Reservations Made Easy (Not)

I have now made reservations for our first 4 nights. The final two were easy. The place I found in Las Cruces was not the newest place on the block, but it did look like the most interesting place, and the reviewers on Trip Advisor were unanimous in their praise of the breakfasts there. Hey, the price was right too. The first two nights gave me a few headaches.

The first night in Lake Charles wasn't too bad. We just wanted something near the interstate and with a microwave. We'll be traveling until evening, and the last thing either one of us wants to do is go out to eat that night. Something simple will be brought from home, hotted up in the micro, and eaten in the room.

The second night is in Fort Stockton, and I thought I'd go nuts with that one. Mainly, the problem was that I had a hard time accepting the prices for hotels there. Fort Stockton is not exactly the Center of the Universe. It is, however, one of the only places to stay in that area of West Texas, and don't they know it. I would have preferred the Hampton Inn, but it was about $40 more than the Best Western, so we'll be staying at the same place we did last year. It wasn't great, but it was clean. I'm rolling my eyes and shaking my head. We do get to see the giant roadrunner statue in town, of course. Wow.

All of this took over an hour, counting time to research, sign into the account necessary to get "Points" for staying, figure out what the "best" price was, etc. Hopefully, it will make the trip out a little less stressful.

My next assignment is finding the best place in Socorro. I'm jumping ahead because we may very well be there on the 4th, and I need to see what the situation is in that area vis a vis availability.

As for the packing, right now I am at the stage where, when a thought hits me, I add something to a list or a throw something over in a corner of the bedroom where I have the two miscellaneous bags we will use.

Progress! An itinerary is mapped out

June 24 - Lake Charles, Louisiana

June 25 - Fort Stockton, Texas

June 26 & 27 - Las Cruces, NM

June 28, 29 & 30 - Silver City, NM

July 1 & 2 - Truth or Consequences, NM

July 3 through 5 - Albuquerque, NM

July 6 through 10 - Rio Rancho/Socorro, NM

July 11 through 17 - Abiquiu, NM

July 18 - start for home (route not yet established)

I've also managed to make a couple of reservations, and arrange to have the mail and paper stopped, all from the convenience of my computer. My next steps will be to call the cable company and discuss the details of their Vacation Plan to make sure that I can get our email on our laptop application as well as my BFF (or, as some call it, the Blackberry).

Lists are in the process of being made, and I even took out the "occasional bag" where we will pack stuff like laundry detergent (and about 10 pounds in quarters to feed the beasts) and the clothes we may or may not need, etc.

This is actually just barely beginning to take on the trappings of reality.