We lay our heads on our pillows in a Budget Motel last night. It was the type that was original to the old traveling road, with the cinder block walls, but it was clean and close to the Beaver Street Brewery, where we met our friend McKenzie Gatz, who just relocated from Chicago, after living in Florida her entire life. She was happy for a weekend date, as her beau Craig, a dashing medical helicopter pilot, was on duty. Rescued:) Her Mom has been a good friend of mine for over thirty-five years and it was great to take her out and enjoy a meal near the train yard. (It keeps up with the train motto of our trip, which has had trains in the proximity of us our entire adventures.)

Tonight is no exception to the train trail, as we have checked into the most adorable Santa Fe Motel and Inn, in the heart of the city, near the Railyard Arts District and the downtown Plaza. On our way into Santa Fe, we drove through Albuquerque, just to say we did, passing mounds, hills of stone, and desert covered in black lava rock. We passed more casinos than I can count, roadsides flanked by sagebrush and a beautiful lavender plants, and although it was sunny, the haze obscured our view of the tail end of the Rocky Mountains and the Sandia Range.

Today we walked into town to the Plaza to shake off the road-weariness and wandered into the many boutiques and shops that I fell in love with. I have heard about Santa Fe from many people and now I know why they fell in love. Bill indulged me in the two requests I have requested. I must visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, which closed early, and I want to stay a second night to experience the artistic ambiance of this amazing town. I secured a reservation at the museum for tomorrow since COVID has everything operating in a so differently these days.

The Santa Fe Motel and Inn, which is situated within walking distance of the Railyard Arts District and the Plaza, will be our playground tomorrow. Tonight we walked across the street to an exquisite farm to table restaurant, Radish& Rye, enjoying what independent farmers and artisan producers could bring to our table with four small plates, and two bourbon cocktails of exquisite flavor. How lucky are we that randomly our selections could land us in such a great spot?

This was a different travel day, but well worth the motel selection, which meant we did not eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from our cooler, but gourmet cuisine. As I always say, we are so worth it.