Author: 1952june

June 22, 2016

We are getting in the troublesome habit of sleeping in – we did not wake up until 8:30am. The temperature dipped down to 45 degrees last night and of course the rainstorm we mentioned yesterday continued into the night.  It was nice hearing the rain on the roof of the RV as we drifted off to sleep.

Our original plan for the day was to take the chairlift to the top of the mountain which tops out at 11,000 feet.  We changed our plans as there were dark skies coming in from the west and did not want to be at the top when another storm rolled in.  And sure enough one did roll in about three in the afternoon with intermittent showers.  We drove to Monte Verde Lake a couple miles down the road from Angel Fire .  It’s a private lake owned by the Angel Fire resort and is stocked with rainbow and golden trout.  Last week a woman fishing from shore caught a 22″ 5 lb rainbow trout which is more than a decent sized trout.  (they had a picture of the lady holding the fish)  When June Yvonne is in Santa Fe from Saturday thru Tuesday I am going to try to catch its brother.

While at the lake we got a nice picture of a mated pair of Canada Geese with their chicks.  Then we drove for an hour or so way up into the mountains on dirt roads to explore and stumble upon Hidden Lake which is about a 400 acre lake surrounded by drop dead gorgeous log and cedar homes.  These are “money is no object” summer homes.  We drove to a nice overlook of the valley below and take some pictures of the fertile lush valley below.

Arrived home about 4:30pm and there was a furious wind storm that lasted about 20 minute – everyone thought their outside stuff was going to blow away.  The wee hummingbird is still frequenting our feeder.  I am trying to get a picture of it but by the time I get my camera out and ready it has flown off – this morning I waited about 15 minutes with the camera ready and gave up.  Two minutes later it was back – a picture of the wee thing is now a project.  PRC

No fish stories from me. We did enjoy spending time at the lake where it rained lightly. The mountain drive was lovely as well as the weather.  We are learning that it usually rains in the afternoon so its best to get our day started early.

Today was a day for noticing nature. We saw some strata-cumulus clouds that are classified as mammary clouds. The name indicates the shapes of the clouds as they hang from the sky.  On our ride into the mountains we heard a meadow lark and I was enchanted with the blue dragon flies. I am such a city girl…  However, the most amazing sighting was a bobcat!  Luckily we were in the truck watching him walk through the trees about 20 yards from us.  Bobcats are very elusive.

I finally finished my outline for my presentation for the panel discussion regarding being a Crypto-Jew. I have typed and corrected several drafts and printed the final copy. It’s pretty remarkable that we have the technology to do this in our travel trailer.

Speaking of technology, did we mention that we have not had a good connection for TV or radio. It’s a good thing that Peter brought some of our favorite CD’s. We really haven’t missed these outside distractions. However, if something important happens out there in the wide world please let us know.

I’m glad we took so much time preparing for this trip. This included preparing and freezing meals before we left. The refrigerator/freezer in the travel trailer is very small so Peter bought a 2.8 cubic ft. freezer that runs on 12V from the truck or 110 when plugged into the RV.  We should have enough food to last us the summer. The groceries we buy are usually fresh produce. Tonight we had salad, spaghetti and meat sauce. I prepared and froze the meat for the sauce before we left. We also have a crock pot in which I’ll make a roast.

We don’t go out to eat very much (only twice so far). However, I asked Stev C. for restaurant recommendations in Taos and Santa Fe. I look forward to trying those local places. Oh, and Carolyn M. asked us to try a Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe near the train station. I have a feeling there may be more than one restaurant like that… We will do our best to find it though.

I am very happy up in the mountains of northern New Mexico. The weather is delicious and the scenery gorgeous.  JY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 21, 2016

It rained quite hard today which was really nice.  It cleared up in time for use to BBQ and eat outside – which we enjoyed.  The people in the RV’s around us are getting friendly – I am making a point as I walk around to start conversations – which isn’t that difficult.   Everyone has a story to tell and they love someone who will listen, and  I am a good listener.  Met a man in the laundry room in Las Cruces.  We chatted and worked on a jigsaw puzzle together while JY did laundry.  Found out he lives in Gilbert, which is about 20 miles from where we live – small world.

June Yvonne is working on her notes for the Sephardic Festival panel discussion she is participating in.  We each have our own computers and enjoy working on the blog which I hope everyone enjoys.  We may not be able to post something every day as “doing nothing” might get in the way.

We have a hummingbird feeder on the other side of our dining area window and a Ruby Throated hummingbird has been frequenting it quite a bit lately – we are hoping that he/she will keep returning now that they knows where it is.  We drove into Angel Fire today to look around and get a couple of items at the grocery store.  This is basically a ski resort town that is packed in the winter months. When you walked in the grocery store you were immediately struck by the huge display of liquor, wine and beer – quite impressive actually.  I mentioned it to the cashier and he said in the winter time it’s hard to keep it fully stocked – it flies off the shelf.  He said Angel Fire was a drinking town with a skiing problem.

It would seem that doing nothing would be easy but it is not – at least for me.  I’ve been practicing by not getting wrapped up in dashing off to see this or that.  No busy “got to get going” schedule.  I’m spending more time reading and plan to do things only when I get the urge.  There are a lot of things to see and do here and if we don’t get to a lot of them we are perfectly OK with that.  Quiet is good – I am giving myself permission to stop, be still for a while and do nothing.

I have had a way of thinking about my life for many years.  Just as all of us do I know I only have so many days left to live – how many I don’t know.  I realize that whatever I did today I traded one day of my life to do it.  I try to remember to ask myself at the end of each day “was today a good trade”.  I hope it was.  I hope tomorrow will be a good trade also.  These last few days with the RV enjoying the scenery, the sounds, the breeze and the rain have all been good trades – enjoying all of it with June Yvonne only makes those trades that much more special.   PRC

We visited with an RC friend yesterday. She lives in Arroyo Seco, outside of Taos. Before going to see her we walked around town looking at the many artisan shops. It was a friendly group of artists and town people. The folks at one pottery shop invited us to soak our feet in the stream outside the store. I took them up on their offer, took off my shoes and sat in a chair cooling my jets in the little stream. We visited with this amiable group for awhile admiring the artists work, especially the wine cups. (We didn’t buy anything though.) They offered us some of their beer which Peter drank with them.

Afterwards we went to Beth’s home. The adobe house she and her partner live in belonged to his grandmother. The feel and the atmosphere reminded me so much of my Nana.

Today we didn’t do much besides going into the town of Angel Fire. I spent most of the day working on a presentation. I am on a panel at the Sephardic Festival speaking on being a Crypto-Jew. I will share it with you  if you are interested.

We will head down to Santa Fe Friday for the Sephardic Festival and a conference sponsored by the Society of Crypto-Judaic Jews. (Two separate events) The Sephardic Festival is on Friday night/Saturday. It  will include Shabbat dinner Friday night at a local Santa Fe restaurant.  The next day we will go to a museum to see an exhibit entitled “Fractured Faiths.” It includes the Edict of Expulsion of Jews from Spain. The Conference for the Society of Crypto-Judaic Jews is Sunday -Tuesday. It is jam packed with seminars including one on geneology. You can be sure I will be attending that one.

So, Peter will be dropping me off in Santa Fe on Friday morning and pick me up Tuesday. I will be staying at a hotel rooming with a couple of friends including a fellow Crypto-Jew from Texas. She will be showing some of her artwork at the conference.

I’m not sure what Peter will be doing while I’m in Santa Fe. Maybe practicing the Art of Doing Nothing. Or maybe fishing. Either would be good for him.  JY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 20, 2016

We boondocked in Albuquerque at the Route 66 Casino. It was free for one night but there was no electricity so no air conditioning – it was a very hot and uncomfortable night.  We did have dinner and breakfast at the Casino which wasn’t bad. Huevos Rancheros is always good especially with New Mexico chili.

However, we woke up to a flat tire on the truck. Waited for AAA to arrive to change the tire – then a guy showed up and said he was here to change our tire.  Turns out we got scammed by a local auto repair company.   AAA arrived a couple of hours later.

So much for just being able to take off first thing in the am for our next destination. Still had to get gas and stop at Camping World for a water filter.

We left Albuquerque around noon and headed for Hatch. We had good intentions  to pick up some chili but it is a small village and couldn’t manage to park with the travel trailer. Consequently I was not able to pick up some of those famous Hatch Chilies for you Pam or myself.  We did not see a canning factory and suspect that the chiles are grown and harvested here but processed and canned somewhere else.

So on to Angel Fire through many towns including Truth or Consequences, Santa Fe and Espanola where it was still warm. The ascent to the Angel Fire RV Resort was steeper than we thought it would be but worth it.  The highest elevation we reached on the road was about 9,500 feet.  Angel Fire is at 8,300 feet. The air is thin up here but the night and morning temperatures are cool. It was 55 degrees this morning. Wonderful for us desert rats.

It’s great to be settled here for 3 whole weeks. It’s a gorgeous RV RESORT with lots of amenities. It’s only half full right now but we were told it will be full for July 4. Today was a recoup day with a little cleaning and laundry. I will see an RC friend in Taos tonight, about 40 minutes away. Maybe I could live here all summer.  h-m-m-m ……   JY

The journey from Albuquerque to Taos was uneventful …. however the 21 mile stretch between Taos and Angel Fire was a different story.  It was a two lane back country  road and I’m being generous about the two lanes.  We were skirting around the base of the mountain with steep up hills to our left and steep down hills or drop offs to our right.  I was very focused as I was driving and bet there wasn’t a straight section of road that was longer than 200 yards with dozens of blind corners and turns.  In some places we were eyeball level with the tops of the trees to the right.  There was hardly room for a postage stamp between us and on-coming cars and trucks.  You can imagine my consternation when a 40 foot Motor Home towing a Suburban came around the next corner doing what seemed like 45 mph.  As it zoomed by the driver was smilin’ and waving.  This happened several times and it took about a mile or so to start breathing again.  I was holding the steering wheel so tight I think I bent it.  As the saying goes “sometimes you need a really crooked road to get your head straight“.

The views and the weather here are delicious.  As JY said this is a resort with a lot of amenities NOT an RV Park .  Every spot is a pull through with a level concrete pad and decorative iron picnic table.  The hook-ups are first class with a yard light at each station.  There is a gate house with a small store, washers and dryers and bathrooms with showers.  You can only enter with a personal pass code.  There is a very large Lodge were you could entertain at least 500 people – it has three 60 inch flat screens along with a full kitchen.  Then there is a large bath house with a hot tub built for 15 to 20, a large propane fire pit with surround seating along with another 12 washers and dryers and of course more bathrooms and super large showers.  Every Thursday and Sunday they have complimentary wine and cheese along with live entertainment.

Our first night here we slept with the windows open and about 1:00am I was scramblin’ for a blanket.  We now have blankets and sleep with the windows open and it is a wonderful and restful nights sleep with a chilly breeze blowing through the open windows.  Morning seems to come to quickly so we lay there awhile and take our time waking up …. together. PRC

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 17, 2016

We went exploring today and drove to Ruidoso which is a two hour drive to the NE of base camp.  It was reported that Ruidoso was much like Sedona – trust us, it is not even close.  Another option we had was Carlsbad Caverns which we should have gone however we found out that would not have worked out very well as President Obama will be there tomorrow to celebrate Fathers Day with his family.  I’m sure the security would already be in place with restrictions on places you could go.  I think we unknowingly made the right choice.

On our way to Ruidoso we stopped at White Sands National Monument and drove 3 or 4 miles into the dunes.  Wow.  You can drive into the dunes for about 10 miles and the park your car and hike another 8 miles and camp.  The sand was glaring if you took your sunglasses off.  We removed our shoes, socks and rolled up our pant legs and went for a short walk up one of the dunes.  Surprisingly the sand was not hot and if you wiggled your feet down about 2 or 3 inches it was very cool.

We went to the visitor center and stamped my National Parks Passport.  Purchase a couple of souvenirs and watched a short video.  The dunes of sand or composed of gypsum crystals and is the largest gypsum dunes in the world.  it was a very sacred place to the Mescalero Apache who inhabited the area for many years and lived comfortably off of the land – then the white man showed up and ruined it for the Apache who moved away.

I was extremely disappointed after we left White Sands and drove through the missile range – there were no missile launches scheduled for today.  I was tempted to stop at the Holloman Air Force Base and file a complaint however JY insisted I do not.

PRC

We are now in Las Cruces. It’s a short stay as we are leaving tomorrow, Saturday, June 18. We have made a slight change of plans. Instead of driving straight through to Taos on Sunday we decided to break that long drive in half. For those of you that have not done RVing, you might imagine it’s somewhat of a carefree adventure. However, the set up and the take down are a lot of work. As of now it takes us 1.5-2 hours. We hope to shorten the time over our summer trip. So consider that we spend about 3 hours in setting up and taking down along with the drive between sites.

Bonnie and John (sister and brother-in-law) remember, we are still rookies at this. I look forward to the day when this part of RVing will not be such a hassle.

So after setting up in this RV park Monday, I was not feeling so carefree in fact a little ill. I’m sure the heat and elevation did not help. We are going to cut our stay short in Las Cruces and drive to Albuquerque tomorrow. Then we will do something different and spend the night “boondocking” at a casino. This way we do not have to hook up  or unhitch. In fact it is not possible to hook into facilities in a casino parking lot. So, hopefully this will save us some time and effort and there is no cost for staying overnight at a casino. We’ll let you know how it goes as we will not have electricity for the AC. Hopefully it won’t be too warm in Albuquerque tomorrow night.

As Peter indicated, Ruidoso was a bit underwhelming although the area was pretty. Reminded me of Pinetop/Lakeside. White Sands was fun. It brought back memories as John Sem and I camped there many years ago. We did stop at a pistachio farm that was enjoyable as they gave away free samples. Who knew that Margarita flavored pistachios could taste so good?

On our way to Albuquerque tomorrow we will make a short stop in Hatch, the Chili Capital of the World. You know I wouldn’t miss that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 16, 2016

This is the name of a song by Art Garfunkel. This is the theme of the short time we spent in Marana, AZ – the very first stop in our 3-month journey. We are now in Las Cruces, N.M.

We stayed three nights in Marana, about 30 minutes outside of Tucson. You will probably never spend even one night in this tiny little town. I never imagined I would. It was just as hot in Marana as in Phoenix. We stayed in a very basic RV Park, certainly not an RV resort. Little shade.

We arrived and set up on Sunday, June 12. Monday, June 13 was my 64th birthday. (Last year I spent my birthday in Madrid, Spain at a Flamenco show.) Monday  and Tuesday nights were spent in Tucson with friends. This year Peter and I spent my birthday evening   with a dear RC friend, Catherine. I couldn’t imagine a more lovely evening. Tuesday night was equally as memorable. We met Minnie at Sinbad’s, a small Arabic restaurant near U of A campus. Not only did we get to know Minnie better, we had authentic Arabic food. And, of particular interest was that they were celebrating Ramadan. We learned more about this Muslim tradition and met some very gracious and hospitable people.

Back to the theme of this blog. In Marana we reveled in the mundane and ordinary and not so ordinary. Tuesday on our walk around the RV park we spent some time with  a roadrunner. It was the first time I was so close to this iconic AZ bird. We had time to reflect on our time in the southern AZ desert. We got to notice everything, thus the theme of this first post.

Last thoughts for our short time in the AZ part of the beginning of our journey. It’s been a year from our pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. I can’t help but draw on some correlations from that journey to this southwestern U.S. journey. Of course the location and experience is different, but I hope to maintain the attitude of a peregrine (pilgrim). For me it was one of expectancy. Living in the present and looking forward to each new experience – big or small.

June Yvonne (JY)

Here we are are on our journey – so much planning and preparing – I thought it would never end so we are just happy to be on the road – Mad Max style.  Oh ya it’s going to be 119 in Phoenix this weekend and we are going to miss it (darn).  We are just getting the blog started so there is some work to do on the site so for now just bear with us.  So far I have spent a far amount of my time either doing nothing, reading or establishing a daily routine.  This is all about my “relaxation re-programming”.

The RV is working out very well and the improvements we have made and the preparing is paying off.  You have to have a plan when two people live in such close quarters.  I cook and clean one day and JY the next day.  We share the workload when we set up and break down camp.  We have great discussions in the truck while driving and “Trivial Pursuit” cards are always fun.  As many people know happiness takes work.  There are three of us in this marriage – me, JY and us – some days I want to do what’s good for me – some days she wants to do what’s good for her – on many days we do together what’s good for our marriage.  Happiness = Compromise.

We do have a mystery however and I am flummoxed about what is happening.  Two nights in a row I’ve set up the coffee pot with filter, coffee grounds and ten cups of water – set the timer for 7:00am and go to bed.  The problem for those two nights was that we heard the coffee pot start making coffee in the morning but when we finally got up there was no coffee.  There was no water in the reservoir, no coffee in the pot and the coffee grounds in the filter weren’t even wet – where did the water go.  I checked everywhere – still haven’t found it.

PRC  zzzz