What a WINDY place this is! Santa Fe winds blew tons of dust and damp rainy mist onto our cars last night, so we had some cleaning to do this morning. I shined up Aardvark with some Griot’s Speed Shine and the soft cloths I’d hidden in the trunk. Mitch found a self-spray car wash, and Mike just decided to drive as-is. Breakfast at Starbucks: Met a cute mini-Bernadoodle puppy!
It was pretty chilly, we had the tops down, and bundled up. We hit the road for a lunch meetup with a group of car guys in a little cafe in Placitas, NM, hosted by my online FFR friend, Jim Levandoski. The drive out there was beautiful, we’re definitely in western high country now. 7,000 foot elevation, little in the way of greenery. Gorgeous mountains in the distance, arid desert scenery all around, buildings mostly adobe tone and low built. And, did I mention? … this place is WINDY! It kept up all day…I guess folks here get used to it.
Our lunch stop in Placitas, at the Marc Plaza, was grand. Only a few of the regulars showed up, due to the windy conditions. Jim Levandoski rumbled in with his beautiful Factory Five Racing ’33 Hot Rod Coupe. Man, it is a beauty, all built, modified and painted by Jim. LS-powered, independent rearend, custom interior, and heavy with thoughtful details like solenoid door latches, battery relocate box, A/C, sound system, custom console, Borla exhaust, etc., etc. It was a blast crawling all over this thoughtful yellow build. Just as we were finishing admiring the ’33, Steve rolled up in his ’66 Corvette roadster with 327, factory knock-off alloy wheels & side pipes, looking pristine. Fun car day for sure.
Lunch with the whole table of Jim’s car club buddies was even better. Jim bought!!! The crew welcomed us like we were old friends, and we blabbed away about cars, life, and anything else that came up for maybe a couple of hours. Placitas is a hotbed of car guys. THANKS for the hospitality.
Jim led us out to Route 66 with his awesome Rod, as we headed down to Albuquerque. Stopped along the way at a Sportsman store for a light-weight hoody shirt with SPF protection. Turns out, I’ll roast the rest of my skin off unless I cover it all up while running topless out here in this relentless sun! Next stop was the Costco box store right next door, for assorted supplies. You can’t pass up the eat-in “Pizza and drink” deal at the Costco dining area. The three of us had enough eats to last until breakfast tomorrow, for a total tab of $14! We’ll spend the money we saved on more gasoline.
Tonight we’re motel-ing it in Albuquerque, hoping to meet up with some folks at UNMCCC Hospital tomorrow morning, in support of our work for Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Then, on towards Holbrook, AZ (Sleep in the WigWams!), via Petrified Forest, and whatever else comes our way.
Thanks for following along!
