Day 9 and we decided to break free from the well-trodden path of Route 66 and take a little detour. Lia had her sights set on the Billy the Kid Museum, and we figured a trip down to Roswell, New Mexico—you know, where UFOs are rumoured to have landed—would add a bit of spice to the day. What's 340 miles in the grand scheme of things, right? Spoiler: It was totally worth it.
Fort Sumner – Billy the Kid's Final Resting Place
First stop: Fort Sumner, about 100 miles south of Tucumcari. This is where Billy the Kid met his untimely end—shot in a small building that now hosts the Billy the Kid Museum. While Lia got her historical fix, I decided to have a little adventure of my own. The windscreen of our car was absolutely plastered with bugs from the journey, so I found a local car wash. A bucket and sponge at the petrol station had only done so much, so it was time for a proper clean. For once, the car didn’t look like it was covered in a science experiment, I then filled up with gas and headed back to pick Lia up.
Roswell – UFOs, Aliens, and More Aliens
Next up was Roswell—about 86 miles south of Fort Sumner. From the moment we drove past the Welcome to Roswell sign, it was everything I imagined and more. The town was a bit bigger than I expected, with a population of 47,000, and it had this interesting blend of old, quaint buildings and more modern shopping plazas. But, of course, we were there for the main event: the UFO Museum .
Martin's Capitol Café – Mexican Food That’s Out of This World
After the UFO sightings, we were in the mood for some food. We found Martin’s Capitol Café and tucked into some incredibly delicious Mexican dishes. Everything from the enchiladas to the quesadillas was top-notch. I’d go back just for the food alone, even without the UFO museum. Seriously, if you ever find yourself in Roswell, make sure you stop by for a bite.
A Bit of a Hold-Up on the Road – Bumper to Bumper Traffic
As we left Roswell and headed north towards Moriarty, we hit a bit of a traffic snag on Interstate 40, about 30 miles out fromour hotel. A crash had caused a massive slowdown, and we were stuck for about five minutes. But let me tell you, some poor souls were stuck for hours. We passed through six miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic, mostly trucks. At one point, it was double lanes, 80% trucks, crawling at a snail's pace. We were lucky, but it did make us appreciate being on the open road.
Moriarty, NM – Route 66 Once More
After the traffic drama, we arrived at Moriarty, NM, and checked into our motel for the night. We were both pretty exhausted, but we managed to take a short drive around the town to stretch our legs. It was definitely quieter than some of the places we’ve passed through, but the hospitality of the locals really made up for it. We settled into the Tristar Inn Xpress and after a rest, we were ready to head out for some photos and a look around the town.
Tomorrow, we’re back on Route 66, so who knows what quirky stops await us. Stay tuned! 🚗👽🌮
No comments:
Post a Comment