April 29, 2008

The Taos Pueblo was today's destination. The architecture and history is fascinating. The original chapel was destroyed in 1859 but the bell tower is still standing. The new chapel was built in 1860 and is still being used today. Several families still live there.

We also visited the home of Kit Carson. It's hard to imagine living in those conditions. We are spoiled...I need all of the creature comforts.

April 28, 2008

Today was spent driving back to Albuquerque to Camping World...such fun!! After the fridge problems, we decided to purchase a whole RV surge protector ASAP. We will be staying in several parks with 30 amps so better to be safe than sorry. The park we are in is an older park with several monthly residents. Electrical surges could have caused the problem here.

April 27, 2008

We toured areas we haven't visited for many years. Red River has grown so much. Of course, there wasn't much snow and nothing looked the same. Angle Fire was very pretty. Some wild flowers were starting to grow. However, on the way to both ski resorts, we saw several houses with snow still (AT THE END OF APRIL) up to the windows. We are Texas people, snow is only to play in for a couple of days.....not last for months!!

April 26, 2008

We toured the Taos Plaza today. Lots of little shops and art galleries. So many pretties but not enough places to display them in our RV. Had enough trouble convincing Mike we NEED the "Painted Ponies" and he needs to build me another shelf so we can put all of them out. Can't display collections any more. Also, stopped at a local winery...good wine. Of course, I am still a "cheap date" as one glass of wine is more than enough for me!

Tomorrow we plan to drive up to Red River, Angel Fire and so on. Haven't been to Red River since Todd was in college, almost 20 years!

April 25, 2008

Today was not one of our better days! The fridge went out. Of course it is still under warranty but the service call charge is not covered. The closest RV repair facility is in Santa Fe. So we can either pay the HUGE service call charge or hook up the RV, drive an hour, wait for the repairs and then drive the hour back and set up again. SOOOOOOOOO we bit the bullet and paid the service charge. At least everything is working again. Tomorrow is going to be a much better day.

April 24, 2008

Goodbye Ruidoso...it's been fun! Finally got on our way to Taos after delays due to the fires. Cheapest fuel we found was $4.15...yikes! Nice drive, no trouble but lots of mountain climbs. We are at Taos RV Park. Set up and ready to start touring this area. Onward to adventure!!!

April 23, 2008

Today was another clean house and laundry day. Such fun! In the afternoon we hiked part of the forrest around the Inn of the Gods. Have to get in better shape before we get to Alaska so we can do more hiking.

April 22, 2008

We toured the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Beautiful hotel & casino with a lot of the Mescalero Apache history. Of course, we had to try out the casino.......took us a couple of hours to lose our $20.00. WOO HOO!!! Shopped in all the little shops in town, as usual Mike was a BUMP! Shopping is not his thing and we had looked at a few shops the other day. Of course, living in an RV limits the purchases so that makes him happy.

April 21, 2008

Today we toured Ft Stanton. It was a fort established in 1855 to protect the community from the Indians. After it was disbanded in 1896, the state of NM uses it as a rehab hospital.


We also went to Lincoln, NM. This was the sight of the Lincoln County War. It was the home of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Billy the Kid escaped from the Lincoln jail, killing 2 deputies. The round structure is the Torreon. It was built as a place for the town people to hide during Indian raids. The chapel was the first one established in this part of NM. It was built in 1887.


There are several wildfires close to us and where we planned to go tomorrow. Therefore, we will be staying her for a few more days. Guess we will be forced to visit the casinos!!!

April 20 ,2008

We drove to Ski Apache.....we used to ski there when the kids were little. The road up the mountain hasn't gotten any better in the last several years. It is still a beautiful view; however, things are so dry that many of the trees are suffering.

We also visited the Museum of the Horse. Visited several of the little shops in town. Lots of pretty things but no room in our little house.

April 19, 2008

Today was a travel day. We left Ft Davis and headed Northwest. It was not a long drive. About 287 miles but hard, gusty winds so pulling the RV was difficult. We arrived in Ruidoso about 4 pm. We are at the Circle B RV Resort...owned by Texans. Really nice people. Have a dog just like Callie (our granddaughter's dog).

Tomorrow we will tour the area. It has grown SOOOO much since the last time we were here. Casinos, museums, art studios...WOW!!

April 18. 2008

We toured Ft Davis today. The old fort is interesting but so remote............so remote that once the Indians were under control, it was disbanded because it had out lived it usefulness. Tonight we went to Marfa to see the "Marfa Lights". They are an unexplained phenomenon.....probably not aliens....maybe teenagers with flashlights. They are weird.

Tomorrow we will bid Adios to Texas for a few months.

April 17, 2008

We visited the Balmorhea State Park. It is a natural spring that supplies water for most of this area of West Texas. It is much like Barton Springs but without the big city and pollution of Austin. Water is a constant 72 degrees.

Not much else to see around the area. This part of West Texas is not my cup of tea.

April 16, 2008

Today was a stay at home.. Clean house, do laundry and other fun stuff. Took Cocoa for a long walk and checked out different craft stores. Found a couple of them willing to accept consignments for my beading..........now just need to get busy beading to have enough inventory.

April 15, 2008

After waiting for many years, we finally got to visit the McDonald Observatory. We spent most of the afternoon and returned for the night "Star Party". Got see Saturn thru the telescope..didn't look real as you could see the rings and it looked just like a drawing. Also, got to see the moon up close. So much fun!!! Would highly recommend it.

We drove around the scenic loop. Saw javalinas in the wild. WOW! They were out beside the road but by the time I got my camera out they had gone into the brush. If you look in the upper middle portion of the picture, you can see them.

Great day!

April 14, 2008

Cliff & Wilma Lewis 4/14/08

After coffee and several hugs & kisses from Mother and Daddy, we are on our way. The first segment of our adventure is the McDonald Observatory in the Davis Mountains. It is about 295 miles west of Brackettville. Good weather, nice roads, not much traffic so should be an uneventful trip.

We stopped in Langtry to visit the home of Judge Roy Bean "Law West of the Pecos". An interesting man........kinda crazy!

After that short stop we continued on to Fort Davis. Arrived at the campground about 3:30pm, got settled and looked around the area a little. Tomorrow on to more adventures.

April 13, 2008

Today is our last day at Fort Clark Springs. Scott (my youngest brother) came down from San Antonio to show off his motorcycle. He stayed long enough for lunch. Jerry (my oldest brother) shared his pictures of fishing in Alaska......he goes every year. Maybe we will see him there this summer. The rest of the day was spent visiting with my parents and their friends.

April 12, 2008

Another beautiful spring day! Not too hot, not too cold but JUST right. Spent most of the day shopping with Mother & Daddy. WHEW! They will be here in Brackettville with no family close for a few months. It's hard to leave them at their ages with no one to look in on them. Jerry (my oldest brother) and his wife will be leaving for their home in SD soon. They don't stay here during the summer...........TOO HOT!! They plan to return around the first of October.

Mike stayed home and lazed around--he's not much of a shopper, especially with 91 & 94 year old parents in tow. We spent about 2 hours in Home Depot where Daddy looked at EVERYTHING! Then on to Wally World so Mother could look. Since Mike got out of shopping, it was his turn to fix dinner. What would we do without a grill??

No big plans for tomorrow.

April 11, 2008

Today was a beautiful south Texas day...85 degrees. Spent most of the day visiting with family and friends at Fort Clark Springs. Also, applied to volunteer at Amistad National Park for next winter.



Tomorrow should be another fun filled day in paradise!!

April 10, 2008

After storms all night and little sleep for either of us, we finally got on the road about 9:15 am. I don't sleep the night before we leave.........better get over that if we are going to be on the move for the next couple of months.

We are at Brackettville, TX. We will be here for a few days visiting with my parents. They live on an old fort that was turned into a gated community. Only about 30 miles from the Mexico border. Gets really hot here in the summer........it was in the 90's today. Was cool enough to have late dinner outside NO MOSQUITOS!! The coastal bend area has many, many huge mosquitos. So many you can't sit outside. Won't miss them at all.

April 9, 2008

Today was a get ready to go day. There were lots of severe storms and heavy rain in the area last night. Our daughter-in-law (Mandy) was ready to go in case she and our grand-daughter needed to get to a safe area. Thankfully, there was no need. I had lunch with Mandy today for one last hug and few tears before leaving! Won't see her for a few months.

More storms are predicted for tonight and we had several showers today. The RV is mostly ready to head out....just the few last minute details before travel.

Tomorrow starts the BIG adventure!

April 8, 2008

Well, it's starting to get hot in Texas so time for us to head north. Later this week we will be starting our trip to Alaska. We have been visiting our kids and grandkids in the Lampasa area. Will miss them but they will keep up with us thru this blog.


We spent the last four months as volunteers at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, south of Houston, TX, working with the enviromental education program. These "jobs" included working on the new classroom pavallion, helping with the different school groups and the National Jr. Duck Stamp program.



Of course, there is great bird watching at BNWR. Also, some really big alligators. Great place to visit!



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