State motto:
Pick A: "I KNEW I should have taken that left toin at Albakoikee" - B. BUNNY
or B: "Tucumcari tonite" - a ubiquitous billboard throughout the state
See also: The Thing...
Like AZ: BUTT cold on1-40.
Plus, N.Mexico has the (in)famous U.S. Hwy 666 thru the heart of the res.
Reservation tip: Don't act scared; and go from trading post to trading post. It's pretty deserted otherwise.
My personal favorite was the squabbling gay indian couple that had just left the Little Caesar's pizza in Shiprock that decided to have a domestic dispute while I was in in the car...
(before they started sniping tho one of them says to me...y'know it's HARD being a queen on the res (I'm thinking to myself: Yeah, it's probably no picnic in Albuquerque either...))
Just then he lost his temper and got out of the car and walked home - his lover says to me - he's always like that on Fridays.
Another interesting bit: 4000 yr old Navajo & Hopi records have stories of a wasting disease w/hepatitis like syndromes during periods of low female population in the area.
(hiv was discovered by science to be related to hepatitis B recently...)
It's not a NEW virus folks, it is a natural population controller...that WAS, but is now no longer necessary for evolution (The records are REAL) my opinions, on the other hand, are imaginary...
Oh well, I got a slice o' pizza - jalapeno & tomato, my fave, out of the deal...
Of course, being picked up by A.I.M fugitives from Wounded Knee outside Four Corners was an interesting experience.
20 yrs later these guys are STILL hiding from the FBI and the feds can't find 'em!
That's how remote parts of the res are...
AN interesting story about Shiprock (the structure not the town - lr) as told by the only living AMERINDIAN rodeo clown (the most dangerous job in rodeo - ask ANY cowboy) on the circuit in 93.
Some high RANKED champion rockclimbers were told by the tribal police that they couldn't climb up Shiprock.
WHY? they asked.
Is it illegal?
NO, he said, just impossible.
WELL they climbed it.
Got to the top, lost their sense of direction and orientation and were UNABLE to climb back down.
They had to be helicoptered out...
THe Older Ones also say that you can tell the weather by where the clouds stand in relief against the shiprock...
The interstates have signs up that say 'no pedestrians' yadda yadda, but lax enforcement...
avg crossing times: I-40 4-6 hrs
I-10 6-10
I-25 Las Cruces/Anthony, TX to *Trinidad Co* home of a closet case, blue 4 dr, jabba the hutt, stack o pornos on the seat - (you know the drill).
10-20 hrs - you'll get rides fast enough. It's just a lot bigger than it looks on the map, esp between Alb. and Colorado.
CHEAP HOTELS ABOUND IN ALBUQUERQUE
Good I-40 east bound exit is Tramway Rd (it's a loop rd, it's also a good northbound I-25 rd...)
WARNING: I know over *20* hitchikers that have been jumped/beaten/robbed *pack-style* on foot by bored rich *crystal meth and crack strike again!* local kids in Albuquerque, so BE CAREFUL!
[(of course the cops can't get a handle on them, amzing what rich parents can do down at the DA's office eh?) & they know you likely can't afford, don't have time, won't be consciuous, to testify to stick around to see them go to trial...These kids consider travelers lives forfeit, so you've been warned...]
Just steer clear of groups of (predominately white) pedestrians wearing
sideways hats and baggy pants and you should live to tell the tale...
COOLNESS 50-10 for the punx in Alb...
The most underrated Amerindian singer as far as I'm concerned is "Tom Bee".
Remind me to come back as a thunderbird in my next life...
UPDATE:
Las Cruces, N.M. has a prison on the west side of town near Love's truck stop.
BUM EXIT!
Better to use exit #140 (McDonalds)or exit 139 (t/a & pilot truckstop) and
pass on ALL rides not going at least to DEMING (nothing out there).
Also, ROSITA's off Motel Drive in Cruces has the BEST tacos on earth (worth the walk). Off Motel Drive and I-10 (they close by 3 most days and 8 others, and are closed Mondays)...
Write to Legendary Rob.