New State - New Mexico

Great scenery on the way out of White Mountains. Passed through Apache Forrest in the Apache Country. Onward to New Mexico  and stopped for lunch at the Top of The World which is a store and café in the middle of nowhere. Lovely place to stop and a great welcome. Through Pie Town, a place of pilgrimage for many Americans by the look of it. Unfortunately, there was no pies. Who ate them all is the question?? Thanks to Pam’s superb guide book I have been to some unusual attractions which are not on the usual run of the mill tourist trail. Today I visited the Very Large Array National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NROA). It is right off the beaten track but has a visitor centre. As I was the only visitor I got the VIP treatment. Great and a  must see if you are interested in the stars. Onward to my hotel tonight, another find in Pam’s guide. The Shaffer Hotel in Mountainair. It is in the National Register of Historic Hotels and is the 1920s frozen in time. Wait for the good bit…the owner gave me a room for $40 and then told me that Rene Zellweger slept in this room whilst making the film ‘On My Own’. (Google it). Some pics to follow. Then a great night with the cowboys and the Irish (William Murphy) in Mountainair. Don’t want to leave here….worth a visit! 1. Top of the World 2. Pie Town 3. Radio Astronomy 4 Historic Hotel 5. William Murphy – Bar owner Mountainair.