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Patrick Riley
Years ago, I used to drive frequently from Albuquerque to Phoenix for a break from cold weather. I usually shunned the favored Interstate 40 route in favor of Interstate 25 south to Soccoro and then west on U.S. 60 into Arizona. This route allows you to drive as fast as you dare all the way to the state border as virtually no one else, including the State Police, was on this road.
As many times as I saw the Very Large Array (VLA) Telescope, I never ceased to gawk in admiration. In those days, you could leave the road and drive freely, on dirt roads, around and through the 27 moveable telescopes mounted on rails. You've likely seen photos of the VLA but probably misjudged its scale if you haven't seen it in person. Each tower is nearly 10 stories in height, pointed straight up, with the dish itself measuring over 80 feet in diameter. The VLA is situated on a desolate high desert plateau nearly 7,000 feet above sea level. If you are passing through Socorro, I highly recommend a ~ 50-mile side trip to the west to see the VLA in person.
I, of course, also remember Pie Town further west on U.S. 60. I read that, unfortunately, the Pie Town Cafe in Pie Town permanently closed in the summer of 2023 after their landlord refused to renew its lease. God knows why??? This used to be another favorite stop.
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thanks for sharing!! 
