Resting

After four very busy, sightseeing days, we decided to just lay low and relax around the coach. Doug spent some time exploring the trails in the woods while I caught up on laundry and plotting paths for the next step of our journey. One of our neighbors has lived in this park for eight years and has kept himself busy by making and marking trails through the forest very creatively by using small knicknacks and dabs of white paint. There are small plastic birds and ornaments hung discretely in the trees and spots of paint to follow. Kinda fun.

We watched the Nascar all star race and started packing stuff away for our departure in the morning. So, we'll have more to tell tomorrow. (All good I hope!)

Tijeras Pueblo and Sandia Crest

Our day started in the village of Tijeras. We visited the nearby National Forest Ranger and Visitor Station where, to our delight, we found the Tijeras Pueblo Archaeology site.


So, we donned our hats and grabbed our cameras to hike the 1/3 mile self-guided tour of this ancient site of the Anasazi indians. There are no longer any buildings to be seen, but the posted signs and a little imagination fill in the scene beautifully.


We wandered through the brush and trees to the place where the kiva once stood surrounded by a circle of large rocks.


Further on, we found the food preparation area with the stones ground smoothly from years of grinding

There was no sign of the springs that once brought the indians here to settle. Still, it was easy to picture them tending their crops and hunting small animals.

After that pleasant visit, we drove north on highway 14 and took the turn to Sandia Crest. This winding road was filled with hairpin turns and switchbacks. But the views when we reached the 10,650 foot top were incredible.


From one side of the visitor station, we looked out over a huge valley, punctuated with smaller mountains.


And from the other side of the station was a breathtaking view of Albuquerque. You know it's a big city when you drive from one end of it to the other, but to look down on it from that height is something else.


We checked out the gift shop and snack bar and marveled at the change in temperature. It was 88 degrees in Albuquerque when we started up the mountain and 68 degress when we stopped at the top. In the shade, we even spotted snow!

We headed back to the coach with a quick detour to a produce stand we had checked out earlier. They had strawberries in 1 pound containers for $1.00. We had to have some of those! We also bought chili powder (red and green) and potatoes. Their produce looks fantastic with quite a variety. We'll probably stop back on Saturday when they will be getting even more delivered.

Albuquerque Old Town

Another beautiful, sunny, warm day to go sightseeing. We set off for Old Town Albuquerque which was established in 1706.


The charming, old buildings surround a welcoming park with a bandstand in the center and lots of benches to rest weary feet in the shade.


Across the street, is the oldest church in New Mexico, founded in 1706. It is truly striking with the pure white spires against the brilliant blue sky.


Our next stop was one that Doug had been anticipating all day. The Rattlesnake Museum. As you can tell from the picture, I wasn't quite as thrilled about the visit as he was. We wandered through the gift shop and then into the museum in the back. There were a large variety of snakes indigenous to the southwest as well as a few from other parts of the world.


Doug took pictures of every snake and the description, just in case he ever sees one in the wild. And, I surprised myself by being relatively ok with the displays.


That is, until we came across this one that was struggling to escape it's confines. For some reason, this snake totally freaked me out! It was extremely large and fat with it's hideous tongue poking out constantly as it climbed the glass wall and attempted to push it's head through the covering on the top. I foresee some nightmares in my future.

After the long visit with the snakes, we spent some more time wandering around the plaza.


There were a few side streets with interesting shops and cafes.


As well as vendors that had set up in the shade of an original home from the 1700's that has now been converted into a restaurant.

All in all, it was a fun day. We learned some new things, saw interesting sights and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Museum of Archaeology

I needed to find a post office, so off we went with the gps guiding us up a mountain. We found the post office with no problem and as we headed back towards Albuquerque, we saw a sign for the Museum of Archaeology and Material Culture.


It looked pretty interesting and we couldn't resist. The small, but packed full of treasures, museum was also part of an rv park. We paid our fare and entered the rooms after a brief explanation by the owner. The artifacts and displays covered a 12,000 year Native American timeline written in the natural elements of rock, water and erosion. Other exhibits deal with scientific methodologies used in archaeology.

Thanks to a grant, the history and mining technology of the Turquoise Trail is carefully displayed with much detail presented about the Sandia Cave.

No photography was allowed, but it was a fascinating look at history and how archaeological techniques have changed over the years.

Bushland and New Mexico

We left Amarillo this morning under grey, threatening skies. It was warm, but not very pretty.


I-40 was our route today and the first thing we saw heading west was this sign for Bushland. How about that? Doug has his own land now.


We enjoy seeing signs that relate to peoples names, but usually, we shoot past them too quick to get pictures.


This was our favorite sight of the day. We crossed back into New Mexico and Mountain Time. It was a lot more fun gaining an hour than losing one. Of course we stopped at the rest area and picked up brochures for the Albuquerque area and stretched our legs.

It was a pleasant drive and once we hit the New Mexico border, the sun reappeared with beautiful blue skies and no clouds. The temperature was in the low nineties when we arrived at the park.


With no trouble, we found Hidden Valley RV Park in Tijeras which is about 10 miles east of Albuquerque. We are packed in like sardines and can't even put our awning out all of the way.


But, we are parked near the end of a row so this is our view out the living room window.


And this is the view from the front window.

It's a friendly park built on a hillside with narrow, winding roads. But we (Doug) negotiated them perfectly with the car still attached. We'll be just fine here for a short stay with some sightseeing.

Ready...Set....Go!

We are really excited about tomorrow. After sitting still for a full month, the road is beckoning us. We have spent the day putting stuff back where it belongs, stowing the outdoor stuff in the basement and loading the car.

In the morning, all we need to do is the last minute chores, stow the satellite dish and power cable and hook up the car. We are heading east towards Texas. We don't have a good idea of where we are going to stop or how long we will drive. But we aren't too crazy about long days behind the wheel, so we probably won't get too far. And that's ok too.

Our friends and neighbors, Dennis, Wayne and Sue are leaving a couple of hours ahead of us, but going the other direction. Stay safe friends!

The weather has been gorgeous all day. Just like we pictured when we headed to the southwest.

Back Online!

Hooray! The equipment we ordered yesterday showed up today thanks to the Fedex overnight shipping. We're only going to be here for a couple more days and wanted to make sure the order arrived while we are at this address.


Here's what we got. An antenna! Doug spent quite a while getting it anchored firmly on the roof and then ran the cable down through the window. We need to find an extension cable so he can bring it through the roof properly and connect it inside. But this works for now.


We also got this. An amplifier! The antenna cable comes through this lovely box to amplify the wireless signal to our router.


What router you ask? Our new cradlepoint MBR1000 router. Isn't it a work of art? And finally.........the new Verizon USB760 modem, that plugs into the router and gives us blazing fast internet access.

This all came with mountain of paperwork and manuals and tiny parts. It wasn't long before I was on the phone with the 3G Store (from whom we purchased our treasures) for technical support. The modem wouldn't install on the computer and the software didn't work. But thanks to the wonders modern technology and a patient support technician, we were able to get everything up and working. I am posting on a stable, quick signal now.

Life is good! (with a little bit of patience)

Geeks on Tour

Since our fulltiming adventure began in 2005, I have been reading blogs of other fulltimers to get ideas of places to see, things to do, tips for living in small spaces and one of the biggies.....connecting to the internet world without land lines. It's a huge challenge for nomads to maintain wifi connections, as well as maintaining computers and staying in touch with family and friends.


One of our go-to websites for all of the above is Geeks on Tour. This neat couple, Jim and Chris Guld, host a blog and a free (also a subscription) newsletter about using computers and software, give seminars at rv rallies, and help park owners with wifi equipment and usage. Their website for computer information is here and is chockful of information for any computer user, not just rvers.


So, we were shocked to see this coach pull into the very park in which we are staying. It's the Geeks! We have never met, but I feel like we are old friends.

This morning, we paid them a visit to introduce ourselves and let them know how much we appreciate their blog and knowledge. We had a nice conversation and then they were going to do some sightseeing. But first, Jim held an impromptu seminar in the middle of the park with the owner and a couple of us wifi neophytes, explaining why the park wifi isn't working as well as it could. And he gave us some great (and needed) advice regarding our equipment and internet access. We were so thrilled that we immediately made a couple of calls and ordered a new antenna, amplifier and router for the coach.

This will make a little extra work for Doug as the antenna will need to be mounted on the roof and the wires run to the amplifier inside the coach. But I have complete confidence in his abilities.


Once all that was accomplished, Doug started reorganizing the basement compartments. He wanted to move the rock tumber down below to eliminate the noise inside the coach.


But that involved moving several other heavy items to make room for the tumbler. It all worked just as he planned.

Another busy, satisfying day at Edgington RV Park. Nice people, nice weather, good advice and what more could we ask for.

Clear Skies

The weather has turned beautiful again. It's so nice to see the mountains in the distance and the sunrises and sunsets again. The fine, white sand has settled on everything which means cleaning.

Doug spent a good part of the day washing the car and I did my taxes. (You probably thought I was going to say that I dusted and cleaned the inside of the coach. Ha!) I'm doing my part to bailout the banks by sending the government a nice check. We'll have to work on Doug's in the next couple days. But, it felt good to get that behind me.

We visited with the neighbors and watched the nascar race in our spare time. So much to do and so little time. (chuckle, chuckle)

Ground Zero

What a fascinating day today was! We were out of the house (coach) at 6:45 this morning and on our way to the meeting place for the Trinity Site tour.


There were approximately 125 cars and a bus gathered at the Tularosa High School parking lot to caravan 65 miles onto the White Sands Small Missile Range. We followed the US Army police cars north across the barren range and arrived at the Trinity site about 10 am.



The Trinity Site is a National Historic Landmark comemorating the spot where the first atomic bomb was tested on July 16, 1945. It was this 19 kiloton explosion that led to the quick end of the war in the Pacific and ushered the world into the atomic age.


This tour is only provided twice a year and the huge parking lot near the site was packed with cars and buses. From there, it's a short 1/4 mile walk to the actual test area. There are lots of warnings about radiation, however there is less radiation here than the average airplane traveler incurs in a cross country flight.


This obelisk marks the exact, ground zero where the bomb was attached to a 100 foot high tower and at 5:29:45 am Mountain War Time was detonated. The blast destroyed the tower and could be felt as far as 160 miles away. At the time, the government claimed that a munitions storage area had exploded and the first atomic bomb test was kept secret until a little over a month later when it was used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.


When the blast occurred, the desert sand was scooped up into the fireball. The melted sand fell as molten glass and formed puddles of Trinitite that was then further heated and formed a smooth glasslike surface in the crater-like desert surface.



Only a very small area has been preserved from the actual blast. The rest of the area has been filled in and the Trinitite removed. It is illegal to remove any of the tiny bits of Trinitite that can be found nearby.

It was very touching, experiencing the history and story of this moment in time that would lead to such devastating loss of lives within a few months time. Most people were laughing and joking and jostling for position to have their pictures taken at the Ground Zero obelisk, but I could hardly keep from crying. So very sad.


After the visit at Ground Zero, we boarded an army bus that took us a few miles down the road to see the McDonald House landmark.


It was in this one story, adobe house that the Manhattan Project personnel assembled the plutonium core of the bomb.


We wandered through the house and adjoining building and corrals, some of which have been restored and others allowed to deteriorate. Afterwards, we took the bus back to the parking area and our car.

Leaving the missile range at the Stallion Center entrance, we took a different route home. The first town we came upon was Bingham where there was a rock shop advertising Trinitite for sale. Curious as cats, we stopped to price it and were horrified to find it was almost $50 a gram. No thank you.

Continuing along the highway, we came upon the Valley of Fires. The lava covers 125 square miles and is more than 160 feet deep at the center. We stopped at a roadside pull-off and marveled at the "land of frozen fire". Vegetation is gradually taking hold but, the lava field seems to go on forever. We didn't get to the lava tubes and caves as the day was getting late and we were already tired.

It felt good to get home and put our feet up after a very long, busy day. With about a zillion pictures to sort through, it takes a while to p0st a blog.

Hold That Thought

We are sooooooo tired after a very busy day. I'll get a post up tomorrow with lots of pictures.

Indian Campsites

Today, our neighbor, Dennis, took us out into the desert near the two sisters mountains. It was quite a four-wheel drive through deep ruts and then sandy material. We followed the dirt road past the mountains and finally parked in the middle of nowhere.

Dennis told us that the indians used to camp in the hollows of the hilly desert and to look for rocks in a semi-circle or what might look like a campsite. Many arrowheads and pottery shards have been found around these campsites.


So, armed with water and hats, we started on foot into the desert. It was amazing how hilly the terrain was. Within minutes, we could no longer see the cars. But Doug had his gps and Dennis had been here many times and both felt very comfortable about finding their way back.

We spent close to an hour and a half wandering and searching. The sun was hot and there was little breeze and we began to get tired. Heading back to the cars, we covered new ground but never found a single artifact. Still, it was a fun afternoon with a good visit. Thanks Dennis!

Enough with the Wind!!!

Everything is coated with a layer of fine white sand. Every window ledge, table, computer and everything inside as well as everything outside. And the wind keeps blowing.


Normally, we can see the mountains in the distance from our windows. I showed this picture so you can see how gray and sandy the sky is. Gritty, gritty, gritty! Tomorrow is supposed to be clear, though.


Yesterday, Doug smoked some of the tuna that we have been carrying in the freezer. The wind died down enough to use the smoker outside and the tuna turned out great. He's already been sharing it with the neighbors.

But, the best news for today is ....... our mail arrived! The registration tabs on the car and the coach expired today and we have been waiting for the blizzard in South Dakota to let up long enough for the airport to open. Fedex arrived at our door this afternoon and all is well in our little world. Now we can drive the car without getting a ticket.

Cleaning the Coach

It was another cold, blustery day in New Mexico. We have been told that the wind is normal for this time of year. But, it's a cold, cold wind. I called Rapid City, SD to have our mail sent to us and never got an answer. Upon further investigation, I discovered that they were in the middle of another blizzard. The offices in town were all shut down as well as the airport. No mail going out today.

Still, Doug decided that it was a good time to start cleaning the outside of the coach. He hauled out the microfiber cloths, the waterless cleaning solution and the ladder. The back of the coach is the first thing that others see as they drive into the park, so that was the starting point.

He was able to work for 30 -45 minutes before his hands got too cold. A brief warming period inside and back at it again.

When he got to the side of the coach, I had to go outside and hold the ladder for him. Between the wind and the unlevel ground, I was a little nervous about him falling. He finished almost half the coach when the weather just became too nasty. Tomorrow's another day.

We jumped in the car and made a quick trip to Walmart to get our Redbox free movies, then home for the evening. We really don't mind the cool weather when we are safe and sound in our cozy, little box.

Rough Life

It was a nice day to stay inside and watch the nascar races. The wind was blowing and it never got very warm. We piddled around with a few household chores, but never got very ambitious. It's a rough life.

Lake Lucero Trip

We were up bright and early this morning, leaving the park at 7:30 to be at the entrance to the small missile range at 8:30. We lined up with about 18 other cars and then drove onto the U.S. facility guided by government cars and forest rangers.


The trailhead for Lake Lucero is 18 miles onto the base. There wasn't much to see except signs about unexploded munitions and warnings. Although, we were on the lookout for a herd of oryx. These are a type of gazelle that were imported from Kenya years ago. (We didn't see any)


Lake Lucero is in the middle of Lake Otero. If that doesn't make any sense, here's the explanation. Lake Otero was a lake in the Tularosa basin during the last ice age. Gypsum and other minerals were carried from the surrounding mountains into the lake. At the end of the ice age (about 12,000 years ago) the lake began to dry up. The gypsum formed crystals called selenite on the muddy bottom of the evaporated lake.


On rare occasions of heavy rain, a temporary lake is created at the southern end of Lake Otero (now called the Alkali Flats). This temporary lake is Lake Lucero! And the bottom of Lake Lucero is covered with large and small selenite crystals and is the primary source for the gypsum sand that forms the dunes of White Sands National Monument.


The guided trip to Lake Lucero is only offered once a month and we felt lucky to be here for the March tour. The ranger that gave the talks was interesting, knowledgeable and willing to answer all questions. It is unlawful to remove anything from this area and boy, was that tough. The crystals and rocks were incredible.

Blow Me Away

Wow!! The wind just kept getting more fierce last night and by the time we went to bed, we were thinking that we might have to bring the slides in. The head of our bed is in the slideout and as the wind caught that small part of the room, we were a little nervous thanks to the creaking and groaning.

But, we survived the night and today dawned bright and a lot more clear. Unfortunately, the temperature never got above 55 degrees. We are freezing. So we stayed home again and defrosted the freezer and refrigerator. It's long overdue and it feels good to get it done.

Not such an exciting day but a productive one.

Checking In

The wind came up last night and by this morning the entire sky is filled with dust and white sand. We can't see the mountains in either direction and when outside, our eyes and noses are filled with sand. Not very pleasant.

We did have to make a quick run to Walmart to return our Redbox dvds. Last night we watched the new Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull movie. And this morning, it was Quantum of Solace. With this weather, it's a good day to stay in and watch movies.

Doug says this reminds him of his days of sanding drywall. All you can taste and breathe is gypsum. (white sand.....drywall dust) I guess not every day can be sunny and bright.

Lazy Recap

I'm sorry, so sorry. Please accept my apologies.....oops, I think that's a Brenda Lee song! We just haven't been doing much that's exciting and worth reporting. When we stay in an area this long, we don't feel the need to rush around and see everything. So, we take several days just to relax.

But, we did take a day ride up the Sacramento mountains to the tiny town of Cloudcroft. It's a ski resort in the winter and a tourist trap in the summer. The drive was relaxing and beautiful.


We left Cloudcroft and saw the signs for Sunspot. This is the home of the National Solar Observatory. Our visit was too late in the day for the tour, but we still enjoyed the views and learning a little about the facility.

Then, yesterday, Doug wanted to check out a rockhounding area near the Three Rivers Petroglyph site. It was a fun afternoon and we found a few pieces of jasper and some other neat looking rocks. All of a sudden we realized it was 6pm and time to head home. We started back south on the two lane rough road, crossing numerous cattle guards when we noticed a mama cow and her calf coming across the range. We slowed and admired them until we saw a few more. Doug proceeded cautiously, not wanting to injure the skittish calves accidentally as they came close to the car.


We started across a cattle guard in front of a large wash and there were at least 50 cows and calves standing in the road! When we approached them, instead of backing off from the car, they kept coming right at us. I guess they thought we were there to feed them. As they started to surround us, I got scared (I'm a city girl) and Doug quickly backed the car across the cattle guard which they refused to cross. (Yay!!!!) And there we sat. And sat.


Doug got out, much to my dismay, and tried yelling and shooing the animals away from the road. They didn't even flinch.



So, he took off his flannel shirt and waved it vigorously while shouting and they backed off at least 6 inches. Then he tried walking down the fence line along the wash, hoping they would follow. Nope.


So, we waited. After close to half an hour, we decided to just go forward carefully. We opened our windows and started driving very slowly. Yelling out the windows and waving our arms, the herd gradually and reluctantly moved aside. Success! Once past the bawling, drooling, slobbering bovine roadblock, we took off like a shot.

And that was our excitement for the day. They sure look a lot bigger in person that they do in pictures.