DAY THIRTEEN, part two: Four Corners Monument (AZ, NM, UT, CO) to Moriarty, NM

DAY THIRTEEN, part two: Four Corners Monument (AZ, NM, UT, CO) to Moriarty, NM


We arrived at the Indian-owned and operated monument only to learn they charge $3 per person. And do not take cash. Despite my best efforts to ensure we always had cash on us throughout the trip, a miscommunication resulted in zero cash on hand. The lovely Navajo lady told us the ATM was a short 5-mile backtrack away.

John hasn’t showered in about 4 days, nor has he shaved. He looks pretty disheveled at this point. HE looked at the woman, and with every ounce of pathetic he could muster said, “Do you have any idea what we’ve been through to get here?” She smiled and said “I’m guessing a lot.”

She must’ve caught a sniff from inside the RV, or she was taken with John’s greaser look (Bowser from Sha-Na-Na’s hair looks drier), or like the Grinch her heart grew three sizes that day. But for whatever reason, she took pity on us. But this is an Indian money-maker, so in what must be true Navajo style, she said “Just give me whatever cash you have and I’ll let you in.”

We scraped together $9 in quarters, nickels, and dimes.

We took pictures at the monument and froze our butts off. I had originally planned an hour or two there. The fifteen minutes we spent was enough! Back on the road we were graced with clean roads and even some sunshine. We skipped our lunch destination in the interest of time. With all the slow travel from snow it doesn’t seem likely we’ll make our designated stop tonight.

Then in the middle of New Mexico, the roads became treacherous again. Literally they had not been plowed at all. Back to cars stuck in ditches. The only positive was it was no longer snowing and visibility was excellent. But we were right back to me abusing the phrase “slow down John” once more.

We were all so happy to descend into Albuquerque. A big city! With radio stations! And a highway! And plowed roads! We were making great time, and even though calculations had us pulling into our dinner stop of Santa Rosa at around 8pm, we were all willing to wait. We scaled the mountain just east of Albuquerque, and the road was very clean and easily traversed. We came upon the town of Moriarty, 80 miles from Santa Rosa, and flashing lights and road barriers forced us off the highway.

We stopped at a truck stop and asked for information. They have no idea when the road will reopen. It is closed due to multiple accidents from wintry conditions. The side of the onramp back onto the highway is lined with trucks and cars, all with people sleeping in them. We called a local RV park (described as a “dump” by two websites) to see if they had an opening. They are snowed in. The truck stop said they would allow us to fill our water tank. I am so ready to drive back to Albuquerque and drop plastic for a nice room at the Marriott. Screw this. But John won’t be daunted. Ugh.

So as the girls whine for a hotel, John keeps telling me to “find a way home,” and I am ready to walk to an airport and get the Hell out of Dodge. Good fun family times! I am sure one day this will be funny. And I am very grateful we were not one of the vehicles involved in an accident that caused the highway to be closed. But I am having such a hard time with all of this. And no matter what its another 2-3 days til we’re home.

I used to hate it when I was a kid, and people made fun of my name by using Wizard of Oz references every chance they got. But this is one “Dorothy” who is clicking her heels tonight and saying “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”