Also, posted 3 mediocre pictures from Day 6.
Folk art images now accompany the Day 7 post. Enjoy.
Day 8
Left Eagle's Nest, NM 8AM Mountain Time. With stops in Las Vegas, NM and Santa Fe, NM. Final destination Durango, NM approx. 6:00PM Mountain Time. Approx. 350 miles.
The drive from Eagle's Nest to Las Vegas, NM was the most beautiful of our trip thus far. Idyllic creeks, pastures, and tranquil forests stood before majestic 12,000 foot mountains. The views were too grand to capture on film. A bountiful field of naked llamas, however, was...
Our ride through northwestern New Mexico was dull at first. Epic vistas, however, enhanced the ride as we approached and eventually crossed the Colorado border. A combination of lush meadows, rolling hills covered in evergreens, and snow capped Rockies in the distance created the perfect setting for a cross country course.
After passing through the charming town of Pagosa Springs, CO, we decided to stop for dinner in the City of Durango, CO. The city's college town vibe and forceful masculinity captivated us, and thus, we changed our previous plans and decided to spend the night. But first we needed to prove our masculinity by eating a masculine meal: steaks, buffalo burgers, and local beers (sadly, Davis was unable to drink said masculine beer as he lost the key to his masculinity back in Kerrville, TX...his ID). After dinner, we strolled around the town, petting dogs.
A masculine movie was the natural nightcap. X-Men: First Class did the trick. Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender, was a complete badass. Then, we passed out.
Day 9
Left Durango, CO 7:30AM Mountain Time. With stops in Mesa Verde, CO; Cortez, CO; Flagstaff, AZ. Final destination Sedona, AZ approx. 7:30PM Mountain Time (sans daylight savings - thanks AZ for further complicating our effort to keep track of time). Approx. 350 miles.
Mesa Verde, Spanish - literally - for "table green", was our first stop. There, we explored the Native American cliff dwellings constructed about 800 years ago by the Pueblo Indians. Davis' Native American jams made the tour more authentic.
Phil the dentist from "The Hangover" (aka Ranger Jeff) gave a dry yet informative tour of Balcony House (a cliff dwelling at Mesa Verde). Although the cliff dwellings were incredibly impressive architectural feats - especially given their location and technology used to construct them - we concluded that building a city on top of a desert mesa, reliant on corn and squash, and recipient of only 16 inches of precipitation a year (of which 8 are snow) was a naive idea at best. And thus, explains why the dwellings were inhabited for only 100 years (sorry to our Pueblo followers if this analysis comes across as harsh).
We grabbed a quick lunch at Antonio's Mexican restaurant in Cortez, CO. From there we began a deathmarch across possibly the most inhospitable place we have traversed: northeastern Arizona. First, though, we blew off the Four-Corner's - a tourist trap - due to its rank commercialism.
Flagstaff, AZ - a stocked pond - offered a welcome change of pace from the desert - a barren wasteland. Again, we met friendly locals. A total west coast bro at a totally rad outdoors store pointed us in the right direction for dinner, and suggested a (hopefully great) hike for tomorrow.
"Criollo" - a Latin American kitchen in Flagstaff - served us arguably the best meal of the trip. Bacon jalapeno nacos led things off. Tacos (fish and flanksteak) followed. Key lime ice cream and banana bread pudding concluded the meal. Be jealous.
Another picturesque drive took us from Flagstaff to our final destination in Sedona, AZ.
We basked in a convincing win by the Mavs over the Beat and effectively planned the CA portion of the trip in our swanky Hampton Inn room. The trip thus far has been incredible, but we know nothing comes close to the Golden Coast, and all those California Gurls (cue Katy Perry...and repeat...again...and again...and again).
Peace and Love,
The Three Dudes
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