Back in Grants. I'm glad I didn't move here.

The first time I spent any time in Grants was back in 90 or 91. On a tour of New Mexico hunting kachina's and pottery I spent the night at the night closed Red Lion Inn where I met a wonderful lady that ran the gift shop who gave me some pointers on what kind of kachinas to buy and who made the best pottery around here (Acoma). She's since passed away but I'll always remember the her for her kindness and the kachina that I bought from her.

Back in 04 when I retired, I took a look at a few places in New Mexico to possibly move to since I was tiring of the city. Grants was one and at the time I liked it a lot due to it's proximity to Albuquerque (for big city fun), the mountains (Mt. Taylor and Cibola Nat'l Forest are nearby) as well as a high arid climate with mild winters (6400ft.).

I met a real estate agent in Milan (the next little strip town west) who talked with me about what I was looking for (to buy, to build, acreage, etc.) I told her that I was up for any of the above, but like when I was in Taos looking around that area, I was a bit shocked when she told me that I might be a bit white to move here. Same reasons, mostly Hispanic and Indian population and she wasn't sure that I'd be happy here. I guess it's a good thing that I've had the confederate flag tattoo on my head laser removed since then.

Not to be deterred, I spent another two days driving county roads looking at property on my own that were mostly out of town on ranches that had been broken up. I saw several locations that I liked but when it got right down to it, I wondered if it was a good fit. Not because of any racial reasons, but more since most of the property was 30 or 40 miles outside of town, I said to myself, well I'm single, what if I have a heart attack? I'd be pretty much toast by the time flight for life arrived. So Grants got crossed of the list.

I've since been back several times, spending a day or two around El Malpais and El Morro but mostly because I love El Cafecito. Best Chile Rellanos in New Mexico. Hands down!

I got to town today around 3PM, it was a pretty easy drive considering it was Saturday. Traffic was light until Albuquerque where there was the usual slow down around the 1-40 turn off. The day started off cold in Westcliffe (28 by my weather station) with the mountains socked in. It stayed that way, both in temp and clouds over the mountains until I reached Santa Fe where the temp shot up to 70 in no time. 81 in Albuquerque and sunny skies.

It was a brisk 79 in Grants, but if it makes you Westcliffe folks happy, it was windy here as well.

I first went on my normal salsa hunt to buy some New Mexico salsas. I found several, ranging from Hot to Medium Hot and I'll share a pic tomorrow and the actual ones when I get home. The only bummer was that they didn't have any locally made tortilla chips like they do down in Las Cruces (I am not drivin all the way down there though).

I had a early dinner at El Cafecito. Chile Rellanos of course. The"Spanish Rice" is made with New Mexico Red Pepper powder and is yummy hot.

Then I headed "downtown", such as it is, to the Riverwalk Park and the Mining Museum.

The "River" isn't much, it's fed by a spring/well and barely runs. There are two fishing ponds, which were quite busy this afternoon, I saw one youngster pull out a 7 or 8 inch rainbow (obviously stocked).

There's a nice little "Riverside" amplitheather as well, no concert tonight however.

There's a nice park by the Mining Museum that has a kind cool Route 66 sculpture that has some of the historical events that shaped both Grants and Route 66.


Tomorrow, it's hiking in El Malpais on the Zuni-Acoma trail which was established between 1075 and 1150 AD.

I did do one little touristy thing.

Good night from Grants.