BIG Adventure. . . Chapter 7

Friday, June 10



HOWDY PARTNERS!!!

HERE WE ARE AGAIN. . . only now we are in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the American RV Park on the west side of the city! 

Our view coming into the city.

It was another very interesting drive from Roswell with very little to see out the truck windows until we got closer to Albuquerque and we did make it to an altitude of 7000 feet!  So far we are smoke free from the Arizona fire, we have scoped out a couple places to visit tomorrow, and we have had our first BBQ dinner at the County Line BBQ on the north side of Albuquerque.  It was a nice meal but Steve and I are looking for a good ole fashioned pulled pork sandwich!  We will continue our search until we find it!!  Of course, I will be adding cheese to mine!!

Saturday, June 11

We had a full day today and the only event we missed  was the mud volleyball!!   We started off the day in Old Town Albuquerque even before the shops were open!  There was music in the square, all sorts of shops selling all sorts of things, from toys to t-shirts to cowboy hats and belts, to . . last but not least turquoise.  Lots and lots of tourquoise! 

From there we visited the Albuquerque Museum which had a beautiful Tiffany lamp display, with armed guards monitoring everything we visitors did, various historical pieces, and an art gallery. 

Old Town Square

By this time we are nearly exhausted, at least I am, and there is one more museum Steve wants to see. . . the Nuclear Museum!  We walk to where the GPS says it is, which is only one-tenth of a mile, and we walk and walk and walk and found the Field Museum of Natural History but no Nuclear Museum.  We are told it is across town approximately 15 miles. . . duh!  Since we are now parched and our water is near the boiling point we make a little detour to a little oasis in downtown Albuquerque called the Library.  It was just a little on the rough-neck side but we each had a taco and some liquid refreshment! We have now achieved our second-wind and are on our way to the museum. 

It finally reached 5:00 pm and the museum is closing and I am dragging.  I visit the gift shop, of course.  I can't pass up a gift shop!  And we are off for 'home'.  But no, the day is not yet finished. As we pull into the RV park we notice a sign that says something about 'races' 7 miles north at 7:30 pm at the Sandia Speedway.  What else could be out there besides races. . . oh yeah. . . nothing but scrubby brush and maybe roadrunners, but we haven't seen one.  We have our dinner and off we go.

The grandstand was nearly full but we found a place to sit near the first curve along with locals from the age of 7 months to senior citizens.  Little kids running all over the place and the locals cheering for their favorite drivers.  It just so happened that as the cars entered the first curve they would throw tiny little dirt clods into the stands.  We only got hit a few times, and once in the mouth for Steve!  We learned very quickly to keep our mouth closed as much as possible.  It was dirty, dusty, loud,  and F-U-N!!!                                                        

Sunday, June 12

I am not sure how we could top Saturday but we are going to try!  We got off to a slow start today.  Probably because we were still recuperating from yesterday.  We couldn't just lay around the trailer today so I suggested that we visit the Petroglyph National Monument here in Albuquerque.  We were expecting to see carvings in the rocks from ancient civilizations but little did we know what we were going to have to do to see them!  I have been very good about taking a cooler with water in it wherever we go but today I just grabbed a bottle from the frig and off we went.  I would soon find out that this was a mistake!!  It was at this canyon where we realized that if we wanted to see the carvings we were going to have to climb UP!!  

YIKES. . . This had me a little on edge!  I will be keeping my 'snake boots' in the truck from now on!!

We made it to the top and stopped along the way to look at the carvings

in the rocks.

But no, I am not satisfied. 

I want to see the volcanos up close so we move on down the road a few miles.  By now our water is completely gone and as I look up I am beginning to wander if we should make the hike up to the top or not.  Of course we decide to give it a try!  Yes, we are going to the top and no. . . the object is not as close as it appears!

Our view from the top was worth the hike!!

Our work in Albuquerque is now complete.  We have finally seen a Roadrunner and have a picture for proof! 

Wiley Coyote was nowhere to be seen!! 

 

BEEP BEEP!!!

Stay tuned . . .

BIG Adventure. . . Chapter 6

Hello from Roswell, New Mexico, by way of Big Spring, Texas and the 'WHIP IN' RV Park!

We had a one night layover in Big Spring, Texas.  We whipped in and then we whipped out!  The only impressive thing in Big Spring was the huge, yes HUGE, oil refinery on the edge of town.   It was just a little stinky! Yes, there was a spring but it wasn't much to see.

It was a 200 mile drive to Roswell, New Mexico.  We reached a high altitude of approximately 4000 feet and it was as dry as a bone!!!!  We would go for a few miles were there was just dead brush and the all of the sudden there would be a mile or two of green.  The ground at times was flat and then we would go up and over hills.  Every once in a while there would be a small house in the middle of nowhere, a few cattle grazing on whatever they could find, and goats. . . Yes, we saw an ad for goat chili.  YUM!!!

Nevertheless, we finally made it to Roswell, home of one of the biggest cheese factories in the U.S. . . . everything goes better with cheese (!), numerous dairy farms, and of course. . . little men, and maybe women, from outer space!

We arrived at the Red Barn RV Park around noon on June 7th.  It is a quaint little park that has been a very nice 'home' away from home!  We checked out a couple antique shops and then stopped to pick up a few supplies at Walmart.  The temperature for the last several days has been in the three digit range and yes it is a DRY heat.  How do I know you ask???  Because my hair is not frizzing!!! 

So, do you believe in aliens from outer space?  There are those in Roswell and its surrounding areas that do and after the last couple of days Steve and I considered joining them!  Steve waited in the truck as I shopped and when I returned he informed me that the air conditioner in the truck blew up!  Now, we are in trouble!  It may be a dry heat but it is definately HEAT, 107 degrees tops!!  We make our way to the Toyota dealer in town and make an appointment for Wednesday morning at 8:15 am. 

When we returned home that evening we found out that the gas for cooking in the trailer was not working correctly or at all.

So, we dropped off the truck Wednesday morning and continued with the day.  Steve always says things happen in threes, so the third event is that the parts for the truck will not arrive until Thursday so we will need to stay an additional night in Roswell.  Could this be the night we get abducted!!  Is it a part of their plan for us!!??    Yes, all we need now is to be abducted by aliens and our visit to Roswell will be complete!!  So we rent a car and continue with our plans. . . . . .

Maybe I missed my calling. . . a car model. . . NOT!!!

We did take some time to see some things other than spacecraft and little green aliens, like the Roswell Museum and Art Center, The Museum of Southeast New Mexico, Bottomless Lakes State Park, and the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

We visited all of these because of the extra day we needed to stay in Roswell.  So good things can arise from a not so good situation!!  Our stay in Roswell may have cost us a little more than planned. . . about $1500 more due to the truck having one of the most expensive air conditioner compressors made and a car rental, but it was a good time. 

              How much are YOU paying for gas?????

Oh well, your dad/Steve/GrandDad is only getting 10 - 11 miles per gallon against a 35 mph head wind so $3.22, which is better that $4.09 when we left Cincinnati, doesn't go too far!!!

We will be leaving Roswell for Albuquerque tomorrow.  We 'may' have to pass through a little smoke due to the fire near the Arizona/New Mexico border but all should be good.  We are keeping updated on the situation.

CHEERS to everyone!!!  

A special hello to Uncle Mike and Aunt Patty in Rochester, Indiana!!!

Stay tuned and remember. .  . be patient with those you love!!!!!

Big Adventure. . . Chapter 5

HELLO FROM AUSTIN, TEXAS,

the State Capital.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

We arrived on Thursday, June 2, at the Oak Forest RV Park. It has been very hot and very dry here but we are surviving and having a great time!  Our first stop was the State Capital Building in downtown Austin, then on to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum on Friday, June 3.  Our time left on the parking meter allowed us enough time to stop by El Mercado for margaritas and the Texas Chili Parlor for some good ole Texas chili.

We stopped here on Saturday night also for dinner and more margaritas!!

Steve had the mild chili and of course I had to try the spicy.  Wow. .  . my lips were on fire!!  Our goal was to eat at 'home' on this trip but we can't pass up some of the local flavors. 

We continued our journey in downtown Austin to the LBJ Library and Museum.  While I am not necessarily a history buff like Steve, it was actually very interesting.  I have included a picture of a replica of the LBJ Oval Office. 

After almost completely exhausting ourselves we headed back 'home'

and began to plan our next day's adventures. 

 

It was now Saturday and even though we are all about fun we, or should I say Steve, had business to attend to. . . changing the oil in the truck!!  Yes, we have gone that many miles all ready!  We spent most of the morning antique-shop-hopping and then returned 'home' for the oil change. We had dinner at El Mercado and then headed down to the Congress Street Bridge over Lady Bird Lake to see the BATS!!  It was a sight that we are very glad we decided to see.  Little did we know just how many bats we would see.  Every evening at sunset, from mid-March until November, the bats fly out from their resting places underneath the bridge.  Not just a hundred or so but rather 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tailed bats.  I know the pictures aren't the best but all of the black spots you see are bats and what looks like clouds in the background are actually 'clouds' of bats.  It was an amazing sight to see!



We began Sunday morning, June 5, visiting a cemetery. . . yes, a cemetery.  Not just any cemetery, but the Texas State Cemetery. Again, while I had my doubts I can always count on Steve to take me to interesting places!  It is the resting place for confederate soldiers, judges, governors, and those you have played a major role in Texas history.

Our last sightseeing trip was to the OASIS, a restaurant/bar at Lake Travis. 

(Thanks to Nancy's suggestion!)



Steve is so much braver than I am!!!
No way was I touching, holding, or getting close to one of these!!!

Well, it is time to say goodbye for now.  We will be leaving Austin tomorrow, June 6, and making our way to Roswell, New Mexico.  We can't make it in a day and Steve is waiting for me to shut down this blog so we can decide where we will be sleeping tomorrow night!  But before I go I just want to let you know what we truly look like in the eyes of caricature artist Robert Stolt at the Oasis.

Are we HOT or WHAT!!!!!
Stay tuned. . . . .

Big Adventure. . . Chapter 4

Hello from Caddo Lake State Park at Karnack, Texas.

"WOW" pretty much describes it. 
If I am this excited about these trees I may actually pass out when
I see the giant redwoods in California!!

Big Cypress Bayou

June 1

We spent the day in and around Shreveport, Louisiana antique shopping.  We found a few odds and ends to bring back with us.  Yes, we have added a few locks to our all ready out of control lock collection! We had some great conversation and laughs with this man and woman at the College Collectibles Antique Shop.  It is just too bad that I can't recall their names.  We talked about gators, the dog she saved from near death after being mistreated by its previous owner, crayfish eatin' (YUK) and just good ole southern folklore. He wanted me to know that he and she are not a couple, just friends, hangin' out, selling antiques, etc!

The city of Marshall, Texas, population approximately 24,000, is about 15 miles south of the state park.  We drove through it on our way to Shreveport but had no idea of its history until our trip back 'home' and our stop at the Texas informaton center. . . where Steve proceeded to collect 'numerous' brochures! 

• In 1854 the first Texas telegraph office opened in Marshall.
• In 1898 the first department store in Texas was opened in Marshall.
• It was the first city in Texas to have electricity after the installation of a single light bulb.
• The Marshall Pottery company was opened in 1895 and is still in business.
• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson were both educated in Marshall, Texas.

The historic 1901 Harrison County Courthouse at the square in downtown Marshall

Since the beginning of Steve and Kim's BIG Adventure I have had this thing for Burger King frozen cokes.  I don't know exactly why. .  they just sound GOOD!  Steve is getting hooked now!  Up until today they have been very easy to come by. . . that is when you ask for a 'frozen coke' not a 'coke ICEE' as I have always called them.  Steve and I must have visited 5 or 6 Burger Kings in the Shreveport area looking for a frozen coke.  Either the machine was broken, they only had cherry, it wasn't frozen yet, or the service sucked sooo bad that I almost blew a gasket!  Holy Crap. . . how hard is it anyway!!  But lady luck finally shined her light on us in Marshall and we each had a frozen coke!! Ahhhhhhhh!!  It was 104 degrees at 6:00 pm.  We needed some refreshment!  Picture this. .  .me walking out of Burger King with both 'ICEES' raised high over my head with a smart _ _ _ grin on my face. . . like I had just won "one million dollars" as Dr. Evil would say in Austin Powers.  It's the simple things in life that keep us going and laughing!

It is a short stay at Caddo Lake State Park.  We will be leaving in the morning for Austin, Texas and Oak Grove RV Park.  They have cable!!  We will be there from June 2 - June 6 and we hope to find some good ole Texas BBQ and some potent mararitas!! 

                            

YEE HAW. . . stay tuned!!