TUCUMCARI — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and girlfriend Nancy Shevell made a few stops in New Mexico as part of their cross-country tour along famous old U.S. Route 66.

McCartney and Shevell visited an antique shop and a restaurant in Tucumcari on Thursday, art museums and galleries in Santa Fe the next day and then stopped in Gallup on Saturday to take in the dances at the 87th Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.

Sammy Chioda, an announcer at the ceremonial, and his brother Dario Chioda were in the announcers' booth Saturday night when they learned McCartney was in the audience. Dario Chioda said McCartney gave his brother a thumbs up but motioned that he wanted to keep his visit under wraps.

Dario Chioda said he later shook hands with McCartney and gave him a hug but his request for a photograph of the ex-Beatle was turned down. McCartney told him he shies away from the camera.

After shopping at the antique shop in Tucumcari, McCartney and Shevell got a take-out order from Del's Restaurant.

"He looks pretty good," said Shirley Hancock, a hostess at Del's.

McCartney and Shevell began their journey from his holiday home in The Hamptons, N.Y. on July 31, picking up the old Route 66 in Illinois on a vacation trip that will take them to Santa Monica, Calif.




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