Where am I? -- Volume I

[Utahtea]

This is so much fun I'm going to do another. This is a road that also has a scenic byway name, there are pictures from two of the towns and a few signs. One town is a little off the main highway just a little. Name the towns & scenic byway.










And how could you ask for anything better than road signs!



More clues given on request.

Utahtea

....
Now I'll take a stab at Utahtea's latest puzzler:

Any chance the Scenic Byway is the Turquoise Trail? And, if so, is one of the towns Madrid? If I'm wrong, give us another clue!

Rick

Rick is correct, this is the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico. The first two pictures are taken in Cerrillos which is a little north of Madrid. First Street in Cerrillos is where the first picture with the mural was taken. First Street has a lot of charter but the two times we've been nothing has been open. The second picture is of the Casa Grande Trading Post which is fun to rummage around in. Just walking around town is very interesting.


The second two pictures are of Madrid. DH and I were drawn to Madrid because the movie "Wild Hogs" with was filmed there and we were told that the city wanted them to leave the Maggies Diner set and the town brought it up to code and it's now a Bikers Shop. Madrid has become quite the tourist trap but it's fun to walk around and go thought the shops.

Utahtea

[Rick Quinn]

Rick is correct, this is the Turquoise Trail in New Mexico.

Utahtea

Woo Hoo! I actually got one! I was even going to say Cerrillos, but since I wasn't 100% positive, I figured I should hedge my bets. I shouldn't have been so cautious. The Turquoise Trail was at the heart of my Albuquerque Loop, a.k.a. Scenic Side Trip #21, a really fun day trip that makes a big circle around the Sandias.

Here's my picture from Los Cerrillos: the Church of St. Joseph


and here's the rather striking "only in New Mexico" tree-trunk sculpture that stands outside the church


The Turquoise Trail got its name from the turquoise mines near Cerrillos. We wanted to see some of that, but like you, we found the shops in the town of Los Cerrillos closed up. Off we went down the road to Madrid, where we found a nice selection.


Madrid reminds me of a lot of other places. Bisbee and Jerome in Arizona, some of the mountain towns in Colorado. When a mine closes, the population moves on, leaving behind dirt cheap real estate that attracts artists and craftsmen. Madrid completely reinvented itself and you're right, it's a fun place to walk around. (I love that metal mariachi!)


No trip along the Turquoise Trail (NM 14) would be truly complete without a jog down NM 536 to take in the Tinkertown Museum


and if you're like me, you have no choice but to keep going on NM 536 until you reach the top of the mountain at Sandia Crest. That's one heck of a view (and one heck of a twisty road!)


Rick

[Rick Quinn]

This is the courthouse, behind which a lot of unfortunates met up with a bad combination: a long drop, and a short rope


Local color (modern day version)


Name that town!

Rick

[Utahtea]

Woo Hoo! I actually got one! I was even going to say Cerrillos, but since I wasn't 100% positive, I figured I should hedge my bets. I shouldn't have been so cautious. The Turquoise Trail was at the heart of my Albuquerque Loop, a.k.a. Scenic Side Trip #21, a really fun day trip that makes a big circle around the Sandias.

Here's my picture from Los Cerrillos: the Church of St. Joseph


and here's the rather striking "only in New Mexico" tree-trunk sculpture that stands outside the church


The Turquoise Trail got its name from the turquoise mines near Cerrillos. We wanted to see some of that, but like you, we found the shops in the town of Los Cerrillos closed up. Off we went down the road to Madrid, where we found a nice selection.


Madrid reminds me of a lot of other places. Bisbee and Jerome in Arizona, some of the mountain towns in Colorado. When a mine closes, the population moves on, leaving behind dirt cheap real estate that attracts artists and craftsmen. Madrid completely reinvented itself and you're right, it's a fun place to walk around. (I love that metal mariachi!)


No trip along the Turquoise Trail (NM 14) would be truly complete without a jog down NM 536 to take in the Tinkertown Museum


and if you're like me, you have no choice but to keep going on NM 536 until you reach the top of the mountain at Sandia Crest. That's one heck of a view (and one heck of a twisty road!)


Rick

I was worried that if I posted pictures of the church and the view from Sandia it would be to much of a give away! ;) We didn't stop at Tinkertown Museum but will have to do that next time!

Utahtea

[Southwest Dave]

Hey Rick.

While I'm thinkin 'bout the name of that town I'm gonna have a whiskey in Big Nose Kates Saloon.

Dave.

[Utahtea]

Hey Rick.

While I'm thinkin 'bout the name of that town I'm gonna have a whiskey in Big Nose Kates Saloon.

Dave.

I knew it’s not hanging Judge Roy Beams place in Langley, Texas because we’ve been and it’s a far cry from that beautiful brick building so while I haven’t been to the town, I had a good idea where it was. I’m sheltering in place so I don’t need a doctor but I could really use a holiday!

Utahtea

[Mark Sedenquist]

While I'm thinkin 'bout the name of that town I'm gonna have a whiskey in Big Nose Kates Saloon.

Dave, now you are just toying with us. I love taking people to this town. If it is raining, so much the better.

And I see Utahtea is getting in the spirit of the veiled hints as well. That's pretty funny.

Mark

[Rick Quinn]

From the sound of things, nobody really needs this last clue, but I'll put it out there anyway, for the benefit of any lurkers who might still be trying to figure out who this Kate person was, and why the size of her nose was so important. (Especially on rainy days.)

A mere 30 seconds of mayhem, almost 140 years ago, and people still talk about it? Thank Hollywood for that.


Nice Tombstone!


Rick

[Southwest Dave]

Here's the wife cleaning up those mean streets !

DSCF6836

[NowthatIamretired]

This lurker here doesn’t know this part of the country at all so I’m enjoying all the pictures. Maybe someday to see........ keep it coming!