Highlights of Route 66
with Archers Holidays, June 2015
We had a free day for most of today so we had a bit of a lie-in till 8.30am. Then we spent a couple of hours re-sorting the bags, fixing a problem with the website and Di turning up the hem on her new trousers that she hadn't got around to doing before we left so they wouldn't drag in the dirt. Come on people, we have touristy stuff to do!
All in all it was about noon when we finally left the hotel. We had previously identified that that the Botanic Gardens had a model railway, and that a narrow gauge railway runs between there and the Zoo as part of Albuquerque's ABQ BioPark we decided to visit. It was just a mile away so we figured we'd walk there and hopefully get the hotel shuttle bus back. It took about twenty-five minutes so not too bad - it was a little cooler than Branson.
The ticketing was a little confusing at the BioPark. It seems we were too late for some combi-ticket but we didn't have time to see much anyway as we had to get for our optional trip up the mountain. The nice lady gave us some tickets that would get us on the trains and into the model railway so we were all set. Didn't cost us very much so we were well pleased!
We decided to do the train to the zoo first, as it meant whatever time was left we could spend at the model railway. Time was tight and the train schedules were fixed. There was already one in the station so we hurried to get on and sat in the caboose.
It's a narrow gauge railway with a steam engine and coal tender at the front, a couple of indoor carriages, an open carriage and the caboose. It was pretty full! The train links the Aquarium and Botanic Gardens to the Zoo which is about a mile away. It was nice to be in the shade and there were a number of ponds out to the left with birds and we even saw someone with a little sail boat.
It's not the most scenic train ride you'll ever take, but it's always great to grab a ride on a narrow gauge railway. We passed by a channel of water and also spotted the Zoo train.
Soon we were arriving at the Zoo's Asia Station. The Conductor on the train told us that if we headed past the giraffes and turned left, the path would take us to the Zoo's Africa Station, from where we could get a similar train to ride around the zoo.
We hung around, waiting for the train to leave so I could take some footage of the engine. I'm sure I took film of it leaving so don't know what happened to it, anyway, you'll have to make the most of the movie above. Sigh.
We'd seen the Zoo Train go past so thought we'd better rush to Africa Station to catch it. We set off, past the giraffes. I believe Albuquerque Zoo is famous for its Headless Giraffe.
Time was tight so I tried to grab a few photographs of the animals as we passed, like these zebra. I'd never heard of Sichuan Takin before - like big hairy goats. I whizzed by these rhino.
Soon we arrived at the Zoo's Africa Station, but it wasn't easy to find. You need better signage guys! I'd looked at my map but it was of the Botanic Gardens and Aquarium not the Zoo! (Okay so I never thought then to turn it over where the Zoo map was - d'oh!) The train wasn't in so we took a quick look at the Out of Africa gift shop - a great name. They had a lot of animal stuffies in here - some a little unusual, but we were travelling light. Sadly. The train arrived - the one we saw earlier and we got on board.
This time there was a guy on board who talked to us about the exhibits in the zoo as we passed. We saw the filtration tanks behind the seal exhibit, these clean the water and keep the temperature below 65F. They had some cute gophers.
Then we headed towards the elephant's watering hole. The guide told us of some of the enrichment programmes they used to enhance the animal's life, for example, hiding the hay around the enclosure, filling a ball with peanuts that would fall out when moved. We passed a green tower where smaller humans could zipline. We also saw the hay barn where hay is stored for the animals.
Having looped around, we found the camels. Then spotted the giraffes again - this chap has a horizontal neck (their giraffes are all weird!!) They had a statue of a couple of bison and on the return trip we passed them again.
The train arrived back at 2pm. We grabbed a very quick photo as we only had fifteen minutes to get back to the other station. We tried to retrace our steps but got stuck down a dead end! Once again, a sign would have been nice! It seems it was time to feed the hippos.
We just made it and were one of the last few passengers to get on the train. We saw the elephants again and this time got some pictures of the baby (well, eighteen month's old).
The weather had become very overcast, with some nasty looking clouds. By the time we were back at the Botanic Gardens station, it was raining. For a short while we were joined by a hoppy travelling companion.
They made a brief stop to let those in the open carriage get off, but then we continued on to drive through the gardens.
By the time we had returned to the station, about twenty minutes around the Botanic Gardens, the rain was heavier.
Hoping it would be a quick storm, we headed for shelter in the gift shop, but the rain didn't abate so we went to the ticket office to ask if the model trains would be put away during the storm and she confirmed that they would. Still, we wanted to see it, having come this far, and we couldn't afford to wait much longer as we had to get back to the hotel. The rain had eased a little so we dashed out and around the path to the model railroad layout.
The Rio Grande Garden Railway was constructed in 1999.
Blimey, it was huge! There was so much to it, bridges over rivers and this waterwheel. I love the crashing train, below right.
Obviously there were no trains running but it was still impressive to see, even while getting a little wet - the weather forecast had said there was only a twenty percent chance of rain so we'd left raincoats at the hotel. Again.
The model railroad was next to the Butterfly Pavilion so we thought we might as well go in, in case we could see any. A lady inside said they were all under the leaves having taken cover from the rain, but we found a few scattered about.
By this time it was 3.15pm and time to return to the hotel for our included exursion. We decided to try calling for the hotel shuttle, thinking it would be ages coming with everyone trying to get out of the rain and we'd have to walk back. Di took her card out with the number on it and the rain had caused it to get damp and rubbed the number off - oh no!
Instead, she had to Google the hotel and got a phone number, which turned out to the be the central reservations team, but they kindly gave her the direct line number. She called that and they said the driver would be there in ten minutes. Di and I stood under a bush to keep an eye out. The minibus arrived in just five minutes! Talk about fabulous service! We were back at the hotel in less than ten minutes with half an hour to get sorted for our trip up the mountain! Brilliant service! We joined the bus and headed to the Sandia Peak Ski and Tramway. It was like something out of James Bond!
We climbed aboard the car and headed up the mountain.
We started out at 6,559 feet and rose to 10,378 feet above sea level.
There was quite the view from the top!
This optional trip up the mountain included dinner at the High Finance restaurant up on top of the Mountain. It was more expensive than the usual group meal with Archers but, it turns out, it was really worth it. Dinner started with a beer and soup of the day - which seems to have gone before I remembered the photograph. Oops.
We ordered a bottle of red with dinner, which was a very nice Prime Rib, while Di had Ravioli with cheese and spinach. Now Di's dinner wasn't too warm so Beth suggested she send it back so she did. Instead of reheating they came back with a new plate, but this one was also not as hot as it should be. She sent it back again and told them to just microwave it! She's not fussy. This time when she got it back it was great. The storm earlier in the day had delayed the kitchen staff from getting up the mountain so they'd been late getting everything ready apparently. Under the circumstances - they'd only made it up the mountain shortly before us - they did a great job.
We couldn't complain about the view from the restaurant, nor the dessert which was really good too. This has to be - paws down - the best Archers Direct group meal ever. By miles. We avoid a lot of them, with their cool food, poor service, limited choices and amazing inability to deal with group catering when they must be doing it every day of the week - the worst was Seattle's Ivar Salmon restaurant, or maybe the crab place in San Francisco?
We had a few minutes to check out the view before heading back down in the cable car. Isn't it amazing?
We waited for the next cable car to come up - scary stuff, but I would have liked to see Roger Moore and Richard Kiel (Jaws) fighting it out.
We boarded our cable car and headed back down. The setting sun made the mountain look very impressive.
Eek! I'm not keen on going over the pylons holding us up when it judders. The round things (below centre) are water containers - the water has to be pumped up the moutain for the restaurant and tavern.
We chatted on the way down to Cody who works on the cable car.
Soon we were at the bottom and waiting for the rest of the group. We had time for a quick dash into the gift shop, which has relevant tat and other merchandise.
We were just able to watch the arrival of the final car for our group. There are lights which indicated a cable car was passing overhead.
We boarded the bus and returned to our hotel for an earlyish night.
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