Our Days in Albuquerque

Trudy called to say she lost an earring and would we look around.  We checked inside fruitlessly but promised to check outside in the morning.  After a good night's rest Ted said he was going out to look.  I told him to say our prayer outside and I would pray it inside.  He seemed to walk back in immediately with it in hand.  He found it in the gravel in front of the RV.  Eileen dropped the green train to her Mexican Train set in the gravel.  We looked high and low for two days.  Finally I said my prayer and the thought popped into my head.  There are a few dark rocks in the red ones.  Maybe it is there and we are overlooking it.  Sure enough I scanned that area and there was the dark green train.  St. Anthony strikes again!  God is good.

We took our time packing up because we didn't want to arrive too early in Albuquerque.  It is hard to "wait around" for someone to leave when you are close to 60 feet long.  We arrived in extreme heat compared to where we had been and ran into a problem immediately.  Our leveling/landing gear did not want to work.  Ted said he thought it was a battery issue and a call to the factory agreed.  Somewhere in the  trailer something is draining the battery.  We are on our third set in 2.5 years.  We believe it is the inverter for the refrigerator or the leveling gear.  Ted put the battery charger on the first battery and then the second.  It took awhile but eventually he was able to level the trailer and I was no longer walking uphill or down.  We may be heading to Indiana next June to finally get this fixed.  The big question is why the truck battery didn't keep the trailer batteries charged.  Good news though is that the slides worked OK!

I fixed dinner and we ate inside.  Later we went next door for our game of Mexican Train.  While we were playing a couple headed toward us asking "What are the Rogers doing in Albuquerque?"  It was Jerry and Cynthia who are Texas Boomers and live across the highway from us.  They are heading home from a 4 month trip to Alaska.  Today I learned a niece and nephew are visiting Albuquerque now too.  I don't know where they are exactly so I am not sure if we will see them or not.

This park provides a continental breakfast each morning so today we went over to eat.  It was very nice.  I had made reservations for the Albuquerque Trolley at 11:00 am so after a bit we headed to the hotel where it would depart.

We had a delightful, enthusiastic and energetic tour guide.  I liked that the driver was not given those duties.  Driving is serious and needs their undivided attention on busy city streets.

First we visited Old Town.  Then on to the museum district, an upscale neighborhood used in many movies, Nob Hill, the university and sports venues, Route 66, Edo (east downtown), downtown, the zoo, aquarium, Tingley beach and botanic gardens.

I didn't take many photos because we were being shown areas so we could return to see whatever interested us, but the Space Ship House of architect Bart Prince was unusual and I knew we would not see it again.

Next door he constructed this house for his art collection and his two daschunds.  Since his house is round he had no walls to hang the art on.  Couple of lucky dogs living amongst that art.

I wish I had a pad and pencil because there was so much of interest and I couldn't retain it all.  We all could not even agree on the restaurant that was on Man vs. Food but finally found it, Frontier.  We had lunch and it was okay but nothing spectacular; however, it is an Albuquerque icon.

It was really hot today and we came home about 4:00.  Eileen and Tom went to a local RV dealer while we just cooled off.  Early in the evening we invited Jerry and Cynthia to join us for Mexican Train.  Ted won.  I had one hand with no starter and had no plays at all before Ted went out.  I made him count all my tiles which totaled over 200.  I had almost every 11 in the set!  I just can't get a decent hand.

Kara messaged me the next morning to see if I was awake.  I told her I was and she called.  Her hernia surgery is scheduled for 10/19 and I will be flying to Michigan for two weeks to help out with the kids.  Since last December we have spent 3 months in Mission, two trips to FL, one to MI, one to Chicago, 2.5 weeks in Great Britain, two months on the road now and now two more weeks in MI plus Christmas back in MI followed by Mission again starting in January!  Our house is becoming a costly storage unit that we check on occasionally.

In the morning we went to enjoy the continental breakfast again.  While there I received a text from Steve and Jamie who said they would join us on Sunday.  We were riding the tram up the Sandia Mountain and would eat at the High Finance restaurant over 10,000 feet high.

We needed toothpaste and distilled water for Ted's CPAP so we all went to Walmart.  When we got back we went to the RV dealer across the street.  They were having an open house with lunch so we availed ourselves of the second free meal of the day.  Tom wanted to see the new Discover and we just looked.  Motor homes are beautiful but I never see one that fits what I would want.  The LR is the most problematic.  I would want at least one recliner and a regular size couch placed for easy TV watching.  I do not want the dining table in the LR, I do not want the fireplace in the dining area behind the table.  The bathrooms and bedroom are usually okay but none have the large walk in closet I have now.  The salesman was focusing on Tom so we got a free pass.

We came home and both of us took a nap before leaving for church.  We attended St. Philip Neri Church that is 310 years old and is located in the square of Old Town  I loved the priest and spoke briefly to him afterwards.  He has just recently been assigned there.

Cynthia and Jerry were joining us for dinner and a concert and were waiting outside for us.  We chose to go to the Cafe Behind the Church, recommended by many.  It was a beautiful restaurant.  We had a large round table for six and enjoyed the food, drinks and ambience immensely. 

 At 7:00 there was a concert in the square.    We read the sign as Rockabilly Elvis singer.  However, it was Elvis karaoke the night before and just Rockabilly Saturday night!   It was a mostly Spanish singing Columbian man and his wife.  They weren't bad but we didn't recognize any of the music or understand any lyrics regardless of language.  We stayed until a bit after 8 and then came home.

Sunday we went to the Pueblo Cultural Center to see Indian dances and visit the museum.  We were really disappointed.  Both male dances were very overweight and being shirtless was not a pleasant sight.  Also, the dance was primarily stomping in time with a drum.  

We were expecting beautiful costumes and explanation of the dance but that didn't happen.  We did learn a lot of disturbing things the government did to them including taking their children away to boarding school which caused them to lose their language, culture and customs.  Teddy Roosevelt claimed Taos Lake as a part of a national park thus removing an important water source from them.  It was not until 2013 that it was returned to them.  If anyone deserves reparations it is Native Americans.

We then met nephew Steve and his wife Jamie at the Sandia Tram.  We took it up the mountain and ate at the restaurant at the top.  I have never paid so much for such lousy food in my life.  Their $9 bowl of French onion soup appeared to be Campbell's beef broth with a small slice of bread topped with a slice of mozzarella on top.  Not broiled or anything.  Just the bread floating with unmelted cheese.  Our chicken Parmesan was pieces of frozen chicken patties with linguine topped with barely warm sauce not even as good as Prego, no salad, no breadbasket, no nothing!  These entrées were $24 each.  Then it took her four tries to get the three checks correct.  We finally paid for Tom's more expensive stew rather than Ted's overpriced onion soup just to get out of there.

But we enjoyed visiting with Steve and Jamie and then went to Baskin Robbins since Steve commented he has never eaten at a restaurant that didn't ask if you wanted dessert.  Here are a few photos of our tram ride up the mountain.

Starting up the canyon.

Looking down into the valley.

Just as the sun started to set before we headed back down.

The sign saying how high we were.

You win a few, you lose a few.  No matter if you win or lose, the most important thing in life is to enjoy what you have. 

Santa Fe

We left for Santa Fe about 8 am on Sunday.  It took us until almost 3:00 to arrive at our next campground.  We got set up and eventually had dinner outside.  We both cooked separate dinners but ate together.  Eileen won Mexican Train again!  I am starting to think I don't know how to play or the other three are cheating!  The wind whipped up and the fellows went to a trailer behind us that was left with its awning out despite the warning from the owners about the unpredictability of the wind at any time.  It didn't tear but the arm had come out so I don't know what needs to be done to fix it.  They closed it as best they could.  We have watched for these folks because there is a dog in the trailer but we have never seen them.

We drove into Santa Fe on Monday for a 10 am 2-hour walking tour.  The money collected is used for educational purposes and tipping is not allowed.  It was a very good tour and went for almost 2.5 hours.  Afterwards we walked back to the square and had lunch.  

We visited the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi that is also a Basilica which means it has historical  significance.  It was originally built in the 1600s and a preserved alcove still houses a wooden carved Mary, the Conquistador, rescued during an attack by the Spanish.

Outside was a sculpture of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first American Indian to be canonized as a Catholic Saint.  However, she was from the northeast region but is definitely shown as a southwest Indian.  

This is a relatively new sculpture depicting all that the Mexican people brought to the "new" Mexico.  It shows animals, musical instruments, a book of the history, fruits and vegetables along with the people.

  

There is a statue of St. Francis of Assisi in front of the church with animals around his feet.

 

We drove up Canyon Road to admire the sculptures that dot the area.  I took a photo of this elk because it looks so much like the ones in front of Anadarko Oil.

I liked this one in particular.

We also visited the San Miguel Church.

One of our stops was the State Capitol.  Their flag was blowing in the breeze.

 

I stopped to take this photo that shows how the interior of the blocks are restaurants, haciendas, plazas, etc.

We stopped at Sam's Club on the way home to pick up some things for Wednesday when we have Don and Trudy coming for dinner.  They are summering in Angel Fire but are going to spend a night in Santa Fe.

Eileen won AGAIN when we played Mexican Train!  I am about to give up!  However, there was only a 20 point spread among all four scores.

I finally got the photo of the Air Force Academy stadium.  

Tuesday we headed to Bandelier National Monument but learned from signs that you had to park at the Visitor's Center in White Rock and take a shuttle - that was a 30 minute ride!  We caught the 11:00 bus and it was more than full.  Ted and Tom had to stand the whole way.  We were given free entrance with our Senior Pass cards and had brought water but we should have had hats.  

We watched the movie and then started out the Main Loop Trail.  All of us but Tom had been there before so we only visited what interested us.  The scenery is spectacular.

A mule deer eating his lunch, totally unconcerned about us walking by.

Tom and Eileen climbed into one cave.  Going up was okay, coming down not so much.

 

The altitude, heat, walking and climbing was getting to us so we caught the 1:30 bus back to the Visitor Center and had lunch right around the corner and then returned home.  Don and Trudy were coming for dinner the next day and we had things to do.

Wednesday morning we went to El Rancho de Las Golondrinas (The Ranch of the Swallows).  It was founded 300 years ago as a paraje (stopping place) on El Camino Real, the Royal Road to Mexico City.  Today it is a one of a kind destination where the past comes to life.

We took the one 10:30 tour for the day.  This gave us enough time to see the ranch and get back for our 3:30 company.

Our tour guide was an older gentleman who came to Santa Fe as a bridegroom to a lady of Mexican descent, her family went back to the late 1500s.  He told such wonderful stories of the Mexicans, Americans, Spanish, Franciscans, not in a judgmental way but just the facts as they happened.  He was a delight to listen and talk to.  We stayed until 12:30.  

Carts used in the Mexico City and Santa Fe commerce.  It was a 6 month trip each way.

Outdoor ovens, brought to the area from Moorish influence.

The altar in the community church.

Chandeliers with candles that were lowered by rope to light.  Note the Stations of the Cross, surrounded by tin, that graced both walls.

A typical kitchen.  Note the cradle suspended from the ceiling.

A weaver using a wattle to spin wool.

  Demonstrating the loom.

Partially finished rug.

When I said we had seen Harris Tweed being woven on a loom under bicycle power she told me they had automated.  I responded we have seen automated looms but to be Authentic Harris Tweed it had to be made by hand.  After I walked away Ted showed her a photo of the guy in Scotland on his bicycle portion of the loom and she said "Really?"  Doubting Thomas I guess!

We returned home to prepare our dinner for Don and Trudy.  I put out spinach dip and crackers, salsa and blue chips and Eileen's cheese ball.  I figured everyone would be getting hungry so late in the afternoon.  Ted planned to use the campground's gas grill and I was going to use their oven for the sweet potato casserole I made the night before.  When Ted tried to use the grill, it was broken.  So he had to start our charcoal grill.  When I went to get the potatoes out of the oven, the entire office was locked until 6:15, another half hour!  Ted went searching for the owner and he rescued the potatoes that were fine thank goodness.   So our pork tenderloin with cherry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green beans, salad, rolls and Eileen's lemon pie came off OK in the end.

We leave for Albuquerque this morning but it is only about an hour away so we will check out at the last minute so we don't arrive before check-in time at the next campground.

A Few Last Days in Colorado

Tuesday we drove up to Denver to meet our friends Gus and Melissa from Michigan.  They and their two grandsons ages 3 and 6 met the four of us at the Cheesecake Factory at the 16th Street Mall In downtown Denver.  The boys are so excited to have a new baby sister.  We had stopped along the way at a shopping center so I could buy a gift.  Then we went to Dollar Tree to get a bag, tissue paper and card.  The four outfits all wrapped in tissue paper filled the bag nicely and it was quite presentable for being done on the run!

Our food was excellent and way too much so I brought my orange chicken and rice home and had it for lunch on Wednesday.  With the drive to and from, most of our day was gone so we skipped dinner and had a Wendy's Frosty and played Mexican train.  Eileen won but Ted made me put an asterisk beside her name.  When we started putting the tiles away, she found two tiles in the box.  Ted swears the absence of those two hindered him on numerous occasions so we couldn't give her full credit!

We planned to go to the Olympic Training Center on Wednesday but the fellow decided to come that afternoon to wash the two rigs.  They had just left and Tom tried to go into his motorhome and it was locked.  I surmise that the thrust of the water against the door may have slipped one of the two locks.  Ted and Tom watched them the whole time so they know no one went in or out.  We spent the next hour or more getting a locksmith over.  When he finally arrived, it took about 30 seconds to pick the lock which made Tom a bit nervous knowing how easy it was to get in.  Ted encouraged him to always keep a separate set on his person besides the normal vehicle key ring.  I also have a set but mine would have been inside in my purse and no help.

By then it was dinner time so Ted started the grill.  We had bought some brats at Sprouts and I made corn on the cob, sauerkraut and green beans to go with them.  We played our game of Mexican Train and talked with the tenters and bikers that surround us.  We learned about some hot springs where they all went skinny dipping and said we should put it on our bucket list!  Tom won our game that night.

We had agreed to meet Marilyn and Ed from Retama, along with another couple I remember slightly, at Loops in Manitou Springs.  We have been driving past Amanda's Fonda for two weeks and it is always crowded so we were agreeable when Ed called and asked if we minded changing restaurants.  It was a great two hours of margaritas, terrific food and the best of conversation.  Everyone came back to the park for a bit.  We so enjoyed our time together and look forward to spending time with them this winter at Retama.

Later we went to a gun store Ted had seen advertised on TV.  Of all things, we bought Food Saver vacuum food storage bags, a holster belt and a Christmas present I can't divulge but had absolutely nothing to do with guns.  After we arrived home, the fellows left for Lowe's.  Ted needed some small brads to fix a piece of molding.  Tom needed stainless screws.  

I talked to Kelly to get some idea of their itinerary and what she and Patrick are interested in doing when they meet us in Williams AZ in two weeks.  I know the Grand Canyon is first on their list.  They are staying in a hotel about a half mile from our park.  They will eat most of their meals, other than breakfast with us too.  I need to plan!

Friday was another dinner date at the home of Lauren and Paul who were neighbors to the four of us in Florida.  We stopped at the outlet mall on the way to Aurora and Eileen and I hit Chico's big time!  Good sale prices this late in the summer.  We arrived at their home about 2:30 and didn't get home until 11:00.  We had so much to talk about.  Poor Paul has had a stroke, heart attack, hip replaced  and cancer but has fought his way back from the abyss.  Lauren was a great cheerleader for him and never let him think he wasn't going to come all the way back.  His left side is weak and he can't drive but walks on his own and speaks fluently.  We had a great visit.

For our last day we finally made it to the Olympic Training Center.  

They were lighting the torch a day late due to some malfunction yesterday.

Proud to see Procter & Gamble as a featured corporate sponsor.  They only took Visa because it too is a corporate sponsor.

The path of flags from each country.

A pretty patio around a fountain to rest.

A tree dedicated to deceased Olympic Committee Employees beneath a maple tree. 

 

Tom and Ted waiting for Eileen and I to take pictures.

Shooting training venue

Practice swimming lanes.  Michael Phelps trained here and actually had the train rope go slack from his speed.  They thought the machine was broken.

Men's gymnastic training

Weight training

Wrestling training.  It was a boy and girl but they do not compete like that in the Olympics.  It is just a training tool.

Girls' visiting for volleyball camp

The newest Bobsled Team.  There will be a new event in 2018 "Old Ladies Getting Out Of A Bobsled!"