A Tale of Four Corners

Oct. 12 – Farmington, NM

Not much to say about Farmington. You cross more than 150 miles of desert to get there from Albuquerque, and in mid-October there's a splash of autumn color on the deciduous trees along the Animas River. Farmington and its neighbor city Bloomington seem to be optimiscally named, as any signs of successful agri- and horticulture are scarce (however, there is a preponderance of scrap yards, motels and battered trailers in dusty lots).

Our hotel had a wigwam out front (Farmington borders the Navajo Indian Reservation), and the auditorium at the Civic Center was so small that half of our scenic elements had to be eliminated. Back at the hotel later, there was a five dollar cover charge at the lounge for karaoke, but I had a headache and so went straight to bed. I heard later that a woman was beaten by her boyfriend in our parking lot during the night. I guess in the Land of Enchantment a few people are genuinely touched.

View Larger Map