Road Trip!!! Day 2 - Laramie, Wyoming to Santa Fe, New Mexico

Day two of our road trip began with a crisp fall morning in Laramie — 43 degrees, with wildfire smoke still hanging heavy in the air. Honestly, everything felt a bit heavy in our university town. It felt like a football morning — but it’s clear football season isn’t happening this fall. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are wreaking havoc on the Laramie economy and the morale.

But we shook it off and did what any smart girls should do on ANY morning they find themselves in Laramie — we headed straight to the Alibi for … pastries. I know: would anyone who frequented the Alibi Bar in the 90’s have ever dreamed that you could not only get all the beer and cocktails your little heart desires, but you can also get amazing wood-fired pizza and the best pastries west of France???

Seriously, the pain au chocolat is to DIE for. Bliss agrees.

Tummies filled, we hugged Brad goodbye. He arrived in Laramie for meetings about the same time as we did — albeit via UW AIR — so we got to spend the night with him before continuing south.

Determined to avoid the cesspool of Denver traffic, we took the scenic route south through Walden, Colorado. And what a scenic route it was — we drove through, like, six or seven national forests!

We cruised through Colorado with zero traffic on the mostly two-lane roads, stopping for a quick Cuban meal in the old mining town of Leadville. Then, back in the car with more than 300 miles to go. I said it was the SCENIC route, not the FAST one!

I swear the New Mexico state line kept moving further away as we approached — but we finally left behind the aspen forests of Colorado and entered the scrub desert. We were officially in the Southwest! Bliss, the road-trip novice, was pretty relieved. She did a lot of school work throughout the day, and she was ready to reach our destination. Ok, so was I. I NEVER drive this far. EVER!

It was a gorgeous evening drive into Santa Fe, and we were starving. We checked into our hotel, the Inn and Spa at Loretto, and set off in search of dinner. Thankfully, a reliably good New Mexico-style restaurant, The Shed, was just around the corner, and we settled in for chips, salsa, QUESO, margs (yes, plural — both mine!) and HOT AS HELL food. We even had to look like wimps and ask for sour cream. Such a good end to the day. And how often do you get to eat dinner in a building constructed in the late 1600’s?

Day three is a no-drive day — just hanging in one of my favorite places. Unfortunately, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Meow Wolf have yet to open, post quarantine, but we’ll occupy ourselves just fine. Stay tuned.

And, yes, once again all photos are by BLISS!

Peace, love and full tanks of gas —