The kitties treats from the staff at RV park, and a few shots of them in their daily life on the road.  All the comforts of home!  

I have a great wifi connection tonight!

A few photos of the descent down the original pathway off the mesa at Sky City.

more photos from Acoma Sky City

clay ovens used for baking

The mesa in the distance was the first home of the Acoma people. 

Kokopeli

Snapped this shot as the sun set in Albuquerque.  As I mentioned, I really like this little guy, and then one of the Native Americans told me he was about fertility, and I almost tore the sticker off the RV!!  While it is true that married women not able to conceive prayed for him to come, he also assured a good harvest.....fertile!  And he represents different things to different folks....mischief to some, good luck to some, but always the traveler.  So I left the sticker..... And bought a magnet!

The "Natural State"

Travel day, as we have decided Chatanooga will be our next stop. We just pulled into our site in Little Rock, pleased to be among the trees, and it smells so good!! That earthy, woodsy smell that soothes the senses. The crickets are chirping, and last years leaves are crunching underfoot. That's my only disappointment of the day. The leaves are still green here! A bit of a turn but not much. Arkansas has rolling hills and many lakes and parks, one with the name Toad Suck Park! After being alerted to the homes of country western stars in OK, this was pretty amusing. We stopped at a rest area to stretch and the grass was covered with butterflies! It was so neat! Wonder if they are migrating. Another amusing thing today. We suddenly heard some banging, and decided it must be the latch that holds the door open banging in the wind. It seemed to stop before I got a chance to pull over, so I was not worrying about it. Then I put the turn signal on and saw something flapping in the side view camera. Clem leaned out the window to investigate, as we could now see it in the side mirror, and came back in with a piece of plastic that apparently had worked it's way loose from the awning strut! Now, maybe you had to be there, but I was in hysterics, driving down the road at 65 mph!!

Hmmmmm........

Sticker on pumps....must be they have a problem!  

A couple of imposing rigs parked here.  HUGE!!
We actually saw a couple of the "buses" like the first photo at the park in Moab.  This one had two slides on the opposite side, which many don't have.

The Jelly Belly RV!

Now, we have seen some unusual RV's, but this one takes the cake!  Or, the Jelly Bean!  We were walking around the park after dinner, and this one pulled in.  When he saw us, he stopped and asked if we had had our vitamins today, and handed us two little bags of jelly beans!  They work for the company, and were told they would be paid for the diesel fuel if they would drive this, and hence.......  gotta love the tow car!!

The National Cowboy Museum

Wow.....were we impressed!  We had actually skipped this the last time across, doubting it would be much to see.  Were we wrong!  It is huge and informative, and fun.....what more could you ask for.  Traveling exhibits included amazing bronze and stone artwork, and a black and white photography exhibit of Georgia O'Keefe country.  Permanent exhibits of the life of the cowboy, how he came to be, the hundreds of different types of saddles, cavalry riders.....amazing.  Plus a great collection of western movie stars, and a great film showing clips of the old westerns, and their evolution.  Made us want to watch one!  There was even an entire western town set up inside where you could walk the streets and go into the various shops and saloon.  John Wayne was on the board, and his son succeeded him.  Definitely a worthwhile stop.

Titled "Sunset", I caught him just a bit early.

Gorgeous statue in entry

We learned how "vaqueros" came to be known as "Buckaroos" in the plains, as midwesterners joined in the cattle rush to Nevada and Oregon.   I was pleased to see exhibits on the plains Indians as well.  On the ride from Texas, I had started pondering the differences in the Indians I had always thought of , and the Pueblo Indians we learned much about in the New Mexico.  With the plains, I saw the beaded work and feather head dresses to which I was more accustomed.   At the end of the exhibit there was a map with all the nations, which was truly fascinating.  So many tribes!

....and into Oklahoma

We left Shamrock, Texas, where we stayed the night, and traveled a stretch of road from the campsite that was the old Rt 66, where we bounced along about three miles and came to one of the most iconic images on the old road.  An Art Deco Conoco gas station, and the "You Drop Inn".  I stopped for a few photos before getting back on the new Rt. 40 to head to Oklahoma.  I would love to have taken the old route from there, as we passed half a dozen towns that boast landmarks of the old road, but Oklahoma City was the goal for the day.  Clem and I had a little discussion about this......he said he has spent his entire career being goal oriented, and he has this drive to achieve the goal.  I agreed that we could not see it all, and must choose what we will see on any particular trip.  But later, I did remind him that life is about the journey, not the destination!  haha!

We passed a sign for a town called Yukon that declared we would love it, and it was the Home of Garth Brooks!  Clem figured he wasn't there.  Another sign let us know that we were crossing the Chisolm Trail!  I learned later that the trail was named after a trader who set up a post in Oklahoma City.  We also learned that Shamrock, with St. Patrick's  Catholic Church, and various other Irish named pubs and businesses, was most likely Irish due to the huge number of Irish cow hands.....ie, cowboys!!  Who knew!!

Our campsite is amazing!  One of the best we have stayed in, with sites wide enough, and angled so that you have lots of space between your neighbors, swimming pool and all the amenities, plus a work out room.  And the office/store even has pizza and popcorn, in addition to grocery items and RV supplies.  The couple who checked us in were quite accommodating, and gave us directions to the museum we wanted to see, and information about the area, including the fact that the city was so torn up with construction, we did not really want to go there!  Good tip!  We chose this location because of its proximity to the museum, and it was our main goal, so we set up and set out.

The kitties adventures

Sas was quite interested in the cows in the adjacent field when we got up.  Especially when they all headed out, apparently for breakfast, at quite a clip!  They always  enjoy the view out the windows,like here, where they were watching the dogs being walked in Albuquerque....and most likely the birds and bunnies scooting about!   

But they tuck themselves away when we are driving, like here in the closet.  We had just stopped, and I opened the doors completely ( I keep one open a crack for them to get in ).   They look comfortable, and of course it is nice and cozy.  I have, of course, made beds of towels for them wherever they like to snuggle.  I told them it would be a smoother ride if they would join us in the front, but they don't listen!  :-)

Texas

This Texas Steakhouse on Rt 66 has been serving steaks since 1960, and promises a 72 oz one free to whoever can eat it!!  I had hoped we would hit it at dinner time, but it was still early, so we just stopped for a look and photos.  The inside does not disappoint!  Clem really was not interested in stopping, but we ended up spending a fair amount of time looking around.   Clem played a few slots, and I tried my hand at the shooting range, and we marveled at a wall of photos that holographically aged as we walked by!  Quite a hoot, and well worth the stop.  More photos to follow!

We continued on to Shamrock, nearly the border into Oklahoma, to spend the night before heading on.  We recognized it as the same place we stopped on the last time through!  The gentleman at the desk told Clem he did not accept credit cards, only cash, with two forms of ID!  His family has farmed this land since 1901, and he has always lived here.  The sites are in an open field adjacent to the pastures.  Sparse, but pleasant.  We set up as the sun dropped, and Clem fired up the grill for burgers while we sipped a little wine.  I don't know what it is, but living like this seems to call for a little wine when the day is done!  The burgers were great.....don't think a steak at the Big Texan could have compared.

Tucumcari, NM

This was one of the towns on Rt. 66 that we did not get to on our last trip.  It once boasted 2000 motel rooms in the heyday, but much like most of the towns, it is now half, if not completely, deserted.  This gem, however, has been purchased, and is being brought back to its original state.

There seems to be a trend in this town to help restore the interest, as they are painting murals on the buildings with old cars and stars, and scenes of the day.  This one boasted James Dean and Clark Gable.  I have photos, but again, bad connection , so just this one tonight.

Our trip along Rt 40 often parallels Rt 66, and at other times swallows it up.  And that is exactly what happened when 40 was built.  The businesses that had thrived, were no longer accessible from the new road, and they dried up, and the towns followed.  No business....no livelihood.  Has to make one think. While all the collections and memorabilia can be so much fun, it is sad to see deserted buildings along the roadside.  In a town called Cuervo, an entire town sits, really pretty complete, rather than falling apart....but just totally deserted.  In other places, gas stations, restaurants, and motels sit vacated and decaying.  I hope others will make the attempt  to preserve this part of our history.

Road Runner!!

I GOT one!!

Petroglyphs and Balloons

We bundled up in the chilly morning for a nice walk looking for petroglyphs, but were soon in our shirt sleeves.  The sun here is so strong, that even in the 50 degree range it is quite comfortable.  Add walking a sandy path, and you are warm!  Moab and this area are both ripe with petroglyphs, and the walk we chose was said to have 2000 images carved into the volcanic material.  Some more visible than others, it became a scavenger hunt!  We were not disappointed as we dropped into what they termed a canyon, hardly such by what we have seen in the last days!  But the noise of traffic disappeared, and the call of canyon wrens accompanied us farther along our trail.

The first thing I noticed were the tracks in the sand where nocturnal creatures had passed just before us. The wind of yesterday provided a lovely blank canvas, and they were clearly visible, which was really fun.  And I was thrilled to see a cottontail jumping around.  We did spot a Road Runner, finally.  For the state bird, they sure are elusive!

After our walk, we headed out in search of lunch, since we had forgotten to pack our picnic.  We spotted a DRIVE IN! Can you imagine?  What fun!  One of my favorite child hood things was eating at a drive in, and we opted for whatever food it may be, regardless of fat and calories!  I had a Chicago style Hot Dog, and Clem had a Conie Style, and they were delicious!  And though we had to order through the modern day conveyance, the food was delivered by a waiter on roller skates!  Fun, fun!!

Next on the list was the Abbruzzo Balloon Museum, adjacent to the launch area for the Balloon Festival.  It was very interesting to see the history of the balloons before they became recreational.  We had both forgotten that they were used in the war, where their payload was bombs.  And the dirigible that once crossed the ocean in two days, with first class service, including wine and meals served on china.

The next adventure was to be the Sandia Mountain Tram ride that we could not take yesterday due to wind, but today it was closed for maintenance!  Oh well.....next time!  We do enjoy New Mexico, and will definitely be back.  In fact, next year at this time!  I have to say the western part of the state is far more interesting topographically than this part, which is pretty flat and brown, save for the occasional outcropping of some extinct volcano.  And due to the altitude of the area, they are not even that prominent.  Not at all like the snow capped peaks of the Cascade range that never ceases to amaze me.  But the amazing blue sky, the clear air, and the culture are just unique and fun.  I have developed a passion for Kokopeli to the point that one of our windows is now adorned with a sticker of his image. More on him later.

Once again, I have more photos, but wifi here, and even Clem's hot spot, just so slow, I will post later.

We head out this morning, having extended our stay here one more night, to new adventures!

blueberry crisp!!

Tested out the convection part of the microwave last night.....works just fine!!  Clem got us a little ice cream to top it off.  Yum!

Albuquerque

We set off this morning for a tour of Old Town, where we browsed the many shops filled with pottery and jewelry, admired the centuries old architecture, and had lunch at what was a home continuously inhabited from the 1700's until 1991.  Surprisingly large, with big open rooms, and a lovely outdoor space that we opted for on such a lovely day.  It did, however, become very windy, as had been predicted, and we put off our Sandia Mountain tram ride until tomorrow!  We instead visited an Indian Pueblo Cultural Museum, and located the Petroyglyph National Monument, where we decided to return in the morning for the longer walk.  There are some 2000 petroglyphs on a two mile walk, so I am looking forward to that.

I am disappointed that the Cliff Dwellings are not in the area, and would take us pretty far off our path.  So guess we will save that for next trip!  I also need to find out if there is not some museum or something for Billy the Kid!!!!  I keep seeing "wanted" signs, but nothing more!  

One of the tour guests that we bonded with on yesterdays descent was a retired teamster, turned leather tooler....is that the word?  He makes leather belts and holsters.  And he looked for all the world like he just stepped out of 1800, with big mustache and ten gallon hat, and of course a lovely leather belt and big buckle holding up his jeans over his plaid shirt!  Nicest guy....said he spends his life in that era, reading books by western authors, whose names I can't think of at the moment.  He is from Missour"a" , and first time to this part of the country, though he has read so much about it.  He too, mentioned Billy the Kid.  Has to be something!  

San Felipe Church

Got back to the coach around 4pm, and have had a relaxing afternoon planning the next leg of our journey.  

Acoma Pueblo Sky City

We visited this ancient pueblo, said to be the oldest continuously inhabited place in the country, dating back to about 1100 in this location atop a mesa that sits 370 feet above the desert floor.  Once occupied by  some 2000, today there are only about 35 people who live in the more than 500 homes still there.  Some of the other homes are used by artists who make and sell their beautiful pottery.  Accessible only by foot hole paths until 1959, the entire pueblo, as well as a 21,000 square foot adobe mission complex overseen by a Franciscan Friar in 1629, was accomplished by hauling building materials up and down that path.  The people also farmed the fields below, and raised cattle, again needing the paths to come and go.  We were shuttled up by bus, and after our tour, and seeing the beautiful pottery made by these people following their native customs, we were offered three options for getting back.  The road to walk, the original pathway, or the bus.  Well, you know what I chose!  Clem was more inclined to ride the bus, but I kept pushing, saying if the other couple could do it, he could.  Well, about 4 couples ended up doing it, and we bonded on the way down!!  Steep, and at one point a tad spooky, it was a life experience!  We cannot fathom these people doing this over and over, let alone carrying things up.  We were told that the rafters of the mission, which were huge, were never allowed to touch the ground, or they could not be used.  How they managed that, we will never know!

I have photos of the walk down....as much as I could manage when I could let go!......as well as more of the pueblo, but connection is very slow, so will post later in the gallery.

Heavenly!!

We just pulled into our site for the next couple of nights in Albuquerque. After setting up and giving the kitties treats provided by the staff, no less, we are sitting out under a tree with a glass of wine and enjoying the pleasant breezes. I could not let the moment go unmentioned, so entering from my phone. Tales of our day to follow. :-)

Carol
Sent from my iPhone

El Rancho, Gallup , NM

We arrived at our site, set up, and set out for this historic hotel and restaurant on Rt 66.  Many movies were filmed in this area, especially westerns, and the movie stars all gathered and stayed here.  Their photos adorn the walls, sandwiches are named after them, and many of the rooms have plaques with their names.  John Wayne, James Cagney, Alan Ladd, Gene Autry,......I think the most surprising name for me was Jane Fonda.  There were so many, the entire second floor of the lobby was filled!  On the Historic Register, the hotel was very neat, and worth a visit....the food, not so much!  

Hole in the Rock

You knew it would not be long before I got in some kitsch!  This was a good dose of it, and yet, these people were serious!

Albert and Gladys Christensen  spent 12 years excavating 50,000 cubic feet of sandstone to create their 5000 square foot house with 14 rooms arranged around huge pillars.  He was a mining engineer, so apparently knew just how to manage the task!  It was amazingly bright inside, but unfortunately, no photos were allowed.  The small white structure on the front, now a gift shop, was once their diner!  He dabbled in taxidermy, and their pet mule is inside.....ok, very strange, even for me!!

Moab

This was our view for three days in Portal RV Park in Moab, Utah, just two miles from the entrance to Arches National Park.   We pulled out and hooked up the car, and I snapped the second shot just before leaving.  I could have spent one more day, and gone on a tour with an ATV, but Clem was not so interested!  I think the next time through this part of the country....or perhaps YET on this trip.....I will send him off to play golf and go myself!!    Moab has become a paradise for off road adventurers, and of course hikers.  We took a little walk around before leaving, and came across two men loading their ATV's onto a trailer bed, and I said it looked like a lot of fun, to which one commented, it is a blast!  The other, a fair amount older than we, by the way, said there were so many off road trails, you had to go!

We chose the parks to visit that were on our route this time, but you could spend a month touring Utah!  We will hit the rest on another trip through.

Brrrrrr.......

Though it was 82 degrees when we arrived here in Gallup, NM, and is  headed for high 70's again today, overnight it dropped into the 30 range, and was a mere 35 this morning!  It is warmer in Aspen!!!  So much for plan B!