Moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Yesterday's trip from Silver City to Rio Rancho was uneventful.  Sad part was passing through Hatch, New Mexico - the chili capital of the country - that Sparky's Restaurant was not open (closed on Tuesday and Wednesday).  We have found this place years ago when we were in Deming or Las Cruces, it serves the best chili cheese sauce on hamburgers or chicken you have ever eaten!  Was going to stop and I hop out and get our dinner's to go, but no - just drove on through.

Leaving Silver City, the Chico mine (large hill) is the largest
open pit copper mine int  he US

Tyrone mine in the distance (also Silver City)

Those mountains ahead are in Mexico, ready to make turn towards Hatch

Hatch - chili capital of the country

Farm workers doing? 

Big solar farms are plentiful

The last time we were in Hatch, the chilis were drying everywhere.  On rooftops, barns, in fields, on tarps in people's yards - anywhere there was an open space to put the chilis, they were there.  And also since we are just into the planted season, now growing, most of the small shops along the way in Hatch did not have much to sell in terms of chilis.  Just lots of pottery and yard work stuff.  Oh well.  Next time.

Dropping into Hatch Valley 

Little town of Hatch 

Kitzky stuff in shops

Sparky's!!   Closed.

Some shops still doing business even tho no chilis

Once we passed through Hatch, we turned north on Interstate 25 and headed towards Santa Fe.  Pretty barren land, not a lot to see other than stuffy sagebrush.  In the distance to our right you could tell where the Rio Grande River was, the greenway was so predominant.  We would cross the Rio Grande a couple of times on our way to Rio Rancho.

Would cross Rio Grande 5 times

Lonely Loran in field, easy to spot these 

Some mighty big hills to go up and down

Albuquerque (ABQ) in distance

Historic Route 66 passes east to west thru ABQ

And north to Santa Fe

Got into Albuquerque and of course lots of traffic.  Passed the cut off for Interstate 40 which going west would end up in Barstow, California, or right which would eventually get you to Knoxville, Tennessee.  But we wanted north and to Santa Fe so onward we trekked.  Our campground is kinda a high-end place - really caters to the folks who come in for the Ballon Festival in October, nice site, level and paved, and we have a commanding view of the Sandia Mountains which are to the east of ABQ.

Rio Rancho is about 15 miles north of ABQ, we sit here for a week and going to do some sightseeing.  All is good, nothing broken (which will happen some time this summer) and it's still warm - 87 today.  But our next stop near Taos has been in the 60's daytime and low 40s night.  Will welcome that (and freeze).