tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62794052247230340642011-07-30T15:31:25.330-04:00The Anatomy of a Road TripCarolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.comBlogger381100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-70531005276465660142009-08-03T01:36:00.002-04:002009-08-03T01:38:18.262-04:00

7/31After a good night's sleep and an average breakfast eaten to the relentless obsessive rantings of Fox News, we headed East again. Our destination: Slidell, LA.Note to Bobby Jindal: Before you refused the stimulus funds someone should have forced you to drive for a week on I 10 through Baton Rouge. Your infrastructure stinks. You may think it's okay and doesn't need any improvement, but

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-32395322932008086642009-08-03T01:36:00.001-04:002009-08-03T01:36:49.867-04:00

7/30We started out in the morning with the intent to get to Kerrville by 5. This was not going to happen. Our fault, really. We stopped at a supermarket in Deming to suss out the ethnic food aisle for local Mexican. We left with two kinds of mole concentrate and green chili sauce (two different types). Glen also wanted to stop at a Mexican blanket outlet store in El Paso, which turned out

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-89390640464778057972009-08-03T01:34:00.001-04:002009-08-03T01:36:00.933-04:00

7/29What day is it anyway? What did we do today? If that isn't a sign it's about time to call it quits, I don't know what is. We drove from Socorro to the Catwalk, which is a mile hike in the Gila. That took until after lunch. The hike took about a half hour. Glen ventured on to one of the "difficult" trails (insisting it was the way down - it wasn't) but when my heart started beating double

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-90335416922077684002009-07-28T22:32:00.005-04:002009-07-28T22:34:02.974-04:00

7/28Pooped! We left Albuquerque at 8 and headed for Acoma Pueblo. We thought we were arriving too late for the first tour, but we were able to sign up and even see part of the museum before the tour bus left. Acoma's cultural center is down in town, and that is where most people live. However, the pueblo, known as Sky City, is still inhabited and used for ceremonies and celebrations. There is

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-56091409809010312922009-07-28T22:32:00.003-04:002009-07-28T22:32:55.612-04:00

7/28Pooped! We left Albuquerque at 8 and headed for Acoma Pueblo. We thought we were arriving too late for the first tour, but we were able to sign up and even see part of the museum before the tour bus left. Acoma's cultural center is down in town, and that is where most people live. However, the pueblo, known as Sky City, is still inhabited and used for ceremonies and celebrations. There is

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-87748365636995085982009-07-28T22:32:00.001-04:002009-07-28T22:32:32.734-04:00

7/28Pooped! We left Albuquerque at 8 and headed for Acoma Pueblo. We thought we were arriving too late for the first tour, but we were able to sign up and even see part of the museum before the tour bus left. Acoma's cultural center is down in town, and that is where most people live. However, the pueblo, known as Sky City, is still inhabited and used for ceremonies and celebrations. There is

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-88787543345483303812009-07-27T22:58:00.001-04:002009-07-27T23:04:41.768-04:00

7/27We slept in this morning since our first stop, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, doesn't open until 9. We spent the entire morning there. We hadn't been to the Museum half in years, and we saw two great short films. One was about Maria Martinez who is a very well known San Ildefonso potter,and it took you through the entire process of making those wonderful pots. Our leftovers from La

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-65431382452319049082009-07-27T10:25:00.001-04:002009-07-27T10:26:59.753-04:00

7/26The first order of business was breakfast. We'd slept fairly well with only one mild interruption at about 1 when people came home from the bike festivities. I guess some would say if we weren't such old biddies, we'd have been out with them. The breakfast area was small and located in the lobby. The eggs were cold. The fresh waffles were underdone. This is the place they raved about on

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-44664520848719098402009-07-25T22:32:00.000-04:002009-07-25T22:33:08.832-04:00

7/25After a good, hot breakfast we packed the car and headed for Three Rivers.After a pleasant exchange with the volunteer at the entrance to Three Rivers Petroglyph Park (she was from NY, and she and her husband lived there full time in their RV), we set off for the mile and a half loop. While it was uphill for much of the way, it was not terribly strenuous, and the petroglyphs were interesting

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-28091612496680600882009-07-25T22:31:00.002-04:002009-07-25T22:32:27.930-04:00

7/24Roswell was our first stop this morning. The only real reason for visiting was to placate those who keep asking why we haven't gone... like our daughter, for example. We were not impressed. We took a few photos for her and were gone by 9:30 a.m.We decided to veer from the road to Alamogordo and visit the Lincoln State Monument which is essentially the entire town of Lincoln. "The Lincoln

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-28972678033709666212009-07-24T18:28:00.000-04:002009-07-24T18:29:20.226-04:00

7/23We decided to drive directly to Carlsbad in the morning. "First thing," of course, turned out to be closer to 10. The Desert Zoo just outside of town was excellent. It was a real bargain at $5 each, and just about every specieswas represented. We also had an opportunity to see a botanical garden with an amazing display of the flora nativeto New Mexico. We had lunch in the picnic area

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-38544738449606592722009-07-22T18:33:00.000-04:002009-07-22T18:34:07.949-04:00

7/22Early to rise! I felt well rested. Glen had some digestive issues during the night. Nothing serious, but we guessed he was reacting to his tummy's unfamiliarity with fried food. He was feeling better, though, and we got our things together, filled our water bottles from the cooler in the fitness center, and headed for breakfast in the Club Room. The coffee was decent, which it is, we've

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-57872784560929023222009-07-22T18:32:00.000-04:002009-07-22T18:33:15.561-04:00

7/21Day one started at 4 this morning. We were on the road by 5 with the sun still an hour or two in the future. The drive was largely uneventful.We stopped for lunch at a rest area near the Eglin AFB and ate in the shadow of a Blue Angel. We remarked at how cool the day seemed. The eeriest thing, though, was how empty it was there. It is a popular rest area and at high noon should have been

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-69941187989029021522009-07-20T14:32:00.002-04:002009-07-20T14:36:28.590-04:00

That would be "Departure Day," and it is amazing to me that we appear to be ready. A week ago I wasn't quite sure we would be. I just finished packing. All that's left are the last minute items: toiletries, the cooler (which is cooling off as I write this - and wondering if they've made one that isn't so noisy since we got it), the maps and paperwork. The "caretakers" have their instructions.

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-24371679462372866652009-07-13T20:19:00.004-04:002009-07-13T20:25:40.472-04:00

Why oh why did we decide to paint the bedroom and get new carpeting in all the bedrooms now? Here it is just days before are scheduled departure, and instead of concentrating on getting ready, we were busy cleaning out closets and making a quick run to Goodwill.Every year we do think of one or two things that will help us. This year was no exception, and I'll be adding to my list of Packing

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-46428401517443236242009-07-02T20:39:00.002-04:002009-07-02T20:44:21.958-04:00

I've never planned a trip quite so haphazardly. For someone as anal as me, it is hair raising.The hotel rates have not really gone down as reported. I have made reservations for the first two nights, and I haven't noticed a great difference. The clerk at the first place, however, saw that we were returning for the 3rd time and knocked off $5. Woo and hoo! No such luck with booking a second

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-4849816779542711582009-06-29T12:34:00.003-04:002009-06-29T12:43:18.934-04:00

For a while there, it didn't look like we were going anywhere any time soon. We thought we needed a new roof, and the $12,000 is was going to cost to get it put an immediate damper on everything we had planned for the foreseeable future. As it turned out, a $100 repair did the trick.The roofing "scare" did get us started down a home improvement road, though. We're repainting our bedroom and

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-10675214072043062522009-06-10T16:41:00.001-04:002009-06-10T16:41:18.814-04:00

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-10755861405032216952008-07-28T07:11:00.003-04:002008-07-28T08:41:08.854-04:00

People who know my musical tastes will find this a typical playlist. Those who don't, let me explain that we are an eclectic family when it comes to music. My kids have been trading music with us since they were teenagers. While most people our age listen to nostalgia, we have been listening to groups with names like Weezer and Beirut. They send us the latest from Modest Mouse, and we send

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-2237882404588765532008-07-24T18:15:00.001-04:002008-07-26T17:42:36.524-04:00

We've been home almost a week now, and I still don't feel like I'm completely "here." There are still things lying around to be put away, and I'm still working my way through all those pictures. I subjected you, dear readers, to every one of them. I'm in the process of editing and filing, and then I'm going to put together an album of the "best" (or my favorites, really), which I will post

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-40846162739762152442008-07-22T12:19:00.003-04:002008-07-22T12:50:24.286-04:00

We're home. Finally. It wasn't easy. Let me backtrack:It became painfully clear when we started plotting our way home that it was not going to be as simple as the way out. I was successful in making a reservation in Las Cruces, where we wanted to spend the night and take another look around La Mesilla. However, as I moved to the next spot (Kerrville, TX) I hit a brick wall. No rooms.

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-42022110891197221542008-07-15T19:34:00.003-04:002008-07-15T19:48:29.061-04:00

Ghost Ranch...what can I say. I thought waiting a few days would give me insight into how I could possibly find the words to describe the beauty of this landscape, but it hasn't happened yet. I haven't even looked at the pictures. I will try to do that before leaving Abiquiu at the end of the week.We hiked (yup, got back up on that horse) up most of the way to Chimney Rock. It was not a bad

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-85596987754285230422008-07-12T12:42:00.001-04:002008-07-12T12:43:48.954-04:00

I'm lazy. I'm just going to post the email I sent the kids this morning:We arrived in Abiquiu after an adventurous day at Bandelier Nat'l. Mon. (more about that another time). We were exhausted. Our hosts, Jeff and Marilyn, crossed us on the road as they headed out to dinner. They seem like wonderful people (mother and son), and the thoughtfulness with which they've appointed this "casita"

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-14391283364944981162008-07-12T12:20:00.003-04:002008-07-12T12:42:35.299-04:00

There could be some training involved for this event. It's up to you. Personally, I took drugs to regulate menopausal symptoms that caused me to inexplicably gain weight, making everything a bit more difficult. You can also toss and turn on a bad mattress the night before. I feel this enhanced my bad hiking experience. It's up to you. Get creative!On the day of the hike:Dress

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-18148774382301364432008-07-09T22:32:00.002-04:002008-07-09T22:55:47.270-04:00

So here it is our last night in Albuquerque. Tomorrow morning we will head on up the road to Jemez Springs where we have a rustic little hideaway awaiting us for the night. From there it is on to Abiquiu.We spent quite a nice day doing all the trails at the Petroglyph National Monument. Some we'd done before, but the whole petroglyph thing is something we enjoy. I took far too many pictures,

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-11737891855062713022008-07-06T17:58:00.002-04:002008-07-06T18:24:33.172-04:00

First of all, if any of you know what I did with the plastic baggie filled with state quarters, please advise. I put them in a safe place. 'Nuff said.We got to Albuquerque a day early and decided to see if we could check into the Best Western, which was a go. They disappointed us horribly this time around. I suppose it is still a bargain for a place so close to downtown and Old Town, but they no

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-28343177504572291942008-07-03T15:52:00.003-04:002008-07-03T18:52:52.830-04:00

I find I have less and less time for anything more than sleeping once we are done with the siteseeing for the day. If this is disjointed, I apologize, but it will be written in bits and pieces.We are in Albuquerque, arriving a day before the kids, who arrive this evening within 5 minutes of each other on SWA. The past two days were spent traveling to the 3 different missions which comprise the

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-58147176139084916502008-06-30T22:28:00.002-04:002008-06-30T22:39:16.438-04:00

I know I've been negiligent here, but we've been bushed. It is a good tired though.Yesterday, as my pictures above will attest, was a great day. The Gila National Forest is incredibly beautiful. The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument was a very special place. The walk up and back was about one mile. While we were up there, we were fortunate enough to catch a tour with a volunteer for the

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-2158915520813454452008-06-28T19:32:00.001-04:002008-06-28T20:11:34.419-04:00

We drove off this morning, but we could make a return visit on our way home. We really liked the hotel. Cool place.Driving towards the City of Rocks State Park, we listened (as we have been) to the book on CD for Dress Your Family in Cordoroy and Denim. David Sedaris (the author) is also the narrator, which is as it should be, since all the stories are related to his life, his family, his

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-50727063239723457332008-06-27T19:21:00.000-04:002008-06-27T19:22:12.085-04:00

I can't say we're big fans of Las Cruces. The setting is wonderful with the backdrop of the Organ Mtns. in the background, but the city itself seems to struggle to be "a city." There is no real "downtown," but it doesn't really fit the "urban sprawl" description either.We are staying at the Best Western Mission Inn, which is a pretty neat little place. It is not brand new and spiffy, but it is

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-42182237073487883092008-06-25T19:00:00.000-04:002008-06-25T19:49:15.180-04:00

With some minor and other not so minor glitches, we have now made our way to Fort Stockton, Texas.We are kind of hyper and exhausted at the same time, and half my brain is still somewhere on I-10, mindlessly driving through West Texas.I did take a few pictures. Those of you who know me well will not be surprised to see that a couple are of animals we "met" along the way. Some others will

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-52124110799124906512008-06-20T12:39:00.004-04:002008-06-20T12:49:36.816-04:00

Well, I though I was opening it up to comments, but in my rush to get that change in the works I failed to note they said "all new posts will allow comments." My brother, who is genetically predisposed to being a little smarter than the average bear, found that the first post here (way at the bottom) had a comment option. ;)By the way, Rich, when I told Glen about the Garmin, he said he might

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-22004844092563915462008-06-19T15:00:00.002-04:002008-06-19T15:03:03.148-04:00

I guess we have reached that point where everything is poised to be done, but we really can't do much more until the last minute. As of today, I am opening the blog to comments.

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-24665377775892385482008-06-13T15:28:00.002-04:002008-06-13T15:42:06.535-04:00

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

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-20675767016699926122008-06-10T14:58:00.003-04:002008-06-17T11:30:06.245-04:00

June 24 - Lake Charles, LouisianaJune 25 - Fort Stockton, TexasJune 26 & 27 - Las Cruces, NMJune 28, 29 & 30 - Silver City, NMJuly 1 & 2 - Truth or Consequences, NMJuly 3 through 5 - Albuquerque, NMJuly 6 through 10 - Rio Rancho/Socorro, NMJuly 11 through 17 - Abiquiu, NMJuly 18 - start for home (route not yet established)I've also managed to make a couple of reservations, and arrange to have the

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-35959195938396604942008-05-27T10:00:00.002-04:002008-05-27T10:11:23.427-04:00

We've reached the point where it is important to begin thinking about what worked last time and what changes we need to make for this year's trip. One thing on which we agree is that we took too much in anticipation of cold weather which really never materialized, or was so brief we really didn't have to "dress for it." A hoodie and/or light jacket is really sufficient for anything New Mexico is

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-4587674975888903352008-05-12T18:10:00.002-04:002008-05-12T18:17:56.376-04:00

There are times at this point in planning a trip when we feel as if we are just not making any progress. It is an illusion.We have been gazing all starry-eyed at the Silver City area. There is so much there that appeals to our senses, both individually and as a couple. We will no doubt be spending some time here before moving north. The problem is we need to more or less settle on a plan

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6279405224723034064.post-88402352015331346062008-05-01T11:35:00.003-04:002008-05-01T11:44:33.846-04:00

Originally, this was going to be a vacation on our side of the Mississippi. Gas prices are through the roof. Plus, we just didn't know if we were up for another round of long days on the road, sometimes not really knowing where we would spend the night. We began looking into a couple of places we found beautiful and relaxing in the past and talked about the possibility of going back. Neither

Carolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08477158851039772257noreply@blogger.com0