On Road and Rail to Trail

5:30AM Socorro NM shuttle departs to Belen train station, fare $2.25

6:30 NM Rail Runner train departs Belen station for Santa Fe, fare $10.00
Hit a cow just out of Kewa station, disconnected a couple of air hoses, paused several minutes for repair. Scheduled arrival 9:00, actual arrival 9:xx. Connecting shuttle to Espanola notified of delay, and asked to wait.

The shuttle did not wait. Now I have time to explore Santa Fe before next shuttle at 11:45. This shuttle does not leave from Capitol Station, so I have to go to Marcy Street bus stop near the plaza.

I could take a bus to the plaza, but there is a pleasant walking trail that nearly spans the distance from Capitol Station and Santa Fe Depot Station near the plaza.

During the hike the Farmer’s Market is in session, so I look for a cyclist buddy I met on last year’s hike, who tells fortunes at the market. He is not there today.

I pass the train at depot station, and see evidence of the unfortunate collision earlier.

On the way to market street a sign displays a walking tour of the plaza area given by the NM Museum of History, just about to start. Sure, I go on the tour.

Blue bus departs 11:45, and arrives at Espanola at 12:30-ish. Fare is $0.00.

The Blue Bus from Espanola leaves at 3:30 and arrives in Chama at 5:15, four hours later than my original plan. Fare is $0.00.

I spend the night at Foster’s, the same hotel where I ended my New Mexico hike. Tomorrow the plan is to take the train up to Cumbres Pass and begin the Colorado section of this challenging trail.

This post had been intended to highlight regional mass transit in NM, and it is fairly impressive that you can go from Socorro to Chama. But be prepared to turn a delay into an opportunity for adventure.