Angel Fire, Ute Lake, Amarillo, and Foss Lake

 We decided to take the scenic route from Taos back down to Interstate 40 and it certainly was. The twisty steep road up to Angel Fire was lovely but didn't have a single place to pull over and take photos. But a section of the next road from there to Mora didn't even have room to comfortably pass an ongoing car. There was a sign forbidding vehicles of 10 feet wide or more, but we are only 8 feet. The shoulders were nonexistent and there were no guard rails. But luckily there was also no traffic. The few cars we met managed to edge by. We rejoined the numbered state system in Mora and then back to 40. 

Angel Fire Ski Resort - closed and looking kind of bare in places. 

Due to a wonderful late breakfast in Taos, we got a later start than usual. So our next problems were probably somewhat due to being tired - and Google navigation confusion. "She" sent us down the wrong dirt road to Ute State Park. And when that came to a dead-end we had a little challenge turning around. And it was a lot longer off the Interstate than we had realized. It was 5 PM by the time we pulled into our campsite. But it was a level spacious pull through with a view of the lake, and warm enough to enjoy our cocktails out at the picnic table. So - happy ending!

Sunset at Ute State Park in New Mexico

The next morning we took a hike along the lake on a surprisingly occasionally challenging trail. Some maintenance work is necessary on the rickety bridges. Like the other lakes we have visited, this one was way down due to the drought. Our original plan was to stay the night at Lake McLellan National Scenic Park but we thought a night in a city might be fun, so made reservations at the Big Texan RV Ranch in Amarillo. After settling into the rather narrow site, we drove around the historic district of Route 66 - about 10 blocks of original stores and restaurants, all quite busy on this Sunday afternoon. We had some errands to do and then had a swim in the indoor pool at the RV park. After our 2 Zoom meetings, Family and Fourth of July, we had dinner at the Big Texan Ranch Steakhouse, the home of the 72-ounce steak challenge. We didn't take it! 

The main floor of the Big Texan Steakhouse with the raised table in front of the kitchen where a fellow waits to take the 72-ounce steak challenge. The Red lights above him are a digital clock starting at 60 and counting down once his food arrives: 72-ounce boneless steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, and dinner roll. You pay $72 in advance and then if you eat if all in under one hour, it's free. The record
is 4 minutes but the 124 lb woman who did that also ate 3 full meals in 20 minutes OMG!

Our next day we started off early as we had a number of stops planned. The first was rather funny and a bit weird - the Leaning (Water) Tower of Texas. The second was very charming and we enjoyed our visit with the two volunteers there and lunch in our RV in the parking lot. That is the U-Drop Inn and Tower Conoco Gas Station in Shamrock, TX. In the movie "Cars" this is used as Ramone's Auto Body and Paint shop. A Tesla Supercharge has been built outback! Our final stop of the day was the National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City, TX. There were actually several museums in the one location besides the Route 66 one: National Transportation, Old Town, Farm & Ranch, and Blacksmith Museums. We wished we had more time to explore their huge collection of exhibits but we had a good time there.

At the Concoco Tower and U-Drop Inn, we put Shrewsbury, VT on the map. As you can see they have visitors from all over the world. 

Happily, it wasn't hard to find the Foss Lake State Park in Oklahoma. This is a big state park with a variety of campsites and much to our surprise the Cottonwood section was huge and almost empty. We had the last site and there was only one other RV there, quite far away. And it was a beautiful night and morning as you can see from the photos. We enjoyed the 2-mile hike down and back from the lake before leaving the next morning for our visit with cruiser friends Jerry and Deborah in Drumright, OK. Which you'll hear about in my next post. 

A view of Ute Lake from the trail along the shore.

Scott relaxing at Ute Lake State
Park in New Mexico

"Baby" our pet name for our trailer tips her hat
to the Leaning Tower of Texas.

The Conoco Gas Station and U-Drop Inn, an Art
Deco style building built in  1936 on Route 66

The two charming docents that showed us around
U-Drop Inn and Tower Station.

The restored cafe at U-Drop Inn. Elvis had lunch in the corner booth

At the National Museum of Transportation, Scott
enjoy driving a convertible along Route 66

This vintage teardrop RV had a big bed in the
middle and a kitchen in the rear.

This truck was outfitted just like many that hit the
road during the Dust Bowl and Depression.

Our view from our RV at Foss Lake State Park
in the morning.

And the lake front at the end of our hike at Foss