New Mexico ADV loop - Day 8

The morning brought a foggy overcast, making for a slow start. A couple coffees and some oatmeal (albeit the "xxxx and cream" Quaker Oats versions, that was the only variety on the shelf in Reserve) got us moving, and we got packed up and underway. Lunch in Estancia featured the classic Navajo Taco, and fueled us properly for the day.

Continuing north through Moriarty and Stanley, we turned east onto dirt, following White Lakes Road to hwy 285, then briefly north on pavement before turning east and hitting dirt again on State Highway 34. I'm always surprised at how basic New Mexico can go with a "State Highway"; 34 was rutted dirt and occasional gravel, but mostly dry as it zig-zagged east and north toward Rowe. We turned up the little side road to Rowe Mesa and the overlook of the Pecos valley, then dropped off the mesa to Rowe and Pecos.

We followed the small roads up to Glorieta Pass, then picked up I-25 south to Santa Fe, and then made our way back to the house.

Thus ends our somewhat-shorter-than-planned trip; we left plenty on the table for future adventures, and found some beautiful places to return to!

Mileage for the day: 129
Trip mileage: 1,039
Google maps Route