Chimayo, New Mexico

The history of Clovis, New Mexico is intertwined with the history of the Santa Fe Railroad.
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Leaving Muleshoe, Texas, I followed the Santa Fe Railroad, which US Route 84  paralleled for quite a distance.  The railroad changed not only the landscape of the country, but also its economy and industry, as described on this historical marker in Clovis, New Mexico.

For about 45 minutes, the cars along the Route 84 and a long, long freight train kept the same pace, and I had the eerie sensation of being pulled along by the train.  Eventually, the road and the tracks diverged and the train was lost to view.

Follow that Train

Adobe buildings abound, including this tourist welcome center at the New Mexico state line. That line also marked my entry to the Mountain time Zone, where I will stay for the next month or more.
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I left Route 84 near Santa Fe, though I will rejoin the route tomorrow and travel to its terminus in Colorado.  I reached Chimayo in mid-afternoon, and the dog and cat got settled quickly in our Bed & Breakfast suite; they are getting quite used to the travel and hotel world.

All the towns here have Spanish names, and for awhile I could have been in Spain.  Chimayo is home to a famous Spanish chapel to which miraculous cures have been attributed, sort of an American Lourdes.  About 300,000 people visit the chapel each year, and this year I am one of them.

Adobe picnic area.
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Chimayo is a tiny town north of Santa Fe, and is home to a famous little chapel, the Santuario de Chimayo.