I-40 from Albuquerque to Gallup, New Mexico

Home ** Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects

More New Mexico Adventures ** Some Exciting Drives ** More 2007 Travel Adventures

   

   
  

 

I-40 from Albuquerque to Gallup

 

May 16, 2007.

We were staying at Rocky Mountain RV an RV Dealership in eastern Albuquerque on Central Avenue--30-amps & water while we move into a new motorhome. Today was our day to continue our summer trip, with a new (to us) motorhome, after a pleasant stay in Albuquerque.

We spent the night in the free NPS Cottonwood Campground at Canyon de Chelly, Arizona. The campground is located just past the Canyon de Chelly Information Center. All you do is drive in and pick a site. There are no utilities but there is a central dump station and a central water connection near the dump station.

 

Rio Puerco Bridge on old Route 66

Rio Puerco Bridge on old Route 66

 

 

Less than 20-miles west of Albuquerque on I-40 we pass by that historic old Rio Puerco Bridge that is being preserved by the New Mexico Highway Department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I-40 through western New Mexico is mesas, 18-wheelers & trains

I-40 through western New Mexico is mesas, 18-wheelers & trains

 

 

 

 

I-40 is 18-wheelers and sandstone mesas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sky City Casino and large mesa

Sky City Casino and large mesa

 

 

 

 

The Sky City Casino, shown here on the right side of I-40, is a popular place for RV'ers to stop for the night and dry camp in their parking lot. It is located between Grants and Laguna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trains along I-40 west of Albuquerque are common

Trains along I-40 west of Albuquerque are common

 

 

Trains are another common sight when traveling I-40 west of Albuquerque. We read somewhere that over 100 trains pass through Grants every day. Of course 18-wheelers are moving in both directions on I-40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

 

 

 

As we approach Grants we start seeing the 3,000 year old lava field known as "El Malpais" (Spanish for the badlands). Yes that is lava beside the interstate guardrail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

 

 

More lava this time on the northern side of US-Route 66 that parallels I-40 around Grants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

I-40 cutting through the El Malpais lava field

 

 

 

More lava flow this time on the west side of Grants and on the south side of I-40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandstone roadcut west of Grants on I-40

Sandstone roadcut west of Grants on I-40

 

 

 

 

 

West of Grants we start getting into sandstone roadcuts like his one. This reminds us of western Texas but in Texas the roadcuts are through limestone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Several mesas

Several mesas

 

 

 

Joyce snapped this picture consisting of several mesas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train and a mesa along 1-40 west of Albuquerque

Train and a mesa along 1-40 west of Albuquerque

 

 

 

Did I mention that trains are also a common sight along I-40? I guess they would have to be common for over 100 to pass through Grants every day. This train is a cattle hauler returning with empty cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continental Divide on I-40 west of Grants

Continental Divide on I-40 west of Grants

 

 


Forty seven miles from the Arizona border we uneventfully cross over the Continental Divide. Actually, that truck in front of me is crossing the exact spot of the Continental Divide along here. If it weren't for the sign commemorating this significant spot no one would know or even suspect that this was the Continental Divide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandstone mesa along 1-40 west of Albuquerque, New Mexico

 

 

 

It is hard to imagine but Joyce snapped this picture of a sandstone cliff and mesa along a section without a train. Totally amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train & mesa along 1-40 west of Grants, New Mexico

Train & mesa along 1-40 west of Grants, New Mexico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now this is more like it. Joyce has captured cattle, a mesa, sandstone cliffs, an one of the ubiquitous trains along I-40.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arizona/New Mexico state line on SR-264 in Gallup, New Mexico

Arizona/New Mexico state line on SR-264 in Gallup, New Mexico

 

 

 

In Gallup we exited I-40 and got on SR-264, a nice 4-lane highway. We are were headed to Canyon de Chelly, Arizona via the small Arizona town of Ganado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steep grade just before entering Ganado, Arizona

Steep grade just before entering Ganado, Arizona

 

 

 

I think this was coming down a steep grade just before entering Ganado, Arizona.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More New Mexico Adventures

Some Exciting Drives** More 2007 Travel Adventures

 

 

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix

Mike & Joyce Hendrix who we are

We hope you liked this page. If you do you might be interested in some of our other Travel Adventures:

Mike & Joyce Hendrix's home page

Travel Adventures by Year ** Travel Adventures by State ** Plants ** Marine-Boats ** Geology ** Exciting Drives ** Cute Signs ** RV Subjects ** Miscellaneous Subjects

 

We would love to hear from you......just put "info" in the place of "FAKE" in this address: FAKE@travellogs.us

Until next time remember how good life is.

 

   
    Passport America, Save 50% on Campsites

 

  

 

    Passport America, Save 50% on Campsites