Gallup to Wimberley

Grand Canyon Sunset 10.31.11

In Gallup we stayed at a famous hotel called El Rancho right off of Route 66.  Many old Hollywood stars have stayed there, and a famous Italian rock band was there while we were.   We ate breakfast and headed off for Santa Fe. 

 The drive was again pretty.  We pulled off a few times for Lila to use the potty but made good time and were to our destination around 1.  We stayed in a beautiful guest house of a Joanna's parents.

  It is about 15 minutes from the town, up on a hill, with views of every direction.  Susan gave us a wonderful dinner suggestion and directions into town.  After Lila took a nap we headed to town.  The Indian market was already closed so we went to dinner at a place called The Shed.  It was New Mexican style and petty dang good.  Lila sat in a highchair(for the first time at a restaurant).  She had fun banging on the table and playing with the spoon.  We watched another beautiful sunset on the drive back to the Miller's home.  

Daddy read Lila her bedtime books, then mommy put her to bed.  It was so nice to have a relaxing night in a beautiful comfortable place.  Lila woke mommy up just in time to see an amazing sunrise over the snow and cloud covered mountains.  Mommy and Lila danced and played and took a shower, then lila napped.  The house was so nice and comfortable we wanted to just relax and take our time before starting the 13 hours of driving in front of us.

  It was in the mid 30s and very windy.  We attempted to go to the Indian market because mommy wanted a price of jewelry by Lila had other plans.... We parked, twice, walked around in a circle until we realized the way to go, got to the market and Lila wasn't having it... So we walked back to the car and went to Trader Joes one last time.  

We will miss Trader Joes A LOT!! But the cashier said they plan to open one in Austin next year.  I sure hope so.  Lila loves TJ too!  The people watching is good there.  We gassed up and hit the road.      We sang songs and mommy made funny faces and daddy waved to Lila in the mirror.  We pulled over to use the potty a few times too.  We saw a beautiful sunset just after we drove across the Texas state line.  Lila had a bit of trouble falling asleep, who wants to be in a weird re lies position strapped down? Not Lila... With a pit stop to get out some energy and some help she eventually fell asleep and let daddy drive all the way to Coleman, TX aka the hunting Capitol of Texas.

  We stayed in a little motel that kind of smelled.  But the bed did its job just fine.  Lila woke everyone up at 7:40 so we were able to get on the road at a decent time.  The drive through the hill country was beautiful, cacti, fall leaves and hills full of green trees.  We decided to stop in Fredricksburg for some coffee, a diaper change and some stretching. 

 We were looking for an antique shop but didn't see one so looked in a few stores.  We walked by a horse ride so we popped in 50 cents and Lila has a blast riding the little pony.  

We were about an hour and a half from Wimberley and took a back back way.  It was neat to see the ranches and livestock on the farm to market roads.  We pulled into the Shelton zoo at 12:30 (daddy was right in with his prediction).   Gigi greeted  us soon after, Lilanwas happy to be in a familiar place, with a familiar face.  The trailer is unpacked and clean, the car is clean too... Now we live in Texas.