By now, you all must be growing tired of hearing about my Mazda 6. Well, let’s change things up a bit and hit the road in search of something new and exciting.
This post will focus on my weekend trip to Northern New Mexico and the Tijeras musical road. What’s that, you say? Yes, there is indeed ANOTHER musical road in America and it’s right here in New Mexico. It’s a fairly recent addition to our roads as it was first announced in April of 2014. The goal was to have a fun solution to slowing down motorists entering Tijeras, NM. Before this was created, there were officially 4 musical roads in the world:
- Asphaltophone in Denmark
- Melody Road‘s “Migaete Goran Yoru No Hoshi Wo” in Japan
- Singing Road‘s “Mary Had a Little Lamb” in South Korea
- and the Civic Musical Road‘s “William Tell Overture” I visited in Lancaster, California.
The total journey of around 900 miles took me first to Grandpa’s where I would help move some valuables, then on the Tijeras and then along the banks of the Rio Grande river. I left Friday after Christmas ready to test out the fresh repairs on the 6. In short, it drives as nice as it did before the accident. (Oops! There I go again talking about the dang car.)
Little drive off the beaten path along the Animas Creek just outside of Truth or Consequences, NM.
Quick pic outside of Los Lunas, NM.
A few hundred miles later, I arrived at my destination (Grants, NM) and parked right behind my Grandpa’s 6.
Next morning, it was a little nippy out.
Bank of America helped me clear the windshield and I was ready to join the convoy to go help move!
There were a total of four cars ready to be stuffed full. The Mazdas took the front.
Here’s my first “awkward load” pic. This 75-100lb old water pump was going back to Las Cruces with me. I was so thankful that I now have seats that fold down.
Back to the house in Grants to unload.
Next day, I left for home but I had plans to make a slight detour to see New Mexico’s musical road. I went through Albuquerque to reach Tijeras, NM.
The exit is about 15 miles East of Albuquerque.
Turning off the freeway to old Route 66 exposed some snow that was leftover from a recent storm.
Entering Tijeras! The village of about 541 (2010 Census) is statistically part of the Albuquerque metro area. There isn’t much here to put the Village on the map except for what I’m about to drive on…
Aside from a few residential areas, this is pretty much it.
Odd coffee house which I have to try someday.
And now, let’s hear some tunes! The musical road is about a mile or so west of Tijeras along Route 66. As you approach, there is a sign that gives instructions to “Reduce to 45mph…”
“…to hear the song!”
Here’s how the grooves have been cut.
Besides the signs, the only designation are a few arrows which were already starting to fade away.
Here we go!
You just heard “America the Beautiful.” I actually looped around and drove over the stretch several times and even experimented with different speeds. Going over this at 60mph was pretty wild! After Tijeras, I headed towards home with just one little adventure stop along the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. I swapped the freeway for a dirt road which followed the Rio Grande River for about 10 miles and took in the scenery.
From there, a nice sunset guided me back home. Thanks for coming along!
Pawela's Garage 