We had decided that we would leave the route in Abiquiu to visit Santa Fe. The part from Abiquiu to Grants was very sandy, hot and there wouldn’t be water for a few days. There also were many ‘goat heads’, sharp nails from plants and cacti which many cause punctures. We didn’t really have the right gear for this, you’re better off with wider tires and less gear, and we heard that Santa Fe was a really nice place. So we decided to go there and then try to get to Grants from there.

So we rode to Santa Fe on and alongside busy roads and through a few very nice authentic towns. In that whole area all houses are made of adobe, just like it was done in the old days. The houses in Santa Fe are also all made of adobe which creates a very special vibe, totally different from other towns and cities in the US. It’s very Spanish/Mexican. There’s also a lot of Spanish spoken and the culture is a mix of Spanish/Mexican/indiginous and American. So nice!

We stayed with Matt and spent a few days in the city. There was a festival with many food stands, one of which a juice stand. It looked exactly like the ones on the markets in Latin America. The town center is pretty decadent with lots of expensive (jewelry)shops and galeries.

After a few nice days Matt gave us a ride to Grants so we could get back on the GDMBR. We drove through the hot, barren desert to Albuquerque and then continued to Grants. We were very happy Matt gave us that ride so we didn’t have to ride that very boring and hot part.