With it 100º F (37.8º C) at our house, we hopped in the Mazda Miata MX-5, put the top down and headed for the hills — well Sandia Crest at 11,000 feet (3352.8 meters) above sea level. The drive to the top was a blast as the MX-5 hugged the corners well above the posted speed limit. We could see the clouds swirling above us, and hear the birds singing with the top down, as rounded one hairpin turn after another on our way to the top. Once at the top of the Crest, the temperature was 55º F (12.8º C) with drizzling rain and cold wind. Quite a contrast from the sunny, hot valley below. We walked around on the mountain top and noticed there were lots of wild flowers blooming.
Off Center & Not Even 
Wonderful variety of flowers!
Thanks.
Amazing images. I’m glad you are adjusted to the altitude. Even at 10,000 feet I can feel the difference. 🙂
We live at 5,000 feet, so it’ not too bad. Thanks, Ronin.
I live at maybe 100 so it takes a little acclimation. I certainly felt the affects ar Pikes Peak about a year ago. 🙂
Pikes Peak is a little over 14k feet. That’s high enough for someone from 100 feet to experience altitude sickness.
Indeed. I sipped Gatorade and Propel days before to help but still felt a little difficulty. Even staying a few days in 10,000 provided some challenges at night. I even tried the oxygen bar a couple of times. 😀
Wow Tim I had this vision of Bond driving fast in the mountains to the top. 😊 I cant decide which I love most of these wildflowers. The purples are stunning and the orange so sweet. I love wildflowers. Happy weekend to you 💜🧡
Hi Michelle. I really liked how the purple flowers had so many different poses.
Yes me too and the shades of purple are so beautiful
Good you chose a way out uphill to escape from the heat 🙂
Thanks, Harry!
Awesome road trip! Have you ever been to Jerome AZ? I can see you zipping up the mountain in your new car! It’s a cool place and a great drive!
HI Tiffany. I’ve been to Jerome many times. The Jerome area would be a blast in my MX-5. Years ago I was there in my Renault Le Car. Do you remember Le Cars? It did really well on winding roads.
Awesome! Yes, I remember those zippy little cars, how fun!
My Le Car had a sun roof that was a canvas top that pushed back and opened up most of the roof. It was really nice driving it in the mountains with the top open.
It’s another world up there in the mountains. The flowers are stunning!
Thanks, Lavinia! It really is. We live in the rain shadow, so don’t see how different it is on the other side,
What a very clever idea to get into your new toy and escape the heat. Wish we could do that at the moment but we don’t have heights like that around here.
Hi Couriers. You all have been getting cooked.
Your photos are stunning, and so is the natural beauty!
Although I’m dizzy from the drive! 😀
You would like the drive, especially if you like looking at clouds. Thanks, Resa.
Lol! I’d have to look at the clouds on that drive. 😀 lol!
Laurie usually gets carsick on switchbacks, but the MX-5 hugs the road so closely, we didn’t feel any G’s on the corners. Laurie didn’t didn’t get motion sickness. Which reminds me, when we drove from Florence, Italy to Sienna, Italy in a rental car, I took the scenic route. It was only 75 Kms or so, but Laurie and Tristan were fit to be tied over all the corners and switchbacks that made them both carsick.
I’m with Laurie and Tristan!!! Eeeeeeee!
Pretty flowers!
Someone else commented that it’s another world up there. My thoughts exactly. That’s almost twice as high as Australia’s highest mountain. You’ve captured a botanical wonderland.
Thanks. We live in the high desert.
What is the flower that is blue and purple? Spectacular columbine! Wonderful flower images and views from up in the Sandias. Your sporty new car looks so cute in the parking lot. 🙂
Hi Susan. I don’t know what it is, but the purple are the fresh petals and the blue are the aged, wilting petals.
What a stunning array of gorgeousness! Including that red car!
Thanks, Nancy.
Having fun with the new car I see. Great scenery!
It’s a lot of fun. Thanks, Teri!
Out and about in the red machine! Perfect …wonderful images Tim
My jaw just dropped. I’ve been so very behind on reading my favorite blogs (yours included) and am so glad I went backwards to find this post! Mountains are my absolute favorite scenery and you just knocked my socks off with that view!
Wow wow wow. Sounds (and looks) like the perfect day to me! So glad you shared this one 🙂
Thanks, Holly. We have a lot of great scenery close by.
Such beautiful pictures 😍
Thanks, K.S. I haven’t seen you around for awhile.
I got caught up in work a little too much. Covid had slowed down things a bit but not by much. Businesses are going to be picking up hopefully. Then it’s back to the grind.
We haven’t slowed down at all, but things have sure changed.
Yup I just miss every day things. I miss shopping and just walking down the street … Which is bizzare but this is the new reality. Stay safe 💞😚 and healthy.