(NOTE: Lots of photos so they will probably take a while to download depending on your bandwidth)

Hank – We decided to visit a couple of museums in Santa Fe and then decide where to go from there. There’s a severe winter storm warning for the northwest part of the state. We were hoping to drive to the Four Corners Monument but we don’t need to drive through five or more hours of blowing snow to get there. We decided to check the forecast again when we’re done for the day and go from there.

But before leaving Kirtland AFB we got the bikes out and did a short tour. Since we didn’t know if we’d be able to ride later on, what with the winter storm and all, we technically satisfied the requirement of riding in New Mexico by riding around the base here. It was 27 degrees out and a steady wind blew from the west. My bare legs were okay but my hands were freezing. We got some WTF looks from vehicle drivers since we looked so out of place given the weather. But we did see another cyclist who looked like he was commuting to work.

After warming up we packed up and hit the road–in the car. Santa Fe is loaded with art and culture. So much so you can easily spend a few days there taking it all in. But we can’t see everything so we limited ourselves to the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Museum of  International Folk Art. The Museum of Art is the oldest art museum in New Mexico.

We got some lunch at a nearby cafe and then went to the Museum of International Folk Art. This place is amazing. It’s the largest collection of folk art in the world. There is so much to see. We took in as much as we could and then some.

Once our visiting hours were up we decided to head south to warmer and less wintry weather. Four Corners had a boat load of snow in the forecast. We drove to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and got a hotel for the night. The city used to be named Hot Springs but changed its name in 1950 after Ralph Edwards, host of the radio quiz show called Truth or Consequences, announced that he would air the program on its 10th anniversary from the first town that renamed itself after the show. Hot Springs did and the rest is history. And the signs on the freeway have to be large enough to display the full name.

Kathy – So we officially rode our bikes in state # 34 – New Mexico. It was only five miles in the freezing cold temps but we got those bikes moving in this state. Since it is such a beautiful state, I am hoping as we go south (to avoid the winter storms that are passing through) that we can ride more miles in New Mexico.

Instead of science-themed museums today we focused on art museums. We love both and like to mix it up with as we travel about this great country. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are both wonderful cities to visit and I hope to come back to see more of them some day.

Our visit today to the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe was pretty amazing. So much to see in an absolutely beautiful building. There was a vast amount of artistic works from many different mediums. The paintings and lithographs were fascinating to see while also studying the details in their works. The sculptures from metal, marble, wood and other types of materials were really interesting to view and let your mind wonder why they chose to create their art with such specific details and in such unique ways. This museum is fashioned after an old Hispanic Mission so the building itself is pretty spectacular too. I loved visiting the old chapel that sits inside this museum. (It’s not really a chapel although the wooden pews make it seem so. It’s the Saint Francis Auditorium with murals depicting images related to him.) It is very old and dark with a stark contrast of bright religious paintings on the walls and front altar area that bring much light into the room. It was not only beautiful but also comforting and peaceful.

The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico should be on everyone’s bucket list. What an outstanding museum! We spent at least three hours in this place and I could have easily spent another three or more hours there. I was like a kid in a candy store, I just couldn’t get enough of it. There is so much to see. Every turn you make the walls are packed full of different types of folk art. The museum has a vast amount of folk art from many different countries which makes everything even more interesting. I carried my book around the museum (it lists additional details about each artistic display or painting) and flipped pages often to learn as much as I could about the artist, the work of art, and the country it was made in. What a gem…this is truly an exceptional museum. I so enjoyed visiting it.

Since we don’t have an agenda this week we are able to go wherever we like (and quickly in the rental car). We really wanted to drive to Four Corners (where the four states of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet) and see the Grand Canyon again. However with a minimum of 15 – 20 inches of snow falling in that area today and traveling on winding two lane roads, we decided it is best to head south rather than further north. So we picked Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Let’s see what this place has to offer us tomorrow.

Another good day of relaxing and sightseeing. 😊

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