Leaving
Moab was bitter sweet. Such is the case with most travel--you love being
where you are, and you treasure returning to the place you call home. But
well before getting there, our journey still has some pleasant surprises ahead
as we venture the 7 hour drive back to Albuquerque. This of course is the
home I grew up in, but as a Southern California transplant, I'll still have an
airplane ride ahead of me to what I now call home.
Our
return road trip deviated from our way up to Moab, this time passing Shiprock
New Mexico and then dropping in to Gallup New Mexico where we picked up
Interstate 40 for our final leg into Albuquerque. That last leg was not
without its photo opp as we passed a vista of Laguna Pueblo, accessible from a
raised turnout from the highway….but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Our
first stop was in Monticello Utah. This is one of those necessary stops
prompted by drinking too much morning coffee... Anyway, to a
photographer, any stop is a photo opp, and while wandering around the filling
station, I noticed a scene out back that beckoned for the creation of a
photograph. A church, surrounded by trees, cast against a mountain with
snow--does it get any better than this? For a photographer sitting in a
car itching to press the shutter release, NO!
Ok,
on to Shiprock... The town of Shiprock is named after the nearby Shiprock
rock formation, and is home to the annual Northern Navajo Fair, held every
October. Shiprock is a key road junction for truck traffic and tourists
visiting the Four Corners, Mesa Verde, Shiprock and the Grand Canyon. The town
lies at the intersection of U.S. Route 64 and U.S. Route 491 (formerly U.S.
Route 666). We stopped just long enough to get a couple of photos of the
famous rock formation.
A
short distance down the road, there was another amazing rock formation--and
only the most discerning eyes will recognize that it's not Shiprock--it's
Cathedral Cliff!
This
area of New Mexico is vast, and it's barren. It's a part of the country
that gives one pause...why would people live here...what do they do...what are
their stories... So many questions, and from the highway, so few
answers. Yet, there they are, there they live, and a photograph forms the
question...why?
Finally
we hit Interstate 40 and Gallup New Mexico. Gallup was founded in 1881 as
a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad and is known as the
"Heart of Indian Country" because it is in the middle of the Navajo
reservation and home to many tribes. This town has a rich cultural
history and is a destination unto itself, but for us today, it would only be
our lunch stop. A quick search of special spaces to eat took us to a
local café mostly frequented by the locals—Jerry’s Café. I was in the
mood for the quintessentially New Mexican green chile cheese burger. I
was not disappointed! Will our bellies stuffed, we were prepared for the
next, and almost final leg of our journey.
One
very special photograph remains to be captures... A year ago I had been
on a drive to Albuquerque from the west coast and nearing Albuquerque noticed a
small town on a hill just north of the highway. Sitting prominently was
the church…I learned later that this town was Laguna Pueblo. At the time,
I wanted to stop and create a photograph but I happened to be in the left lane
and was blocked by a truck from escaping to a pullout that I was unprepared
for. Today’s trip would be different as I was on the lookout for this
same pullout, and I stayed in the right lane so as to not miss it. As I
could see the pueblo appear, I was excited to be finally getting a second
chance… After satisfying my last photographic interest, we dropped in to
Albuquerque along its famous “nine mile hill”…
There
is no real summary for this amazing trip other that the fact that with travel
comes adventure, and if approached right, involves some amazingly positive
experience. This was one of those trips that allowed me to enjoy the
company of a very old friend (i.e., I've known him for a long time) and enjoy
some amazing photography and scenery with him. A week is a short time,
but the memories will last my lifetime. Moab awaits my return!
No comments:
Post a Comment