I left the course with my next stop Joseph's Bar and Grill in Santa Rosa. But I played so quickly, the restaurant was not yet open so I moved on down the Mother Road.
So my expectations were pre-set. There was nobody at the course when I arrived even though the pro shop was unlocked. I stopped in, got a scorecard, put my bag on my back and headed out to the first tee.
The course apparently has not been measured by golf companies such as Sky Caddie so it was a good old fashioned round of golf with no measuring devices. There were 100, 150, and 200 yard markers but that was it.
As Russell had forewarned me, the fairways were burned out but the course had received rain in the recent past as the ground was soft. The teeing areas and green complexes were plush although the greens had not been mowed for a few days and were covered with morning dew. So the speed of these greens were a big contrast to the greens I putted yesterday at Amarillo Country Club.
After I finished the second hole, Russell met me at the third tee. He apologized that the greens had not been cut but both of his greens mowers were down. He had been out to borrow a mower from a local business.
Even given the above, it was a most enjoyable round in the cool, humid air, carrying the bag for nine holes.
Tres Lagunas has no logo balls although Russell told me he has discussed it with the city. He hopes to have logo balls in the future. So the count now stands at twenty-one for thirty-one.
I left the course with my next stop Joseph's Bar and Grill in Santa Rosa. But I played so quickly, the restaurant was not yet open so I moved on down the Mother Road.
There are two basic Route 66 paths through New Mexico (an oversimplification as there are many remnants that can or maybe can't be used). One track parallels I-40 (or more accurately, I-40 parallels Route 66) to Albuquerque. The other route, known as the pre-1937 route (or the Santa Fe Loop) begins about 19 miles west of Santa Rosa at I-40 Exit 256 and goes north up through Santa Fe before turning south down to Albuquerque.
Since there is one Route 66 course on the Santa Fe Loop, that's the route I had to take. On the way from Santa Rosa, you are on a steady climb into the high plains. As I drove toward Santa Fe, I watched the altimeter on my Garmin register over 7500 feet around the little town of Glorietta.
Soon I was at Quail Run Golf Club, a private nine hole course that is an amenity of the residential community surrounding it.
Zach in the Pro Shop set me up with a cart and I was off. Quail Run is a good test of golf with five par 3's (two over 190 yards), three par 4's, and a 515 yard par 5. Drives generally have to thread a narrow chute. The course is in good shape and it was fairly empty when I played. It didn't hit me until I was playing the eighth hole that the ball flies about 10% farther at 7500 feet above sea level. That's why my irons were going so deep into the greens.
Quail Run was out of logo balls so the final count for the day is twenty-one for thirty-two. Not good.
Since there is one Route 66 course on the Santa Fe Loop, that's the route I had to take. On the way from Santa Rosa, you are on a steady climb into the high plains. As I drove toward Santa Fe, I watched the altimeter on my Garmin register over 7500 feet around the little town of Glorietta.
Soon I was at Quail Run Golf Club, a private nine hole course that is an amenity of the residential community surrounding it.
Zach in the Pro Shop set me up with a cart and I was off. Quail Run is a good test of golf with five par 3's (two over 190 yards), three par 4's, and a 515 yard par 5. Drives generally have to thread a narrow chute. The course is in good shape and it was fairly empty when I played. It didn't hit me until I was playing the eighth hole that the ball flies about 10% farther at 7500 feet above sea level. That's why my irons were going so deep into the greens.
Quail Run was out of logo balls so the final count for the day is twenty-one for thirty-two. Not good.
Monterey Motel in Old Town Albuquerque I left Quail Run and started the 70 mile trip to my motel in Albuquerque. Route 66 overlays the El Camino Real for most of the way to Albuquerque and goes dead through the heart of Santa Fe. I did my best to follow the route but did make a few wrong turns.
The same thing happened to me when I neared Albuquerque. My motel, the Monterey Non-Smokers Motel, is on Central Avenue, the main artery through town. Central Avenue cuts right through the campus of the University of New Mexico and is very congested.
It was in the mid to upper 90's and I was a little concerned about vapor lock with the temperature under the hood so hot and no air flowing around the radiator. As I entered Albuquerque, I started experiencing some problems with the transmission and I am hopeful they will clear up with a cooling system that isn't fighting such temperature extremes.
I am thrilled with the motel. It is clean, has every amenity you could want, and the parking spot is right outside the room. Two packages of Belvita cookies are provided in the room. And the Albuquerque Country Club, my sole course for tomorrow, is directly behind the motel.
The same thing happened to me when I neared Albuquerque. My motel, the Monterey Non-Smokers Motel, is on Central Avenue, the main artery through town. Central Avenue cuts right through the campus of the University of New Mexico and is very congested.
It was in the mid to upper 90's and I was a little concerned about vapor lock with the temperature under the hood so hot and no air flowing around the radiator. As I entered Albuquerque, I started experiencing some problems with the transmission and I am hopeful they will clear up with a cooling system that isn't fighting such temperature extremes.
I am thrilled with the motel. It is clean, has every amenity you could want, and the parking spot is right outside the room. Two packages of Belvita cookies are provided in the room. And the Albuquerque Country Club, my sole course for tomorrow, is directly behind the motel.
Monterey Motel Owner Henry Elencwajg With Victor The motel was built in the late 1930's and has been owned for the past 18 years by Henry and Bo Elencwajg. We struck up a conversation about our Polish ancestry.
Henry could not have been any nicer. He took the time to explain that Albuquerque's Old Town is no more than seven minutes walking from the motel. He got out a map of Old Town and provided some restaurant recommendations.
Route 66 is directly astride Old Town. It is anchored by the 223 year old San Felipe de Neri Church. The church is surrounded by a tree lined courtyard and many restaurants and shops. Henry stressed the fact that it is very safe to walk to Old Town, even later in the night. The area was full of shoppers and diners.
After I settled into my room and showered, I walked over to Old Town, ending up at Hacienda del Rio Restaurant where I had an authentic Mexican dinner and, of course, an IPA. And I was even able to complete a bit more of my gift shopping.
Henry could not have been any nicer. He took the time to explain that Albuquerque's Old Town is no more than seven minutes walking from the motel. He got out a map of Old Town and provided some restaurant recommendations.
Route 66 is directly astride Old Town. It is anchored by the 223 year old San Felipe de Neri Church. The church is surrounded by a tree lined courtyard and many restaurants and shops. Henry stressed the fact that it is very safe to walk to Old Town, even later in the night. The area was full of shoppers and diners.
After I settled into my room and showered, I walked over to Old Town, ending up at Hacienda del Rio Restaurant where I had an authentic Mexican dinner and, of course, an IPA. And I was even able to complete a bit more of my gift shopping.
 Hacienda del Rio Restaurant |  San Felipe de Neri Church Built in 1793 |
Tomorrow is a light day with only a 2:30 round at the Albuquerque Country Club. So I have some time to kill tomorrow morning. The later round means I will not arrive at my next motel in Gallup, NM at the Arizona border until 9:00 P.M. or so. So while the morning is laid back, the evening will be tough.
And the wildcard is the Mustang transmission. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Stay tuned.
And the wildcard is the Mustang transmission. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Stay tuned.
RSS Feed