Eleven BMWs, 18 people, and 3 pups participated in the trip. Cars ranging in age from a 1995 Individual E34 M5 to a 2022 M240i met at the Nambe Falls Travel Center, adjacent to the Tesla dealership just south of Pojoaque, giving their owners just enough time to check out each other’s cars and kick off the event.
The first stop was the Santuario de Chimayo, shrouded in a vibrant yellow display of Cottonwoods. Built in 1816, the church is considered the most important Catholic pilgrimage center in the United States, with up to 300,000 people visiting the church during Holy Week. From there, participants continued on the High Road to Taos. Under crisp autumn skies, we were able to exercise the cars a bit as the sinuous road rose roughly 2,000 feet to the mountain town of Truchas.
Local plein air painter Sally Delap-John graciously opened her home gallery for our chapter to view her spectacular art of Truchas and surrounding areas, as well as learn about her painting style and story. Her second-story deck offered incredible sweeping views of the snow-capped Truchas mountains and other peaks. Onwards from there, Sugar Nymphs Bistro in Peñasco was a real treat for lunch on Saturday, with delicious meals and some of the best carrot cake around.
The group stopped at Enchanted Circle Brewing Company in Angel Fire before finishing out the first day at the historic St. James Hotel in Cimarron. Some members of the group stretched their legs exploring the 14 historic sites that are part of the Cimarron Old Town Walking Tour. The St. James’ restaurant, Lambert’s, hosted a lovely group dinner and the second round of desserts of the day received universal acclaim from the group. The restaurant still has 22 bullet holes in the ceiling that harken back to the Lambert’s outlaw days. Disappointingly or not, depending on your perspective, no one reported any ghost sightings, despite the St. James reportedly being one of the most haunted places in New Mexico!
Sunday’s drive headed east then south to Fort Union National Monument. The group was fortunate to receive a personal, informative and entertaining guided tour by an exceptionally knowledgeable US National Park Service ranger. With high winds and the potential of weather rolling in, Sunday’s plans were modified slightly, concluding with lunch at El Sombrero Restaurant in Las Vegas.
The 2022 Karl Fox Memorial Fall Tour was a wonderful weekend with outstanding company, roads, fall colors, food, history, and art! Thank you to all who joined.
Photos by Jason Collin
