Day 8: Santa Fe, New Mexico
With the thermometer reading a measly three degrees in Santa Fe on Sunday, the bitter cold was reason enough for Libby and I to call off the hike we had planned that morning – neither of us thought to pack our winter coats, hats, mittens and toe warmers for the drive to Arizona. Instead we hit the hotel gym and indulged in massages and facials at the hotel spa. We were able to brave the cold for a brief walk around town later that afternoon but found the streets mostly empty and shops predominantly closed – it seemed this cold snap had the same affect on whoever else was around. We popped into a cafe to warm up with a bowl of French Onion Soup before retreating back to the warm hotel. Santa Fe is definitely deserving of a second visit – perhaps when it’s a little warmer, when the shops and art galleries are open, the streets a little less empty.
Day 9: Santa Fe, NM to Scottsdale, AZ
- Total miles: 495
- Total time: 8 hours 32 minutes
Come Day 9, Libby and I were eager to get to our final destination. We set our alarms to fit in a quick workout, shower and breakfast before packing up the car for the drive from Santa Fe to Scottsdale – the last stretch of our road trip. This leg was definitely one of the more beautiful – we saw plateaus, mountains and hundreds of cacti…
then suddenly, palm trees.
Day 10: Scottsdale, Arizona
We made it!
Yesterday, Libby and I spent most of the day getting to know Scottsdale, which obviously involved scouting out the neighborhood coffee shops and a little bit of shopping. Last night we met up with Kristi, a Scottsdale local, veterinarian, healthy lifestyle blogger and loving mom to three dogs and a one-eyed cat. Kristi and I have been reading each others blogs for a while so she invited Libby and I to meet her for a yoga class in Scottsdale after catching wind of our road trip! It’s so fun when blog friends turn into real friends – especially when they’re just as sweet and pleasant as you had imagined.
60 minutes of gentle, restorative yoga was just what we needed after 10 days on the road. It felt so good to stretch, twist and bend every which way. Afterwards, the three of us grabbed a bite to eat at The Greene House – one of Kristi’s favorite local dining spots. My Mahi tacos & white beans were delish!
Ten days on the road has left me eager to get home – to cook in my own kitchen, sleep in my own bed, even work to replete some of the funds that have dwindled from my bank account, but this road trip with Libby was one I’ll never forget – certainly one worthy of putting off studying for the RD exam. Notice that wasn’t on my list of things I’m eager to get home to. I wonder how long I can put that off…
If you missed the first half of our adventure:
- Why the heck am I on a road trip
- Day 1 - Chapel Hill to Atlanta
- Day 2 – an overnight in Athens
- Day 3 – Atlanta to New Orleans
- Day 4 - Brass bands & Yoga in NOLA
- Day 5 - New Orleans to Dallas
- Day 6 - Home cooking in Dallas
- Day 7 – A true ‘ghost town’ on our way to Santa Fe
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like an awesome road trip! I used to live in near Scottsdale, LOVED seeing palm trees when I walked outside, but I did miss the mountains and green trees back here in PA
Elle: So glad you were able to do the cross-country with Libby and Surya. It was great seeing your lovely photos and following the grand adventure! Welcome back to our sweet little hometown, with no big blue sky vistas like the ones out west, but pretty sunrises, starry skies, and ‘fire in the trees’ at sunset. Sorry that the snow and cold weather were here to greet you :-) The weather has been so odd everywhere! Three degrees in Santa Fe?? REALLY? Yikes!