Maryland Bound... Day One

How do traditions get started? Sometimes they're intentional- and sometimes they're something you do once and suddenly it's "tradition." Such was the case with starting our trips with breakfast at Waffle House several years back. After a quick breakfast there this morning, we were on the road at 7:00am.

The overcast sky beautifully back-dropped the bloomin' desert as we headed out Beeline Highway. I drove from the Four Peaks turn-off  while Richard did his tele-con... a bunch of mumbo-jumbo and geek-speak- not very interesting. Fortunately, the drive up the Mogollon Rim is gorgeous and with the sun streaking down from the dark clouds, it was as if God was handing me His handiwork. I love how the landscape changes in Arizona- from high desert in bloom to pine forest with a blanket of snow to plateau grasslands.

High Desert off the Beeline Highway

Snow on the Rim!!

Colorful mesas on the plateau

We decided to eat only at local places (no national chains- well, except for Waffle House since it's tradition!) on this trip. Lunchtime found us in Gallup, New Mexico and we stopped at Chili Factory- fast New Mexican food, only 2 restaurants in Gallup. The owner recommended stuffed sopapillas- delicious!! The home-made red and green chili was quite tasty.

After a quick drive-by of our first house (bought in 1978) as we went through Albuquerque and a gas stop we were back on the road to today's final destination- Tucumcari, New Mexico... 608.8 miles. One time zone down, two more to go!

Our first house... 32 years later!!