Counterclockwise Aug 19, 2020

Lockett Meadow to Tucumcari

Day two, awoke 6.30. After fresh coffee, a banana and yoghurt we packed up in an efficient manner. Beth suggested a walk so we ascended a track through the woods to get a better view of the surrounding San Francisco peaks. In the cars by 9.20am, we made it down the mountain by 10.00am, slowly and carefully driving the Fiat to avoid the biggest obstacles.

After Starbucks in Flagstaff, we hit I-40 going east. First stop was the Meteor crater, probably my 4th or 5th visit? Impressive as ever, but the $22 per person entrance fee was a bit steep.

Lunch was in a park in Holbrook and then Beth drove about 230 miles or so. The time change fooled us and so we found we had limited time to make it to Tucumcari by 9.00pm. After a Loves restroom stop I drove the Fiat at 77-79 mph and watched with concern both the dwindling fuel range and the Tucumcari ETA which changed from 8.18pm to 8.44pm. Dusk was fantastic with huge views north and south over the western edge of the Great Plains. Night descended and the driving became a bit more of a desperate race, weaving past the big trucks, but we made it to the Blue Swallow motel with 15 mins to spare. The owner was delightful and gave us a tour. Our room (#15) was small but very nice with period 1940s fittings. We even had a garage for the Fiat! The owner also had a 1957 Hudson hornet on the front forecourt and we spent a good while talking with him about it – he let me sit in it and I pointed out the wide rear armrest which he hadn’t noticed before. Turns out they only took over the hotel in mid-July this year and the Hudson was acquired at the same time from a family in Tucumcari. The car was from a Hudson/Packard dealer and had sat unused for about 40 years from the late 1960s onwards.  It was late so Jeri drove off and got dinner – McDonalds was one of the only places open.