CDT 2024 - Day 21, Back on the Trail

A long, unsupported section for Runningbird

0500 seems to be the standard for alarm clock time on any day other than a Zero. We were at Mt. Taylor Coffee Co. when they opened at 0600 for second coffees (latte's) and then on up the highway to the trailhead. While I had been told that this section of the trail is probably the most beautiful section of the CDT in New Mexico, it would be the most stressful to me. I reminded me of when Runningbird headed off into the High Sierras of the PCT the year they broke the record for snowfall. While snowfall is not an issue here, trail access by vehicle is. Hiker girl said she was confident and ready and off she went.

After Runningbird was off on up the trail and out of sight, I drove to the Walmart and bought 10 gallon jugs of bottled water, topped off with fuel, made a quick stop by the post office, and then returned to the KOA and the T@B for some tension-taming house (trailer) cleaning and organizing. Beau seems to being going through his teen years now. He's getting a bit more stubborn about wanting to lead where we're going, finicky about his eating, and tracking everything he can from outside indoors. He used to eat twice a day, morning and evening, and now he's only interested late afternoon or dinner time. He's lost a bit of weight but he actually had about 10 pounds to spare anyway. I can tell because it seems easier to lift him into the truck. Or maybe after doing it so often I'm getting a bit of muscle.

We got out of town a bit before eleven and headed for the area north of Albuquerque to the Bernalillo KOA. It was a smooth drive and the campground was pretty nice and welcoming. The pool was still closed until the end of the month. After a quick setup I took Beau to the K-9 Camp and he immediately made four new friends and rolled around in the dirt and sand as much as he could. Thank you very much. At the dog park I met a couple who now live in their RV and were repositioning from near some lake in Texas to just outside of West Yellowstone for the summer. Greg and Susan had met in Issaquah, WA and Greg grew up in Sammamish. Walking back to the trailer I decided I wanted to use tomorrow to investigate the next section of the trail so I would go for a quick trip up to Santa Fe since I was so close. I would be about a 45 minute drive and I really just wanted to be able to say I had been there. It was late afternoon and I noticed the traffic building up on the southbound direction. Commuter traffic I guessed.

I got to Santa Fe and found the Trader Joe's and then had a bit of a look around. It was just like so many other big towns, crowded, apparent homeless issues, seedy areas and a lot of really cool parts. I liked the vast areas of homes all in the southwestern architecture design.

We found one of the scarce few available parking meters and went for a walk-about.

Creative design.

We found the Cathedral Basilica St. Francis de Assisi and walked around the big block. There were city signs that said no dogs on the grassy area of the church but I saw several folks with their pooches walking through. What would St. Francis have said? We had a walk through and Beau even had a drink from the fountain.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Getting back on the interstate, and just south of Santa Fe, Google Maps showed traffic going home in red at +1 hour, 13 minutes. There had been an accident and traffic was backed up more than seven miles. Just like any other big town. I was in no hurry and I had just been to TJs so I had snacks. I listened to NPR and thought about what I might make for dinner.

The secret garden at the back of the KOA.

Just back at the KOA and the dog park I saw Greg from Sammamish again. He was going to the brewery just behind the KOA for a pizza. Bingo, that's what I was going to have for dinner. Especially since it was already well past my dinner time. I fed Beau and went fo a walk to the gate at back of KOA with a sign "Brewery". Down a dirt road with old mobile homes on either side to a dirt parking lot. I followed the sound of the music and smell of pizza. Kaktus Brewery had a big casual patio area, indoor area where a jazz band was playing, and another room with a bar and the pizza kitchen. Had a sweet dark milk stout while I waited for pizza.

Live music at the Kaktus Brewing Co. and barn dancing on Saturday nights.

The Sweet Darkness Stout was great!

It was interesting as I could find no front entrance and the back was fairly hidden away yet the place was busy. And the pizza was good too.