Day 17 - Santa Fe, NM to Gallup, NM

A quick visit to the final state capitol building of the road trip - New Mexico's magnificent low rise round building which was simply gorgeous. Blue skies returned this morning but still bitterly cold.

From there to Albuquerque and then west towards Gallup. We got off the I40 and took a scenic loop past the El Morro monument - a rocky outcrop amongst a snow covered landscape. Nice to get away from the interstate with barely anybody else around.

Arrived in Gallup late afternoon - a pit stop more than anything. Coffee and cake in a lovely cafe at the Amtrak station - one train in each direction a day! Numerous freight trains though each hour - deafening horns. Walked along the old Route 66 Main Street where J finally found her Native American jewellery to buy. We didn't expect much from Gallup but actually it's got a nice feel.

A typical roadside hotel is home for the night - another laundry done to get us through to the end. Dinner in the neighbouring 'Applebee's' - chainy nothing special food but hit the spot.