Anyway, onto my long drive to Taos. It was long. I went east on I-70 back through the Eisenhower Tunnel, running into some traffic jams, eventually reaching Route 470 which circumvents Denver. It was long and I had to pass a slow funeral procession but I finally got to I-25 which was constant traffic to Colo. Springs. I had eyes for another wi-fi Starbucks in Colorado Springs. I found the Starbucks I was looking for and used the wi-fi to answer e-mail and surf the web a bit, along with some type of frapuccino. It was around 2 pm and I decided I wasn't ready to eat lunch yet. I went past Pueblo which was one big speed trap as I-25 went from 75 m.p.h. to 55 m.p.h. with cops lurking at every corner. I was going 70 then slowed down but they didn't get me; they got others! I was planning to make it to Walsenberg but I had to take a pit stop and up came an oasis at a place called Colorado City, seemingly and probably in the middle of "nowhere." I got gas at one place then went over the Subway Texaco across the overpass for a late lunch. Taxidermy was making a comeback there with various stuffed animals gracing the wall including a jackalope. I discussed same with the workers there. Funny. I had to take pix.

Once arriving in New Mexico there was construction on I-25 almost all the way into Raton, the town where you turn to US 64 north and west toward Taos. I took that exit (so I thought), stopped at a gas station to call Marc Cambpell, former and perhaps future lead singer for The Nails, and my friend I've known for over 25 years, and of course, use the rest room. The cell phone has not worked in NM so I used a pay phone to leave a message. Thank goodness they exist since the woman at the gas station said no cell phones worked there. I have entered a cell phone vortex. It rained there as well, one of those mountain afternoon rain storms but it was light. Then I actually got back onto I-25 briefly then off onto US 64 northwest, a most beautiful vista right there, endless sky, mountains in the distance. The route was equally beautiful, even waiting for construction for 15 minutes where I shut off the engine actually enhanced the experience rather than detract from it. Sometimes I was the only one on the highway. Cool.

Finally I reached the mountains and went into Cimarron Canyon, up and up, curvy, seemingly with a historical marker every few miles. Sheesh. Coming out of the canyon I saw a beautiful lake. This was the town of Eagle Nest, near the Angel Fire ski resort. Eventually I got to the turnoff to Angel Fire and you could see the ski area in the distance. It was large! Many trails, facing I guess north or west. I couldn't tell. I thought it faced the wrong way for a ski area but in fact it didn't. Then I drove up another canyon, and then through Taos Pass with more historical markers I didn't bother stopping for up and up and up. Another marker at the top, then down, fighting the glaring western sunset, slowly descending into Taos valley, seeing adobe houses, some art galleries and finally I noticed streets. I thought I'd better start looking for Marc's Street and I found it. There was a Jeep in the driveway with the license 88Pines and a No Big Box bumper sticker alluding to the Super Wal-Mart controversy in town. Marc wasn't there but left a note on the door that he was screening a film at his theatre, to make myself at home and to get something to eat because the restaurants close early. After dropping my stuff off, I drove into the historic town center and saw a Mexican Restaurant. I had a Rio Grande beer, caesar salad and a beef burrito, which hit the spot. Came back here, downloaded my digital pix from the Nikon and am writing this! Waiting for Marc & Jen.

Marc finally arrived and we chatted a great deal, catching up, sitting outside in a spacious back yard looking at a skyful of stars. I even saw a shooting star! It's an adobe house, with a living room, kitchen nook sort of, computer room, master bedroom on the ground floor and my lair on the 2nd floor with Marc's video setup and who could forget the dogs and chickens as pets! We also went out on a beer run for Jennifer but since it was past midnight stores were not allowed to sell beer so he went to his Third Eye Films theater in the corrugated warehouse near the Wal-Mart. He showed me the waiting room and the cute little theater upstairs where he screens films not yet seen here since they are out on DVD. So he got some beer from the theater and brought it home. It turns out Jen was flying in from Albuquerque and arriving late, so I went to bed but heard her come in.

8/5/03 Tuesday - My first full day in Taos. Marc drove me to various sites and educated me about Taos, regarding Earth Ships -- houses made of various materials built into hills on the mesa and Mesa Rats, aging hippies with dirty dreadlocks. I saw one on Wednesday 8/6 at the Cafe Tazza. He drove me past the Taos Pueblo which I visited Wednesday as well as the Rio Grande Gorge, which cuts a 600 foot swath in the mesa. There is an arch bridge way above the gorge. It's very striking and beautiful. Marc says it's a fave for suicides! He also drove me to this little town called Arroyo Seca where we ate authentic down-home native Mexican-Indian food at Abe's Bar & Grill. We had Tamales Pork Platters “Christmas Tree” style meaning served with both red and green chile sauce on the side. It was really good. It was hot so we got back and both took naps. Yeah we're middle age and need naps. That's right!

Marc has his Third Eye Film screening which I will attend, a movie called Devdas, and Indian film from “Bollywood” with those crazy musical numbers. Marc left at 5:00 pm and I was to get there near 7 pm. I left at 6 and went to Susan's Diner near his theater and the existing Wal-Mart as opposed to the defeated “Big Box” Super Wal-Mart that Marc was instrumental in opposing and gathering the troops as it was defeated with the mayor casting the deciding vote. However it's not over as Wal-Mart may go to the County to get zoning variances not granted by the City of Taos. Afterwards I went to the Wal-Mart myself (shame shame) and then arrived at the movie theater, a great place to pick up girls, so he says. There were some good looking women but I can't be on the make all the time. Maybe I should? I met his friend Bruce and another friend who I cannot remember his name. I was asked to play a piano which was to be used for Madame Butterfly which sounded fine to me. We went upstairs and watched Devdas, a tragic bollywood love story, very expansive and long, over 3 hours. I couldn't sit through the whole thing without taking a break, but it was a fun movie. Some people left before it was over ‘cause it was too long. When we returned home Jennifer was there and we all hung out, talking about stuff, Jennifer's job, my job, everyone's situation and then I went to bed.