No Gambling in Las Vegas After Wrong Turn in Albuquerque

 I saw that which you see here, on Facebook, and it brought to mind a moment on a roadtrip, way back in the 1980s.

Heading south, from Colorado, on what was then State Highway 85. which has since been upgraded to freeway status as Interstate 25, my travel companion had fallen asleep at some point after leaving Colorado.

And then woke up as Highway 85 reached Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Upon seeing the signage indicating what town we were in, my travel companion instantly verbalized confusion, wondering why he was seeing no casinos.

I assumed my travel companions was joking. I was erroneous in this assumption. 

I think I said something like we are a few miles from the Las Vegas strip, on the outskirts of town, hence seeing no casinos.

I do not recollect at what point my travel companion realized we were not in Nevada.

I do remember, when my travel companion eventually got location oriented, me asking how it could be thought we could possibly have gotten from Colorado, to Las Vegas, Nevada, in such a short time frame.

Anyway, I was pleased to see, via Facebook, that Las Vegas, New Mexico has cleverly opted to make clear to the town's visitors, with the town's new entry signage, that the visitor is entering Las Vegas, New Mexico, a gambling free zone.

Even though New Mexico does have casinos on many of the state's Native American tribal lands...

Washington State's Palouse Falls & Palouse Falls State Park

Palouse Falls State Park, in the United States state of Washington, is the location of a beautiful landscape with a powerful waterfall cascading into a deep, blue pool, surrounded by rugged cliffs. 

Palouse Falls, is located on the Palouse River, about four miles upstream from where the Palouse River joins the Snake River in southeast Washington. 

More additional points of interest you will find in the State of Washington...

Did you know? Washington is home to Mount Rainier, a towering active volcano that dominates the skyline and is one of the most glaciated peaks in the continental United States!

Olympic National Park offers three distinct ecosystems—rainforests, rugged coastlines, and alpine mountains—making it one of the most diverse national parks in the U.S.

North Cascades National Park is nicknamed the "American Alps," with jagged peaks, turquoise lakes, and over 300 glaciers.

Seattle, known as the Emerald City, boasts iconic attractions like the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the original Starbucks.

San Juan Islands are a paradise for whale watching, kayaking, and exploring quaint seaside towns like Friday Harbor.

Washington’s Mount St. Helens, which famously erupted in 1980, is now a fascinating site for hiking, learning about volcanic history, and witnessing nature’s recovery.

The Hoh Rainforest, located in Olympic National Park, is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S., with moss-draped trees and serene hiking trails.

Leavenworth, a charming Bavarian-themed village, is a year-round destination for festivals, outdoor adventures, and cozy mountain vibes.

Puget Sound offers stunning views and abundant wildlife, from bald eagles to orcas, making it a must-visit for nature lovers.

Columbia River Gorge, on the state’s southern border, is a windsurfing hotspot with breathtaking waterfalls like Multnomah Falls just across the Oregon side.

Washington is the nation’s leading producer of apples, and its orchards come alive during the fall with U-pick farms and cider tastings.

The Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, one of the longest rail-trails in the U.S., takes adventurers through forests, mountains, and historic tunnels.

Another Poetic Look At Arizona's Monument Valley

The photo is from back in the middle 1990s. The group you see, with Monument Valley's Mittens behind them, and myself, the photographer, had been houseboating on Lake Powell, driving down the Moki Dugway after the houseboating, then overnighting at the San Juan Inn in Mexican Hat, in Utah, across the border from Arizona and the Navajo Nation.

It is a short drive from Mexican Hat, south across the San Juan River, to Monument Valley.

Monument Valley is one of America's most unique, most famous, most photographed, most scenic locations.

The following poetic description of Monument Valley accurately verbalizes what is so special about this location. This poetic description was found on Facebook, written by someone named Odessa Wild...

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Monument Valley in Arizona is a place where nature’s artistry is on full display. As the golden sunshine spills across the endless desert floor, the towering sandstone buttes cast long, dramatic shadows that dance with the changing light. The rich reds and oranges of the earth seem to glow from within, illuminated by the warmth of the sun. It's a landscape that feels both timeless and alive, as if the very rocks are breathing in the light of the day.

As the sun rises or sets over Monument Valley, the scene becomes even more surreal. The sky, painted in soft pastels or fiery hues, stretches wide and endless above the ancient formations. The famous Mittens and Merrick Butte stand tall and proud, guardians of a land that has witnessed millions of years of history. Every ray of sunshine seems to tell a story — of ancient rivers, wind-sculpted cliffs, and the enduring spirit of the Navajo Nation that calls this land home.

There is a peaceful majesty in Monument Valley that the sunshine enhances beautifully. The quietness of the desert, interrupted only by the occasional breeze or the distant cry of a hawk, invites a deep sense of reflection. Under the bright Arizona sun, the heart of the valley pulses with warmth, strength, and a kind of sacred serenity that stays with every traveler long after they have left.

My Texas to Washington (and back) Longest Solo Roadtrip Ever

The last time I went on a long Roadtrip was way back in late July of 2001. It was to be the longest solo Roadtrip I've ever driven.

I left Fort Worth, Texas, early on a Wednesday morning, heading northwest on Highway 287, towards Amarillo and my eventually destination of the State of Washington, over 2,000 miles distant.

I filled up the gas tank in Amarillo. $1.17 a gallon. This was to be the cheapest gas of the trip.

I continued on 287, north out of Amarillo, exiting on to Highway 87 in Dumas, continuing on through Dalhart to Texline and over the border in to New Mexico.

The scenery changes abruptly as you leave Texas. On the Texas side of the border there are big cattle ranches. On the New Mexican side the scenery turns desert-like and rugged. With few people in a few small towns. After less than 90 miles of two-lane highway I reached Interstate 25 and the town of Raton.

In Raton I stopped at a very busy McDonald's for a break and a burger.

On the first day of a Roadtrip I have often had the problem of developing a real bad headache. On this Roadtrip the headache arrived before I got to Amarillo.

From Raton I headed north on 25. By the time I got to Pueblo my head was pounding so hard, it was time to stop for the night. I'm not picky about where I stay. A Motel Six was right off the freeway. I always like to be on the top floor of any motel I stay in. This was a two story Motel Six.

I had not stayed in a Motel Six in years. I was surprised at how much the room had been upgraded from my previous Six Motel experience. In the morning when I went to the motel office to get coffee I asked if this was a Six Motel exception, to be told the entire chain had been upgraded. This made Motel Six my motel of choice for the trip.

I was not pleased to wake up that first morning of the Roadtrip to find I was still in headache mode.

I was back on the freeway by 8 in the morning. In Colorado Springs I exited to find a grocery store to buy some ibuprofen.

I forgot to mention. In Texas you notice a lot of litter. And somc locations in Texas don't pay a lot of attention to looking neat and tidy.

By the time I got to Pueblo I was making note of how clean everything looked. And how little litter there was. I thought to myself I am back under the west coast umbrella of environemental influence.

The first day of this Roadtrip I'd driven around 630 miles. I had no idea how far I was going to drive on day two.

Leaving Colorado Springs I sailed past Denver, after the morning rush hour. I stopped at a big truck stop just across the border, in Wyoming, on the outskirts of Cheyenne. Filled up the tank again. I don't remember the per gallon cost, except for it costing more than the Amarillo gas.

Now I was heading west, across Wyoming, on Interstate 80, did not exit in Laramie, was aiming to get to Rawlins where I'd stayed many times on trips back and forth from Texas to Washington. In Rawlins there is a KFC Buffet. That buffet was my goal, hoping for a headache killing pigout.

As I exited the freeway to Rawlins and saw the freeway sign of available services, I saw the KFC Buffet among the signs.

But this was late July. Tourist season. I've never driven through these parts in tourist season. All the fast food joints were packed. A line ran out of Subway. KFC was not operating its buffet. I bailed on the fast food plan and went in a grocery store and got some deli turket meat and cheese and a V-8. Consumed the food sitting in a parking lot, then tried to take a headache-ending nap. To no avail.

Back on the freeway I continued my trek across the vast open spaces of Wyoming. As you drive across Wyoming you see many enticements luring you to visit Little America. By the time I got past Rock Spring it was about 40 miles to Little America.

I stopped at this oasis in the desert and had myself a nice break. My head was still throbbing At this point in time I was mostly on a low-carb diet way of eating. But now I was desperate to feel better. I bought a bag of my favorite type cookie.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. I also had a few cups of the Little America coffee. I may be mixing it up with Wall Drug, but I think it was a nickel a cup. Or was it the ice cream cone that was cheap?

Feeling a bit better I was back on the road again.

About 60 miles west of Little America, Intestate 80 crosses into Utah. Leaving Wyoming the scenery drastically changes as you drop elevation. About 30 miles in to Utah I exited I-80 to get on I-84, heading in a northwest direction. On its way to Ogden, Utah I-84 passes through a lush, green valley and then a narrow canyon with features with ominous names like Devils Slide.

By the time 84 joined up with I-15 in Ogden, the pressue in my head was feeling significantly better. The Salt Lake Basin is still well above sea level, in the 4,000 feet range.

From Ogden I continued on I-84 another 185 miles, give or take a mile or two, to my final destination for the day, Twin Falls, Idaho. I called ahead when I got gas in Ogden to make sure I had a room waiting for me at the Twin Falls Motel Six.

I had driven around 740 miles from Pueblo to Twin Falls.

The next morning I really knew I was back on the Northwest. The Motel Six coffee was really good.

I left Twin Falls around 8. With about 550 miles to drive to get to Seattle. I figured I'd make it there by late afternoon....