Warm and Calm in Albuquerque

At last! The wind has died down and the temperatures have warmed up. It looks as if our planned dinner to the High Finance Restaurant atop the mountain is a "go". With the winds we'd been experiencing, it didn't seem possible, but we should have had more faith.

This morning's early segway tour through Old Town and the nearby lake was a lot of fun. It wasn't possible to take any pictures while on the tour since we had to steer and balance, but we could get glimpses of the surrounding area from time to time. Cissy and John Thibideaux, Claudia and Barry, Tom Harris, Lyle and Peggy Snow formed the rest of our group.

Another trip back to the Turquoise Museum and I got a pair of earrings to match yesterday's ring and pendant.

Turquoise Museum and Old Town Albuquerque

The morning began with extreme wind and cold. We headed for the casino for the buffet breakfast and then drove to Albuquerque, arriving around 10:30. Shortly after leaving Acoma, however, the engine light in the truck went on. On Star recommended a service appointment within the next 7 days. After unhitching, we headed for the dealership; Ken Sass drove us back to the RV Park.

Our visit to the Turquoise Museum in Old Town began at 2:00. Germans drove us there - and to the car dealership afterward.

Joe Dan at the museum gave an extremely informative talk - all about turquoise! We later purchased a ring and pendant for me. Others also became happy shoppers.

A stroll around Old Town was next on the agenda. No one in our group made any purchases, but tomorrow is another day. We are scheduled for the early segway tour at 8:30. And, we are promised better weather! At last!

Acoma Sky City

Our group of all left for Acoma Sky City at 9:00, for the 9:30 tour. Just in case anyone forgets, it was windy! We all bundled up, kept our mouths shut for the most part, and sucked it up!

Gary, our guide, was excellent and told us all about the pueblo. No running water or electricity and the homes are inherited, mother to youngest daughter.

With our tickets, photography was allowed with the exceptions of the cemetery and church.

The scenery is spectacular from the pueblo, but rather brutal. Their pottery, which was offered for sale by the artists, is widely treasured. Larry's parents bought a small bowl years ago, so we have some at home. They also took pictures, so we'll have to compare them to ours.

Back to the RV Park and casino. I got my players' card and Larry filled up with fuel - enabling us to get discounts on our buffets for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow morning. Maybe we'll even get lucky at the slots with our $15.00 of free play each.

On to Acoma

It was an early exit, as we joined the parking crew as replacements for the Grotes. They had to take their ailing poodle to Albuquerque for surgery! We all hope it goes well.

Along the way, wind blew off Selwyn's and Florene's solar panel. We were following them and witnessed the incident or it might have been awhile before he noticed its absence.

Once we got to WalMart, Selwyn dropped the trailer and he and Larry went back to where it had landed. They successfully retrieved it and on we went.

The Casino RV Park is very neat, has cable TV, and we will be enjoying a buffet dinner at the casino tonight. I suppose I should mention that the wind is still blowing!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday was a most exhausting day! We were up early to get the potatoes ready for our cookout. They were washed, boiled and foiled, then put in insulated containers.

We attended Easter services at the Methodist church in Carrizozo and were made to feel very welcome. Watts, Montagues and Thompsons also attended.

At 2:00 we arrived at Ft. Stanton for a special tour of the fort. It has served in many capacities throughout its lifetime, including TB hospital and internment camp during WWII. There are hopes it will rise again - and it would be a lovely location for that to happen.

The cookout was a success, we think, in spite of the WIND! The leaders said it was windier than last year, but that's a contest we didn't want to win. We should have cooked heavier foods. Shredded cheese for the baked potatoes has a tendency to blow away.

Carrizoza and Lincoln

Our tour of the town of Lincoln began around 10:00, led by Gwendolyn, the park ranger. She led us on a stroll through the historical town made famous by one of the most violent periods in New Mexico's history. We walked in the footsteps of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and toured most of the 17 structures that make up Lincoln State Monument.

We ate lunch at the Wortley Hotel and nearly threw the wait staff into a tizzy, since we're still off season and they weren't used to such a huge crowd. It was well worth the wait, and we had a nice visit with Paige and Ray, Cissy and John and Chuck and Maggie.

After arriving back in Carrizoza, we decided to tour the town. It didn't take long, but we paid a brief visit to Roy's Gift Gallery (and soda fountain). It reminded me of the one in Sutter Creek back home.

The town also has a Burro Into Art display of burro statues that have been artistically painted scattered throughout the town.

Back to camp where it was WINDY. Larry walked the boardwalk over the lava beds and took pictures. Easter is tomorrow and so is our cookout. Hopefully, we can squeeze in the reenactment at Fort Stanton.

Roswell

On to Carrizozo

Day three. How time flies! We left fairly early with the other members of the Sunday cookout crew, heading for Sam's Club in Roswell. There was lots of time before our parking destination, however, so most of us decided to visit the UFO Museum.

It wasn't too difficult to find parking for the rigs and we found lots of friends inside the museum.

Ken and Eleanor Sass told us they didn't believe in flying saucers, although they did see one when they lived in New Jersey many years ago.

We all enjoyed ourselves and I did wish many of the exhibits were updated. All news reports were either originals or copies of the originals and a bit hard to read. It truly is a fascinating subject. There was even a couple of articles about the Marfa lights in Texas. Larry and I have seen those personally, although we weren't sure at the time that what we saw was actually the Marfa Lights.

Sam's Club had everything we needed for our cookout on Sunday, plus a few other must-have items that we spotted while shopping. The guys bought shirts, the women bought nothing.

The drive to Carrizozo was increasingly scenic - and windy. What else is new? Our parking arrangements are creative, to say the least. We have close company, but it doesn't seem to create a wind break at all.

Our third Fandango was at Cal and Barbara Bacon's and they graciously agreed to host us inside their trailer. We were all grateful and probably overstayed our welcome, but it's always fun getting to know new people and discovering what we have in common.

Day Two of the Caravan

We left early for the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park - with Chuck and Maggie as passengers. Deja vu all over again!

This was a beautiful facility and we were given a great introduction to life in the Southwest as far as the flora and fauna are concerned. We saw many varieties of cacti, as well as birds, javalina, wolves, elk, bison, tortoises, porcupine, big cats, etc.

After we had photographed and walked and visited with docents (and other caravaners) we headed out to seek LUNCH. Chinese sounded good, so we found a Chinese buffet with many cars in its parking lot - always a good sign! We weren't misled! Delicious!

For Airstreamers, Wal Mart stops are almost a necessity. We'd been advised the night before to make sure we are well hydrated at all times and that we should get Gatorade and lots of water to ensure that. Who should we see at Wal Mart in the Gatorade and water section? Well, Lyle and Peggy, Bill and Dorma, and others whose names we have yet to learn! We were beginning to suspect Winston of having Gatorade stock!

The trip back to the RV park took us past a quilt shop. Maggie and I had a fine time at the Cotton Patch browsing - and buying. An excellent find! Now, if I only had my machine with me! Maggie keeps hers in their sofa's arm cavity.

No dinner, as we were stuffed, but the Fandango that followed the drivers' meeting provided some snacks before we retired.

Larry

One of the statues in Artesia

Southwest Adventure Caravan

April 20 began our next caravan - the Southwest Adventure Caravan! Our meeting place is the Carlsbad KOA, a 10 in any RV'er's book. Very much like an oasis in the middle of the desert, although the only grassy area is set aside for the dogs.

Larry and I went into Carlsbad in the morning to search for a few trailer repair items at a hardware store. Eventually we found one and also explored their WalMart. In the afternoon we went with Chuck and Maggie to Artesia and the Lowe's they were sure they'd spotted. Well, maybe they didn't after all. Must have been another of those alien sightings so popular in the area!

Our orientation meeting was at 3:00, followed by our first Fandango (get-acquainted meeting) at 4:00 and dinner at 5:30. The BBQ dinner was put on by the campground and was delicious! After dinner we were given a tie-dye T-shirt experience.

We rubber banded our white Carlsbad RV T-shirts and then dunked in the different dye buckets. I was afraid Larry dunked a little too much and would end up with a brown blob. I was very wrong! He ended up winning first place for his retro 60's swirl design. Mine ended up looking like a bunch of flowers on a gold background.

Westward Bound

The trip home hasn't been too exciting - and that's just the way we like it! Lots of rain near Tampa, Fl and most of the next day until we reached Pensacola. We connected with Dave and Linda Andrzjewski (I'll never be able to spell their name without looking it up) at Fort Pickens and had a great visit.

Louisiana was beautiful, as well as the parts of Alabama and Arkansas that we saw. We decided to take the lesser traveled roads to avoid the large cities and their traffic. A very relaxing way to go.

Texas looked pretty dry and in New Mexico we are experiencing very heavy winds. They now have fires to deal with as a result. Tomorrow (Monday) we hope to reach Kingman, AZ.

California, Here we come!

Moving On - Westward Bound

After the final day in the Keys - where we spent the final morning at Sombrero Beach while Larry swam with the dolphins. Well, sort of. There was a dolphin out in the water while he was also in the water. A French woman on shore began screaming to her husband: "Shark! Shark!" Larry had to scream back to her: "Dolphin!"

We also watched an energetic parasurfer. I don't know what it's called, but a guy was harnessed to a parachute and his feet were in a snowboard type contraption. He was extremely adept at getting it to go where he wanted it to. And, he didn't seem to tire at all.

The final banquet was held at Colony Key Restaurant and it was a very nice one. Al and Gracie got the usual financial gift, but also received many wrapped presents which turned out to all have a pink flamingo theme. Gracie was delighted at the opening of so many gifts - and Al seemed pretty pleased himself.