MUSTANG ISLAND, TEXAS TO BUENA VISTA, COLORADO

1,278 miles

After just a few months living on the Gulf, I began to notice significant weathering on the chrome of my Mustang, so as hurricane season approached, I decided it was time to venture somewhere new. I wanted space, less people and more wild; and I wanted to watch the leaves change to brilliant colors and feel the fresh crisp air on my cheeks. Colorado was calling. I packed my car up and headed to Austin, Texas to pick up my good friend Kristina who I convinced to join the adventure.

Austin, Texas to Lubbuck, Texas

375 miles

Our journey north started early and slowly that morning. I drank coffee while I packed the cooler and made veggie sandwiches with homemade hummus then we drove a few miles to the nearest gas station. As we were filled up we noticed how grey the sky was ahead, and that it was going to start pouring any minute so we quickly applied RainX all over the windshield. Just as we were finishing, we started to feel rain drops and it poured for the next hour and a half as I drove north on along the 2 lane highway, gripping the steering wheel tightly. When the clouds finally dissipated, the warmth of the afternoon sun felt freeing. We had the wind in our hair, the classic rock tunes rocking, and we felt awesome. After a few hours what seemed like endless miles of flat dry land, we drove past a sunflower farm. It call to us from across the highway and I quickly turned around, so we could dash into the field and snap a few photos.

Lubbuck, Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico

324 miles

From Lubbuck,Texas we drove northwest along Highway 84 through the arid countryside towards Fort Sunmer, NM. Kristina mentioned that she had stomach pain and unfortunately it was progressing as the day wore on so we didn’t take much time to stop along the way. Although I didn’t get to see it myself, Fort Sumner is the where Billy the Kid is buried and visitors can gaze at his caged grave. I did get to grab a cool picture of the Bowl‘O’Matic Lanes, which I believe is surprisingly still in operation, but that has yet to be confirmed. We continued on Highway 84 north towards Highway 25 as I wanted to explore the Pecos National Historical Park but sadly, Kristina’s stomach pain worsened so we skipped the park and focused on making it safely to Santa Fe strolling into town just in time for dinner. In the era of Covid19, not much was open in Santa Fe and the entire city required mask wearing in public. Although I was craving some authentic Santa Fe cuisine, we found a cute Italian cafe downtwon (La Boca) with outdoor dining in the plaza and lovely live music. While we enjoyed our meal, we discussed the rest of the trip; the next 250 miles of the journey was very desolate, we were driving a 56 year old car and many parts of the highway do not have cell service. She decided to book a flight home the next morning.

Chimayo Hotel, Santa Fe, NM, photo by Kristina Cox

Santa Fe, New Mexico to Buena Vista, Colorado

242 miles

When I woke up the next morning, Kristina had already left for the airport. I decided to stroll the town before heading out on the solo drive north. I was hoping my car held up through the heat the day before. At the end of my stroll I passed by my car, as I often do just to check on it, and noticed radiator fluid pooling up underneath the engine. Lucky for me, the issue was small and completely fixable in the hotel garage with the tools I had in my trunk. I got to work, loosening the lower radiator hose and draining the coolant. Then I tightened the hose, filled her up and let her run to test out my work. So much for beating the blazing sun by getting out early but at least I was back on the road. I headed north on Highway 285, a road known for exceptional scenery. As I passed the town of Española, I careened along the red cliffs and canyons, driving 85 miles to the Colorado border. From there the land opened up and the view became expansive. The scale of the landscape is difficult to comprehend in Colorado; the mountains so tall, the prairies so vast, the houses so tiny. I felt humbled and inspired; and as I pulled into historic Buena Vista, I felt grateful. I made it!