Probably the biggest issue with “Mojave Desert Breakdown '09” was that we spent two days stuck in California. This meant that we weren't sticking to our (albeit flexible) schedule, and so over the last couple of days we could tell that the kids were getting kind of squirrelly, and we (the adults) were ready to start heading back home. (Well, at least I was. Keep in mind, I've been gone since the 6th.) That's why we decided that today would begin our big push straight home.
Our original plan was to go from Farmington to Fort Worth, where we would visit Ellen's cousin Julie. While there, we could have seen Enzo, in Dallas, and had already touched base with Eric in Austin in hopes that we could get together for at least a little while. It has been way too long since I've seen any of them, and I was looking forward to it.
From Fort Worth we were to follow Route 10 to New Orleans, where we hoped to do our part to help the rebuilding effort by having lunch in the French Quarter. Then we would continue along the Gulf Coast to Jim's house in Georgia. From there we would head back home.
Instead, we looked at the push home and determined that we could go straight from Farmington in three days, but that one of them would be an 11+ hour (drive time) day. We decided to start with that.
So, we left Farmington bright and early today, with our sights set on Oklahoma City. We headed out on Route 550 toward Albuquerque, and passed through some interesting countryside. As we were nearing Interstate 25, I saw a water tower that read “Bernalillo, The City of Coronado.” Having spent some time in the southwest, I am familiar with Coronado, but I wondered why this town had this moniker. Again, be careful what you wish for (although this time in a good way), as Munchkin announced that she needed a “potty break.” I followed the signs for the Bernalillo Visitor's Center, and while the family visited the rest rooms, I talked with a gentleman who answered my questions.
It seems that there is a state monument – Coronado State Monument, as a matter of fact - that is in Bernalillo. I was told that they believe that Coronado mustered his army there during his exploration of the area. Of course, what really is (was) there is a pueblo that had 1,200 dwellings, and the finest example of pre-contact wall paintings in the United States. Coronado came in, killed the people, and took over. The guide and I lamented the fact that so many things in the southwest are named after Coronado. (“They say he discovered this area. What he did was follow the roads that connected the pueblos. There was no discovery.”) So, that was why Bernalillo is “Coronado's city.”
We continued on our way, passing through Albuquerque. It was intriguing enough that I would like to visit and see what is there. Some day. The rest of the day was spent on Route 40, heading east. There isn't much to mention about our travels. Long day. Not much to look at, other than noticing how the vegetation and landscape changed as we traveled east.
We did make one stop of significance. Cadillac Ranch. I had seen this art installation from the highway when Dave and I had driven across the country in 1986, and I thought the kids would enjoy seeing it, so I checked for directions before we left. Just outside Amarillo, Texas, are 10 Cadillacs buried nose first in the ground. They are spray painted different colors, and people are allowed (if not encouraged) to add their own graffiti. We didn't have any spray paint, but each kid added their own name with a pen that I had with us. My kids first juvenile delinquent moment (awww, I think I'm tearing up).
A while later we passed the (self-proclaimed) Largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere. I think that qualifies as the kind of cheesy place my sister would be searching out. Of course, we didn't stop, but we did get a picture as we zipped by.
After traveling through a hellacious thunderstorm, we ended up safely in Oklahoma City.
