Our road trip through the American Southwest for summer 2026

Hello! The itinerary is pretty much set for August 2026. Yeah, I know it’s gonna be *super* hot. But it’s the only time we can get away.

So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas.

Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026: Car rental – check, Hotels – check, Itinerary – almost check, Photo gear – check, Budget – check, 🤪 Meal planning – meh, we’ll see... Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.

And now, without too much detail...

Fort Worth: The Longhorns and the Stockyards; JR’s ranch (for the missus); Medal of Honor Museum – Arlington.

Houston and NASA Space Center: See the Gulf of Mexico/America.

San Antonio and the missions.

Fort Stockton for an overnight stop.

El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains: El Paso and White Sands.

Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum: Tombstone, Bisbee.

Phoenix:

Still working on the program.

Sedona: Round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) – we’ll decide on the spot.

Albuquerque: Santa Fe, Turquoise Trail, Los Alamos.

Amarillo via Route 66: Old Route 66 in the city; Big Texas Ranch Steak 😏.

Dallas: JFK Museum; Perot Museum; West End district.

And through it all – the road, the road, and more road!!!

We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state (we’re not exactly spring chickens).

Return to France: Dallas-Montpellier via CDG.

Cheers!

Hey there, yeah, it's hot—really, *really* hot during this time of year.

JR’s ranch is paid entry, and you can’t see anything from the outside.

Think honky-tonk and rodeo at the Stockyards—Billy Bob’s, for example.

The best BBQ is undeniably Salt Lick near Austin.

San Antonio’s River Walk is gorgeous at night, but it’s packed, and all the restaurants are tourist traps...

Driving to the Gulf of Mexico from Houston is doable in a day, but it’s a long haul. Galveston isn’t the most stunning spot, though you can find some beautiful colorful houses near the State Park. Corpus Christi is better—cool U.S. ship, amazing seafood restaurants.

For me, Sedona is best enjoyed on a hike. The few viewpoints are always crowded...

Turquoise Trail is pretty limited—only one town was worth the stop.

The Alamo is a must for history.

Good luck with the heat and mosquitoes!

I'm adding a link to some quick photos I took: https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE4MTAxMjg0MjM0NzY5OTYw?story_media_id=3681295898834619216_23088398635&igsh=MWluZHlzeGtjZnMwaA==

Hi there, yeah, it's hot—really, really hot this time of year.

JR’s ranch is paid entry, and you can’t see anything from the entrance.

Think Honkytonk and rodeo at the Stockyards—Billy Bob’s, for example.

The best BBQ is undeniably Salt Lick near Austin.

San Antonio’s River Walk is gorgeous at night but way too crowded. All the restaurants are tourist traps...

Seeing the Gulf of Mexico from Houston is doable in a day, though it’s a long drive. Galveston isn’t the prettiest spot, but you can find some stunning colorful houses near the State Park. Corpus Christi is better—cool American ship and amazing seafood restaurants.

For me, Sedona is best enjoyed on a hike. The few viewpoints are packed...

Turquoise Trail is of limited interest—only one town was worth it.

The Alamo is great for history.

Good luck with the heat and mosquitoes.

Hi, thanks for your reply! Mine’s a bit late because of a short trip to Haute Provence for the long Ascension weekend.

1. Got it on the heat. Unfortunately, these are the only dates available. I wanted to go back to Yellowstone, but... the family government vetoed it outright.

2. Paid entry planned for JR’s ranch. It’s not really my thing, but once again, the family government has demands...

3. Stockyards—planned for a day, maybe more. Everything’s mapped out.

4. No Austin visit for BBQ, but I’ll keep the spot in mind.

5. Okay on San Antonio and the tourists.

6. Okay on the Gulf of Mexico. We’ll just get a glimpse from the beach near Galveston. Corpus Christi isn’t on the agenda.

7. Sedona—got it, but we’re not hiking anymore. Only upside: I’m an early riser for the light and photos. Tourists are elsewhere—except for other photographers, not just "iPhone users or the like..."

8. Okay on the Turquoise Trail with limited interest.

9. The Alamo for history. Of course—it’s American history that fascinates me, even if it’s not always pretty.

10. For the heat, museums will be our daytime escape. We’ll adapt. I won’t mention the mosquitoes to the family government—they have a knack for targeting the Prime Minister! 😎

Best regards.

If you’ve already done NASA at Cape Canaveral, Houston is really disappointing.

Try to be in Santa Fe between August 14 and 16 for the Santa Fe Indian Market and the shows. Amazing! Visiting a pueblo?

If you’ve already done NASA at Cape Canaveral, Houston is really disappointing.

Try to be in Santa Fe between August 14 and 16 for the Santa Fe Indian Market and the shows. Amazing! Visit a pueblo?

No, not NASA. I cut Houston down to just one day to do NASA and nothing more. My friends warned me there wasn’t much to do in Houston.

For Santa Fe, I’ll see if we can make it since we arrive on 8/17.

Best,

I misspoke. What I meant was that the NASA visit in Houston is pretty disappointing, especially compared to the one at Cape Canaveral

Hi there, Having been to Houston five times (my daughter used to live there), I can tell you there’s quite a bit to do: NASA: I think the entry fee is a bit steep, and the indoor section is mostly geared toward kids, so it’s a little less engaging for adults. Still, I really enjoyed seeing the recently revamped Starship Gallery—it turned out great. The interesting part is outside, with the "Independence" shuttle on its transport aircraft. But the best thing is to take a "tour" (book in advance or as soon as you arrive) to see the impressive Saturn V rocket and visit the control room, which has been left just as it was. Since I haven’t been to Cape Canaveral yet, I actually quite liked this visit.

Walking around Houston in the summer is pretty tough because of the humidity combined with the heat, but here are some interesting things to do: - Buffalo Bayou - Hermann Park - The Menil Museum - The area around Market Square Park with lots of murals If you need more details, don’t hesitate to ask.

For the Gulf of Mexico: because of the frequent hurricanes, the coast isn’t very pretty. In my opinion, Galveston is the best spot. The seaside is nice with its two or three "piers," and since the water is very warm, it’s easy to go for a swim (East Beach is a better bet). The old quarter is also interesting, with buildings that tell a bit of the city’s history. You can see pelicans at Seawolf Park (there’s a fee, but it’s a nice spot for a picnic).

For San Antonio: you can visit the missions by renting bikes at Mission San José and cycling along the river or doing part of it on foot.

1) The interesting part is outside with the "Independence" shuttle on its transport aircraft.

2) But the best is to take a "tour" (book in advance or as soon as you arrive) to see the Saturn V rocket, which is pretty impressive, and check out the control room left just as it was. Since I haven’t been to Cape Canaveral yet, I really enjoyed this visit.

1) Glad you liked the shuttle on its aircraft—I was one of the donors!

2) I took this semi-private tour called the "Level 9 Tour" back then, and it was definitely worth it (though the cost too...). But I don’t think it still exists anymore.

I looked into it, and tours still exist, but things have changed. Access to Saturn V and other rockets, the astronaut training room, and the campus tour are now included in the admission price. You just have to queue up for the Tram... Only the historic control room is extra and requires booking an additional ticket (reserve at least 2 weeks in advance).

Another interesting thing to do in Houston: the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple. The temple is stunning, and attending a Hindu ceremony is a unique experience if you haven’t already been to India.

Hello!! Everything’s all set now! Visit and Tram + Center !

Hello Michel,

A few random tips:

Fort Worth: The Kimbell and Modern Art museums are great (personally, I love museums, though I know not everyone’s into art…)

Houston: The Rothko Chapel is a masterpiece—and free, too!

For the Gulf of Mexico, if you’ve got time (it’s a trek), head down to Port Isabel and South Padre Island—it’s like Florida in the 70s. And at the mouth of the Rio Grande, you’ve got Musk’s SpaceX base: it’s absolutely mind-blowing! I’ve never been to Cape Canaveral, but I think it feels more like a relic of the past, whereas this is pure 21st century. One of my biggest trip highlights in recent years!

San Antonio’s Mission is worth the detour—rare to find truly historic buildings in the US. As Arnaud mentioned, the Riverwalk restaurants are super touristy, but great for a stroll.

Tucson: If you’re into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane boneyards in the US (or graveyards, depending on how you see it). It’s probably filling up even more now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right off I-10.

Bisbee: Super cute—if you can, check out the US/Mexico border. There are spots where you can see both the old and new walls side by side.

Phoenix: Apache Trail is nice, and in the city, Scottsdale is the "old" neighborhood. Downtown isn’t that interesting, but the Desert Botanical Garden is pretty cool.

Albuquerque: The old town is really touristy, but my favorite was the Sandia Peak Tramway—a cable car that goes up to an old ski resort (which seems closed now—climate change means no more snow). The view over the city is amazing, and there are trails at the top.

Santa Fe: The center is touristy, but it’s got soul. The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum (the famous NM painter) is solid, and SITE Santa Fe is a great contemporary art space (and free!). On the Turquoise Trail, towns like Madrid and Los Cerrillos are worth seeing. For a taste of the railroad’s westward expansion, Lamy’s train station is a must—it’s one of those abandoned, Wild West legend spots.

Los Alamos: Not much to see, and you’ll need ID to pass through town because of the research labs. Meh—skip it.

In the area, two places I loved: Ghost Ranch and Jemez Hot Springs.

Dallas: Of course, Dealey Plaza, and downtown isn’t bad.

That’s all—have fun!

I wasn’t familiar with Pinal Airpark. But now it reminds me that Tucson also has the AMARG, which I loved. If it’s still the case, it’s visited in groups by bus. Our guide was a former fighter pilot who shared tons of stories—fascinating!

One of my dreams was to see a giant airplane boneyard, and I stumbled upon it by chance. Of course, we can’t go inside, but even from behind the fences, it’s mind-blowing!

I was really tempted by Pima, but oh well… I hadn’t heard of Amarg before—it looks amazing! Maybe next time! Thanks for the tip!

Tucson: if you're into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane parking lots (or boneyards, take your pick) in the US... and it’s probably filling up even more right now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right next to I-10.

Unfortunately, it’s no longer open for visits due to security reasons.

Tucson: If you're into aviation, Pinal Airpark is one of the largest airplane parking lots (or graveyards, if you prefer) in the US... and it’s probably filling up even more right now with the end of Spirit Airlines. It’s right next to I-10.

It’s no longer open for visits due to security reasons. Too bad.

GPS for the win with photos! I just looked through my pictures from this trip and realized I actually saw this site from I-10 and took the detour. Even though you can’t visit, the view from the outside is striking! Seeing all those birds that were once the pride of our technology just stored here, waiting to be dismantled... GPS coordinates: 32.516455 N, 111.324827 W

It was on our route, but just for the 10 minutes of emotion gazing at this "spectacle," the detour was totally worth it. If you love planes, of course!

A picture’s worth a thousand words:

After checking your info, I realize I messed up the sites.

Pinal Airpark is a civilian spot that seems to be open for visits, and it's actually near Phoenix:

https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

And the off-limits storage center is Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson:

https://pimaair.org/

There you go—one military, one civilian.

Cheers.

Pinal Airpark is a civilian site that seems to be open for visits, and it's near Phoenix: https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

Near Phoenix? Yet, looking at their address and the FAQ, it seems to be the same place I saw...

Pinal Airpark is a civilian site that seems to be open for visits, and it's more around Phoenix: https://www.pinalcountyairpark.com/history

Around Phoenix? Yet, looking at their address and the FAQ, it seems to be the same place I saw...

Indeed, it's a bit north of Tucson. My bad for the misjudgment.

Just a little story from this park: sure enough, it’s fenced off and you can’t go in, but across the way there’s a lot with a half-dismantled plane and the gate’s wide open. So we slip in for a closer look—awesome. Then a pack of guys on ATVs and beat-up desert-trial trucks rolls up, all jacked and shaved heads. One of them comes over: “This area’s off-limits.” We say, “Okay, we’re just French tourists, we’re leaving.” The guy looks at us and switches to French: “Ah, I speak your language—I was in the French Foreign Legion in Marseille…” America and its surprises…

Stuck on the ground for now...

Just a little story from this park: sure enough, it’s fenced off and you can’t get in, but across the way, there’s a lot with a half-dismantled plane where the gate’s open—so we hop in to check it out up close... awesome. Then a group of guys on ATVs and beat-up cars shows up, like they’re prepping for some desert trial, all jacked and shaved heads. One of them comes over and goes, "This is off-limits," so we’re like, "Okay, we’re just French tourists, we’re leaving." Then the guy looks at us and says in French, "Ah, I speak your language—I was in the French Foreign Legion in Marseille..." America and its surprises...

Amazing!!!

Hey there, fellow America enthusiasts! 😎

I’m fine-tuning our summer itinerary day by day.

Switching up hotels here and there, adjusting the road route, fitting key stops into my tired brain. Rethinking city drives... In short, we’re integrating, integrating. Even though it’s just the two of us traveling with my wife, she’s going with the flow and trusts me completely—even with hotel choices. It’s convenient, but I’d love for her to take the wheel a bit and get the hang of the GPS. 😎 As for her map-reading skills, let’s just say we’ll leave that for another day. 😉 So, I plan the routes with Google Maps, transfer them to my phone, and print out a detailed road book. In tricky situations, my co-pilot steps in.

So yeah, we’re fine-tuning, fine-tuning.

Dropped Phoenix as a stop and will take the route from Tucson to Sedona via Roosevelt Lake. In Sedona, I’m thinking of heading up to the Grand Canyon for a day. Two hours by car—totally doable. Been there before, but why not? The drive is gorgeous.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

Fort Worth: The Longhorns and Stockyards, plus an evening out; JR’s ranch (for my wife); Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington;

Houston and NASA Space Center: Seeing the Gulf of Mexico/America; Babes’s Beach, Galveston.

San Antonio and the missions: Maybe renting some bikes.

Fort Stockton overnight: We’ll find something to do.

El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains: El Paso White Sands; A city tour and seeing the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. Fun fact: hotel prices in Mexico are 50% cheaper!

Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum: Tombstone, Bisbee; Saguaro National Park.

Sedona: A round trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, one day; The Grand Canyon (been there before) another day.

Albuquerque: Santa Fe; Turquoise Trail; Los Alamos.

Amarillo via Route 66: Old Route 66 in the city; Big Texas Ranch Steak ;

Dallas: JFK Museum; Perot Museum; West End district;

And for me, maybe some early mornings for photos of quiet cities or landscapes that are worth it.

Here are some Grand Canyon shots from 2022.

Have a great Sunday!

Hello,

Question about this point:

A city tour and see the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. By the way, hotel prices in Mexico are 50% less !

Can you cross into Mexico with a rental car?

And a comment on this:

Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Los Alamos: Personally, Los Alamos didn’t interest me at all—nothing to see except the two houses (one of which was closed when I visited) of Oppenheimer and his colleague. I naively thought it was a town a bit abandoned after the bomb and the end of the Cold War, but not at all—it’s still a major research center. Meh.

Hello,

Question on this point:

A city tour and see the Rio Grande. Scenic Drive in the evening. By the way, hotel prices in Mexico are 50% less!

Can you cross into Mexico with a rental car?

And a note on this:

Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Los Alamos: Personally, Los Alamos didn’t interest me at all: nothing to see except the two houses (one of which was closed when I visited) of Oppenheimer and his colleague... I naively thought it was a bit of an abandoned town after the bomb and the end of the Cold War, but not at all—it’s still a major research center... meh.

Hello! No crossing into Mexico, it was just an "economic" remark.😎

Okay for Los Alamos, I’ll think about it.

As for the Apache Trail, it seems things are gradually getting back to normal. I’ll see when the time comes.

Best,

Hello everyone!

Still a ways off, but the date is getting closer.

In summary:

Esta Check AF tickets Check Long-term parking Montpellier Check Car rental via Hertz BSP Check Watering the lemon tree while we're away Check No more cats Check Pool water level check Check Pre-trip diet in progress Final checklist in progress Photo gear: Z8 + 24/70 + 70/200 + Panasonic compact + DJI Pocket 3 + car dashcam Check Road Book in progress Weather analysis in progress (watching for wildfires) To plan: Early wake-up for photos on-site (5/6 AM local time)

July 31 Montpellier-CDG-Dallas Hotel in Fort Worth and Walmart

August 1 Stockyards, the cows, the shops, the restaurants... Evening in Old Town if we're not too tired

August 2 Medal of Honor Museum JR Ranch for Madame Evening in Old Town if we're not too tired

August 3 Heading to Houston Getting some fresh air by the water

August 4 Space Center + Gulf of Mexico or America, depending on preferences

August 5 Heading to San Antonio Evening photos at the Alamo

August 6 Bike tour of the missions (we'll see how it goes)

August 7 Heading to Fort Stockton for an overnight stop Evening in town or a hotel apéro to cool off

August 8 To El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 9 White Sands at sunrise and Space Museum in Alamogordo Scenic drive in El Paso in the evening before or after apéro

August 10 Heading to Tucson Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 11 Pima Air Museum Old Tucson Studios Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 12 Tombstone Bisbee

August 13 Saguaro National Park Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 14 To Sedona via Apache Trail or Roosevelt Dam from the east Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 15 Road trip to Sedona, Flagstaff, Williams, and back Sunset at the airport

August 16 A trip to the Grand Canyon—already seen, but we're going back. A scenic loop walk

August 17 My wife's birthday—she’s nicknamed "the Prime Minister." If I forget, I’m dead. Heading to Albuquerque. It’s not exactly nearby. Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 18 Santa Fe and return via Los Alamos to check it out

August 19 Albuquerque City Snake Museum!!! In rattlesnake country!

August 20 Heading to Amarillo Old City in the evening, light apéro 6th Street and apéro

August 21 Museums and Big Texas Ranch Steak!!! Old City in the evening, light apéro if digestion is done

August 22 Heading to Dallas Old City in the evening, light apéro

August 23 JFK Museum and more

August 24 Dallas Downtown—still evaluating options

August 25 Return to France

August 26 Arrival in Montpellier

Anyway, everything is flexible day by day.

It’s going to be hot, for sure. Nap planned either way. We’re not twenty anymore...

Cheers.

In your "checks," aren't you planning to scout GPS points to make things easier once you're there?

In your "checks," aren't you planning to scout GPS points to make things easier once you're there?

No, no GPS points. I'm just wandering around, not doing hikes. I'm an old-school topographer, so I use maps instead. But I'll keep your suggestion in mind. Why not. Best,

A road map like this one is always impressive to read—so many stops and miles, but that’s exactly why we do this kind of thing… and for the truly insane landscapes…

A road map like this one is always impressive to read... so many miles, but that’s exactly why we do this kind of thing... and for the truly insane landscapes....

Yes! I prefer secondary roads for scenic drives, especially Route 66 between Albuquerque and Amarillo.

I’ve got a dashcam planned for the fun routes and for photos during spontaneous or scheduled stops. Every day (right now), I map out my route on Google Maps to spot places to see.

Almost everything’s ready. Except I just checked my Air France tickets, and I’m returning from Paris CDG to Montpellier by TGV instead of a flight! I must’ve messed up somewhere when I wasn’t paying enough attention. Gonna spend the day on the phone trying to sort this out... 🤪

One more headache...

In Albuquerque, I recommend the Sandia Peak Tramway—it’s a cable car that goes up into the mountains, with a gorgeous view and nice cool air if it’s scorching down below.

There’s a cool-looking vintage car museum in Santa Rosa on Route 40, or Bill’s Backyard in Amarillo, but we didn’t get to see it since my wife is now refusing to take any more detours on Route 66. *pant pant*

Have fun!!!!!!

In Albuquerque, I recommend the Sandia Peak Tramway—it’s a cable car that goes up into the mountains, with a gorgeous view and nice cool air if it’s scorching hot down below......

There’s a cool-looking vintage car museum in Santa Rosa on Route 40... or Bill’s Backyard in Amarillo... but I haven’t seen them, since my wife is now refusing to take on Route 66...... *pant pant*

Have fun!!!!!!

I’ll take the info.

On another note, my issue with the return flight CDG/MPT was sorted out this morning with AF. It was my mistake—misreading the available flight options. Anyway, that’s an extra 850 € for changing from the TGV to a direct flight. I couldn’t picture taking the TGV back with 4 suitcases and a travel bag!! 😉

In Albuquerque, I recommend the Sandia Peak Tramway. It’s a cable car that goes up into the mountains—gorgeous views and nice cool air if it’s scorching down below...

There’s a cool-looking vintage car museum in Santa Rosa on Route 40... or Bill’s Backyard in Amarillo... but I haven’t seen it yet. My wife is now refusing to take Route 66... *sigh*

Have fun!!!!!

Make sure to check reservations for both! 😉

I’ve reviewed all my Google Maps routes to avoid missing Route 66 between Albuquerque and Amarillo. What a hassle! 😎

The bummer is that the Apache Trail is pretty much closed. I’m debating whether to go through Apache Junction and head up a bit on the Apache before continuing to Sedona, or take a more eastern route to Roosevelt Dam and then Sedona.

Everything’s coming together.

Almost all checked off.

Just need to plan my shots so I don’t come back empty-handed.

Hit the road.....

Hello! The itinerary is pretty much finalized for August 2026, with the necessary adjustments as time and ideas evolve! Just to note, I know it’s going to be *very* hot. But it’s the only time we can take a vacation.

So, here’s the plan: Montpellier-CDG-Dallas

Stay from July 31 to August 26, 2026: Car booked with BSP AUTO-AVIS—check! A Ford Edge SUV after switching vehicles. Hotels—check, after quite a few changes. Itinerary—almost check, but let’s take it day by day, for heaven’s sake! Photo gear—check, and then some: Nikon Z8 with 24-70 and 70-200 lenses; DJI Pocket 3, Panasonic T100, car dashcam. Budget—check, Meal planning… meh, we’ll see… Walmart, of course, for the cooler when we arrive.

Now, without too much detail…

Fort Worth: The Longhorns and the Stockyards; Evening rodeo; JR’s ranch (for my wife); Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington.

Houston and NASA Space Center: Seeing the Gulf of Mexico/America and the beaches.

San Antonio and the missions; Exploring the city.

Alpine as an overnight stop.

El Paso via Guadalupe Mountains: El Paso White Sands.

Tucson and the Pima Air & Space Museum: Tombstone, Bisbee.

Heading up to Sedona via the Roosevelt Dam—not the impassable Apache Trail.

Sedona: A road trip around the area via Flagstaff and Williams, or the Grand Canyon (already done) depending on our mood. We’ll adapt based on wildfires.

Albuquerque: Santa Fe Turquoise Trail Albuquerque Tramway

Amarillo via Route 66: Old Route 66 in the city; Vintage car museum; Big Texas Ranch Steak .

Dallas: JFK Museum; Dallas Old Town; West End district.

And through it all, the road, the road, and more road!!!

We’ll adapt day by day based on our mental and physical state—no pressure!

Return to France: Dallas to Montpellier via CDG. And a free change to our return ticket from Paris to Montpellier since I messed up! Thanks, Air France.

Cheers.

I didn’t go back over what you’ve probably already covered in your other posts, but just in case: In Tucson, aren’t you planning to visit the Sonoma Desert Museum? It’s totally worth it.

I didn’t revisit what you’ve probably already covered in your other posts, but just in case: In Tucson, aren’t you planning to visit the Sonoma Desert Museum? It’s totally worth it.

Okay, I’ll take a closer look.

Later!

Alpine overnight stop; .

........in Alpine, restaurants close by 9 PM—it’s super quiet at night!

The local classic bar: The Ritchey, right by the train station....

Otherwise, not far past Marfa (a super hip little town with the hotel where James Dean stayed), there’s something pretty wild on Highway 90: the Prada store in the middle of nowhere... a contemporary art installation. Personally, I love it...

And of course in Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross... to light a candle for the road...

And of course in Sedona, the Chapel of the Holy Cross... to light a candle for the journey...

Oof, actually, I don’t visit those kinds of places—what a shame. I have a different way of thinking. I’ll send my wife instead! 😉

Hello! It's hot in Texas right now, but it's all bearable on vacation. Today, the drive to El Paso after stopping by Judge Roy Bean’s place and a break in Alpine. 😉

Scenic Road in El Paso is closed for construction. A short section at the start offers a view of the city below, but that’s about it.

Given that it's 40°C in France, you must be cooler there... did you like Alpine?

[

Since it’s 40°C in France, you must be a little cooler at least… did you like Alpine?

Hello! It’s 32°C in Tucson right now. The evening storms are intense. We’re heading back to Sedona tomorrow. Alpine was just for one night, nothing more. 😉😉 But the Judge Roy Bean Saloon in Langtry was hilarious 😂😂😂 We visited Tombstone and Bisbee yesterday. Today it’s Old Tucson and the two Saguaro parks. Now a nap before dinner tonight. 😴

Sunset over Sedona. Airport spot. August 15, 2026. $3 for parking, a paradise for individual and group selfies, two DSLRs for a hundred cellphones, a sun hidden behind evening clouds, on an axis not ideal for illuminating the rocks. In short, a tourist trap. Actually, it’s really just the sunset itself that draws the crowd. Much more manageable in the morning. And Photoshop will do the rest.

We're nearing the end of RT 2026. Route 66 from Albuquerque to Amarillo isn’t what it used to be—or at least, I can only imagine what it once was. Stopped at Cadillac Ranch. Last night, steak at Big Texas, and this morning it’s Palo Duro Canyon followed by the U.S. vintage car museum. Tomorrow, we head to Dallas for three days before flying back to France. And it’s still scorching hot. What a bummer.

The hardest part will be sorting through the photos from the two cameras, the DJI videos, and the dashcam footage. 😎 Have a good day.

Et nous voici rentrés du RT 2026 dans le Sud -Ouest US. Texas, Arizona et Nouveau-Mexique.

Du bon, du moins bon, de l'Historique et de belles rencontres locales.

Avant d'entamer le CR, il faut trier et classer les images et vidéos.

Et arrivés mercredi 16h30 à la maison, le Jet Lag est toujours là. C'est ballot.

Cdt.

Yes, raconte tes impressions, et si tu as de belles images en plus…