Trouble in Paradise

Yesterday when I took off – direction Los Angeles – wearing a big smile, looking a little more tan and probably way more relaxed than when I arrived in New Mexico, troubles started to invade my personal trucker paradise…

‘Check Engine’ … weird noises … and no ‘pull’ when I pressed the gas pedal…hmmmmm…. NOT good!!! And of course in the middle of absolutely no where in the New Mexican desert.

I pulled into some small village called Grants in New Mexico and was extremely lucky to find a repair shop that was open after noon on a Saturday. Keith from Riverside Auto & Diesel and his boys helped me. I checked the oil and tried to learn a thing or two about cars and Grants. The guys turned on a couple of screws and found a little pressure hose that was leaking. After fixing that up they told me I was ready to hit the road again. Besides being annoyed and nervous about my Bronco it was actually a really fun experience to hang with the repair shop crew. Our worlds are so different. Fun to hear Manager Keith’s life story.

Happy as a clam I drove off and everything felt good… But… then some hours later ”Check Engine” came up again…. I pulled into Flagstaff and made the decision to not think about it before tomorrow, which is now….. So, in a minute I will go down and check if the hoses are still intact, say my prayers and head west on Interstate 40.

If I make it to LA tonight only time will tell…

I’m flying out to New York on Tuesday morning so I’m really crossing my fingers that the Bronco will make an effort. Please root for me!!!!

The repair shop in Grants

One of Keith’s boys

A white Bronco from ‘95!!! It was love at first site between my black ‘91 and this baby.

The legendary Santa Fe Express Train snailing through the desert

Sunset in Arizona…

Ojo Caliente

You know those nights when you toss and turn without a minutes rest? The morning after it feels like you’ve got run over by a bus… Luckily I have discovered the perfect cure: Ojo Caliente! A beautiful outdoor spa in New Mexico in the small town of Ojo Caliente. Here, hot rejuvenating mineral water spring form the mountains and into outdoor pools. One is with Arsenic (!), One is with iron, one is with soda and so forth. I spent a whole day there resting in the warm water gazing up on the mountains and the azure blue sky. wow! I could easily spend 2 weeks there.

The entrance…

This Lithia Spring Water is told to keep you mentally stable. I drank 2 liters while I was at the Spa

The Iron pool….

Santa Fe Lifestyle…

This morning I went Spa-style to the local swimming pool and did laps. Wow that felt good. I think I need a pool in my next house …

Later I went Down Town in Santa Fe to enjoy the atmosphere, look at the locals, buy over-expensive stuff in tourist traps and just hang out.

Here are a couple of pics from my day…

Snow melting in the sun…

Adobe buildings as long as you can see…

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi…

My Target boots, Object jeans and my coffee…

The ‘Boot Barn’ … ha ha what a fantastic name of a store… Is there also a ‘Booty Barn’ …?

The real deal: Here you get your head measured and your hat customized. Don’t mess with these guys. They are serious hat makers, which is also why I took my Marc Jacobs hat off before I entered..

Native American doll 1… pretty!

Native American doll 2 … Gorgeous!

A glimpse of my super messy hand bag… hmmm… I think I need a new…wait it’s my birthday soon. How awesome!!!

I’ll be watching you….

The Wild Wild West

When the going get’s tough, the tough get’s going. That’s how we roll out here in The Wild Wild West.

Personally, I dig the whole moccasin, Western look. I’m soooo easily inspired by the natives in this area. The colors, the atmosphere, the crisp clean air, the down to earth and wholesome attitude towards nature and life. It’s profound and indeed very healing…

Here are some looks and pics from my New Mexican lifestyle….

The Local News Paper

Tumble weeds have always fascinated me… And I have seen so many of them on my trip through California, Arizona and New Mexico. They are always busy tumbling around in the street going neither here nor there…. they seem so lost… with no direction…

I spotted a big one resting against a blue fence.

Even though it is peaceful I still think it looks alienated and sad in this world..

ha ha this is what the locals do for …fun..????!?

84 County Road. Yes!!!

Adobe Style… SOooo New Mexican

We had 10 inches of snow this morning. A complete ‘virgin’ experience for my LA Bronco. She was freeeeeezzzing!!!

Hello New Mexico!!!

Today I started out by getting pulled over by the local Police in Kingman, Arizona. Damn!

Just after getting my morning cup of coffee form the local Safeway supermarket (they have a Starbucks) I made a left turn that apparently ’swung out’ a tad too wide into the far right lane, which is very very wrong in Kingman (and probably also in all the other cities in The US).

However, personally I just think this particular cop was bored out of his mind on this Monday morning and he needed to chat with somebody. So after the ”Let me see license and registration please…. where are you going and where are you from?” He let me go with a warning.. (of what again..? .. just kidding)

The rest of the day I spent nailed to the seat driving through snowy mountains and beautiful vast plains with red cliffs. And I made it to my old childhood home just outside of Santa Fe. Here are some snapshots from today’s adventure…

Kingman Police is checking up on me…

On Interstate 40 headed East…

Passing Grand Canyon National Park in snow…

In case the acting thing doesn’t work out this is definitely a possibility

A local trucker snapped a photo of me just before the border to New Mexico

A whole lot of nothing….

yup!

My loyal Bronco friend had a little trouble… so I gave her a little rest and some attention. Girls like that!

Hell yeah!!!

red mountains….

I’m home!!!