Does anybody like to drive any more than Markos? I don't think so. I would have to say honestly, and with nary a hint of conceit, that I truly impress myself as one of the Great American Drivers of our era. My friends, it's not a boast, simply an observation that I think will stand up to scrutiny. And speaking of scenic drives that still beckon me to return even as I write this, it's hard to narrow it down to just a few since I have experienced so many. And yet, I will attempt to do so for this gathering of august and respected travellers, such as we are. These are not in order of preference, since they are all worthy of distinction. Here goes:
1. U.S. Highway 50 - All the way across the state of Nevada, from the eastern line to Lake Tahoe. This road has been proclaimed as "The Lonliest Road in America", and for good reason. All across Nevada it carries you through the Basin and Range territory of the Great Basin Desert. Old mining towns, big ranches, and miles and miles of nothin' but miles and miles. On the eastern end, you can visit Great Basin National Park, which has peaks over 13,000' high, and Bristlecone pine trees over 4,000 years old. I camped out there in a sleeping bag on top of a picnic table once. Even in the summer it got a little cool at night seeing as how the elevation was over 10,000'. I got up the next morning at the crack of dark and hiked up to see the ancient Bristlecones, where I cut one down with my chain saw just to count the rings and see how old it was... ;^)
2. State Highway 1 Oklahoma - This somewhat short drive is located down in the south-eastern corner of Oklahoma. You work your way down to Poteau where you take 270 south to 271. You hang a left and head further south on 271 where you meet up with Highway 1. Turn east on Highway 1 and slowly start to work your way up onto Winding Stair Mountain on your way to Mena, Arkansas. Before too long you'll be enjoying as good a driving road as you could ever hope to find. Up on the ridge, then down into the valley, then turn after turn as you work your way back up to the mountaintop. After a while you'll begin to realize that a true genius designed this road. The guy that laid this one out on the map must have really loved driving, because you're able to see incredible view after incredible view all along the Ouachita Mtns., and you never have to slow your car down becuase all the turns are set-up just right for the task at hand, which is too enjoy a truly great day of driving down in the Ouachitas. This one is kind of a hidden treasure, so don't tell too many people about it.
3. The drive around Wheeler Peak in Northern New Mexico - For this one you start off in Taos. About 7:30 am you head to El Pueblo Cafe for a breakfast burrito with red chile and hashbrowns. OK, maybe you have 2, but then you have to get moving, if you can. From Taos you head east out of town on Highway 64 through Taos Canyon. You'll gradually climb up to the pass over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and you'll start to descend into the valley near Angel Fire and Eagle Nest. You'll get a great view of the valley and Eagle Nest Lake. At this point, you're in the alpine zone and you'll be passing through spruce, pine, and aspen forest. Lots of sagebrush and pinion/juniper stands as well. So you slow down as you start to pull into Eagle Nest, looking for Highway 38. I remember being in Eagle Nest once when I was a kid, and we stayed in this cool motel with knotty pine panelling in the room. Anyway, all this time you will have been seing Wheeler Peak on your left to the west. It's the highest point in the state at over 13,000', and when you head north out of Eagle Nest on 38, you'll really start to have some great mountain scenery as you work your way up to Red River. In the winter there is some really good skiing in these parts; Taos, Red River, Angel Fire. I want to go back and hit it with a snowboard with local legend Craig Stephenson sometime. Craig...well, let me just say that Craig is an excellent photographer and ski patrol fixture at Taos, and a hoot to be around. Maybe we'll hear from him here at RGNC sometime. But, I digress. So, you keep on north through Red River till you pull into the little town of Questa. I was on a ranch there for a while during one of my "itinerent" spells. Had a good stay there with my friend Lex Leonard Olson, screenwriter/novelist extraordinaire. Lex lives with his wife in Northern California now, and they have a dog named "Coughy". Let me just say that this trip is not only scenic, but has a special place with me because of the people I know from when I lived down in that area. The same can be said for the drive through the Ouachitas that Jeff and I try to take each summer. And also the drive across Nevada with Lex one summer. All of these places remind me of the people, and that's the best part.
Maybe you have a good drive to tell us about at RGNC. Come on, start typing. send it to: rosebudgnc@yahoo.com
be good.
1. U.S. Highway 50 - All the way across the state of Nevada, from the eastern line to Lake Tahoe. This road has been proclaimed as "The Lonliest Road in America", and for good reason. All across Nevada it carries you through the Basin and Range territory of the Great Basin Desert. Old mining towns, big ranches, and miles and miles of nothin' but miles and miles. On the eastern end, you can visit Great Basin National Park, which has peaks over 13,000' high, and Bristlecone pine trees over 4,000 years old. I camped out there in a sleeping bag on top of a picnic table once. Even in the summer it got a little cool at night seeing as how the elevation was over 10,000'. I got up the next morning at the crack of dark and hiked up to see the ancient Bristlecones, where I cut one down with my chain saw just to count the rings and see how old it was... ;^)
2. State Highway 1 Oklahoma - This somewhat short drive is located down in the south-eastern corner of Oklahoma. You work your way down to Poteau where you take 270 south to 271. You hang a left and head further south on 271 where you meet up with Highway 1. Turn east on Highway 1 and slowly start to work your way up onto Winding Stair Mountain on your way to Mena, Arkansas. Before too long you'll be enjoying as good a driving road as you could ever hope to find. Up on the ridge, then down into the valley, then turn after turn as you work your way back up to the mountaintop. After a while you'll begin to realize that a true genius designed this road. The guy that laid this one out on the map must have really loved driving, because you're able to see incredible view after incredible view all along the Ouachita Mtns., and you never have to slow your car down becuase all the turns are set-up just right for the task at hand, which is too enjoy a truly great day of driving down in the Ouachitas. This one is kind of a hidden treasure, so don't tell too many people about it.
3. The drive around Wheeler Peak in Northern New Mexico - For this one you start off in Taos. About 7:30 am you head to El Pueblo Cafe for a breakfast burrito with red chile and hashbrowns. OK, maybe you have 2, but then you have to get moving, if you can. From Taos you head east out of town on Highway 64 through Taos Canyon. You'll gradually climb up to the pass over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and you'll start to descend into the valley near Angel Fire and Eagle Nest. You'll get a great view of the valley and Eagle Nest Lake. At this point, you're in the alpine zone and you'll be passing through spruce, pine, and aspen forest. Lots of sagebrush and pinion/juniper stands as well. So you slow down as you start to pull into Eagle Nest, looking for Highway 38. I remember being in Eagle Nest once when I was a kid, and we stayed in this cool motel with knotty pine panelling in the room. Anyway, all this time you will have been seing Wheeler Peak on your left to the west. It's the highest point in the state at over 13,000', and when you head north out of Eagle Nest on 38, you'll really start to have some great mountain scenery as you work your way up to Red River. In the winter there is some really good skiing in these parts; Taos, Red River, Angel Fire. I want to go back and hit it with a snowboard with local legend Craig Stephenson sometime. Craig...well, let me just say that Craig is an excellent photographer and ski patrol fixture at Taos, and a hoot to be around. Maybe we'll hear from him here at RGNC sometime. But, I digress. So, you keep on north through Red River till you pull into the little town of Questa. I was on a ranch there for a while during one of my "itinerent" spells. Had a good stay there with my friend Lex Leonard Olson, screenwriter/novelist extraordinaire. Lex lives with his wife in Northern California now, and they have a dog named "Coughy". Let me just say that this trip is not only scenic, but has a special place with me because of the people I know from when I lived down in that area. The same can be said for the drive through the Ouachitas that Jeff and I try to take each summer. And also the drive across Nevada with Lex one summer. All of these places remind me of the people, and that's the best part.
Maybe you have a good drive to tell us about at RGNC. Come on, start typing. send it to: rosebudgnc@yahoo.com
be good.
posted by mwc at 8:39 PM
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