h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Colorado's sooo lovely, too....

Well, it depends... we'll get from Vegas to Santa Fe somehow! I've crossed Arizona, but I've never crossed Utah/SW Colorado. It depends who's where, mostly.

Indeed, indeed... it's so cool you're doing this!!! How long are you planning to spend on tour!??

Looks like it will be almost 2 months, almost 30 days driving and almost 30 days - er - socialising.

We ought to get a map, mark the route, scan it and either ask very nicely if we can get it blobbed or bung it on MSN or Goecities somewhere.

The big debate at the moment is counter-clockwise or clockwise. GTB prefers counter-clockwise, and I have no preferences, but because of an existing meet in California I would have to change my flights if we go counter-clockwise.

Lots to do and plan!

I must admit, Colorado is tempting me.

B

"I must admit, Colorado is tempting me."

As well it should, I love Colorado and I live in New Mexico.

If you do wind up in Santa Fe, I can volunteer my services as a local guide (I live "nearby" as we say around here, 30 miles south), as I lived there for about 4 years.

The quickest way from Las Vegas, NV to Santa Fe, NM is to get down to I-40 and head East through Arizona and New Mexico to Albuquerque then North on I-25 to Santa Fe. There are much more scenic routes one can take that meander through Arizona up to Utah, over to lovely SW Colorado, and down through Northwestern NM (some of my favorite places in the World are there).

Good luck with your planning. If you're through Santa Fe or Albuquerque, I might be able to meet, or at least tell you what roads to use/avoid.

- JD

I lived in Santa Fe for 6 years - we should compare notes! 30 miles south... are you in Madrid? Lamy? Bernalillo? Somewhere in that weird Turquoise Trail corridor?

There's no doubt that we'll wind up in Santa Fe. I have friends there, and memories. (Plus there's the one mechanic who *really* understands my van, and the one junk yard where I can reliably get parts.)

Let's do get together for some green chile!

sorry, that was me, GTB!

Ah, GTB! Somehow it escaped my many lurkings that you had lived in Santa Fe for that long! Excellent then, I'd be happy to meet up with you folks for some green chile, that sounds like fun. Good to know mechanics along your route, especially one in Santa Fe.

I actually live right next to Bernalillo, in far northern Rio Rancho (the town has reached all that way now, if you've not been there in years that'll probably be surprising!). My H2G2 page here details a bit more about that.

- JD

Have you checked out the Santa Fe entry? That was the first thing I wrote here.

GTB (who really ought to be using his own account for this sort of thing)

Ah ha! You are someone I didn't remember but should have ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F63263?thread=104103 Looks like we've already met, but I had forgotten it. I apologize for being obtuse, of course I knew you'd written the Santa Fe entry. (There ought to be a smiley, or at least a smiley, or is that asking too much? Something between and is what I'm after here.) - JD

Wow... that was a long time ago. Now I remember that I have a whole list of people here in DFW who will be expecting me to bring them pints of Green from Horseman's Haven!

GTB

YAY!!! I'm glad you're talking about amazing Santa Fe!!! I went there for the first time this past August!!! LOVE IT!!! I wouldn't mind living in NM at all!!!

My boyfriend and I took the S I-25 route, and Highway 64.... ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I'm used to seeing a lot of pretty things, a varied landscapes(I've often traveled from the Western Slope-- desert and flattops-- to Denver, through the Rockies!!!!), but Highway 64 was very awestriking!!!

Is New Orleans going to be a stop!?? And when does this whole journey begin!?? I guess I'll go hunt around to see for myself!!!

"Is New Orleans going to be a stop!??"

Good question! We'll leave Dallas, and end up in Florida a few days later, but what happens in between is still pretty open.

New Orleans will be hot, humid, and full of bugs. (Imagine a caveman's armpit, and make the fleas larcenous, and you've got it.) As much as I love the town, I don't want to live there, or even spend more than a few days there. I think it'd be worth a stay overnight - check out the blues bars and galleries.

If I were you guys, I would skip all that and head straight for the Keys in Florida. I've never been. I've been to Disneyworld, I've been to Epcot, I've been to the beach (it's worth it!) but never to the Keys. But I hear they're spectacular.

Definitely head out to the Grand Canyon in Arizona. There's no way to describe or take pictures of this place - it's too big.

There you are, Lentilla. I need to add you to our list. You and Roger wanna roll along with us, part of the way? Too bad we can't time it all to coincide with Kerrville!

GTB

Ahhh, Highway 64! The road that leads you into Taos from up Colorado way. Once in Taos, and if you like real driving (or motorcycle riding or bicycling for that matter), it would be a tragedy to miss the aptly named "Enchanted Circle" that comprises the roads between Taos, Red River and Eagle Nest. I absolutely LOVE to drive up there, almost as much if someone else is driving and we can stop in Taos long enough for me to have an or at Eskie's. I wrote a small ode to fishing (can be found at my H2G2 page) which was inspired by fishing trips up in that area (along with parts of the Jemez, parts of the Pecos river, the San Juan, and also the Animas and others in Southwestern Colorado). I'm very lucky to live here.

- JD

Aaargh! You've just reminded me of my friends on the mesa outside of Pecos.... what a day that was....

I'm glad New Mexico is our last stop on the trip. Good note to end on.


GTB

> You and Rodger wanna roll along with us, part of the way?

Well, yes. Very much so. I'd like to go to Arizona again - in the summer, this time. (Last time was in October, and it was c-c-c-c-c-c-cold!) But I gotta keep my job and be responsible. Being responsible sucks. Maybe I'll get lucky and lose my job... no, wait a second... Sigh.

What I want to do is go down to the Burning Man festival, build a pagoda out of Popsicle sticks, then cover the whole thing with Mylar. I'll have to satisfy my wild urges by going to Kerrville and drinking beer, I suppose!

- J

Be careful around the San Juans.... my grandmother calls them HER MOUNTAINS!!!

I'm planning on visiting N'ORleans with a best friend in late March this year, so I'll very much miss the travelling banditos BUT!!! I'll also miss them hungry misquitos!!!

Be careful around the San Juans.... my grandmother calls them HER MOUNTAINS!!!

I'm planning on visiting N'ORleans with a best friend in late March this year, so I'll very much miss the travelling banditos BUT!!! I'll also miss them hungry mosquitos!!!