Tour de Smith

April 23, 2018

Tswanki (SAN-ka-WEE), a separate section of the Bandelier National Monument was a more primitive hike up to a Mesa. Again we explored cave dwellings and petroglyphs.

Afterward we drove a loop around the entire Monument which included Los Alamos. We thought of you Van and of your fathers contribution to the “secret” Manhattan Project. We got stopped by the patrol in Los Alamos and was given the choice to be searched or take a different route. We chose a different route simply because the search could take hours. I did find the area eerie as evidence of the “secrets” were apparent everywhere.

I spoke earlier of the massive explosion that formed these mountains. The next picture is of the Valles Caldera – the center of that explosion. In a strange way it was inviting and calming.

We drove back to Albuquerque to start our venture west and stayed in an RV Park just behind a casino. Duh!

April 22, 2018

There is evidence of Ancestral Pueblo people who settled in Frijoles Canyon over 10,000 years ago. Volcanos more than a million years ago ejected enough material to cover 400 square miles with a layer of volcanic ash up to 1000′ thick (500 times more powerful than the 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens). The volcanic ash compacted over time into a soft crumbly rock they call tuff. Tuff easily erodes by the action of wind and rain and overtime took on the appearance of “swiss cheese”. The Pueblos used tools to enlarge the small natural openings to make their dwellings.

This underground kiva was an important part of the ceremonial culture. It was used for religious activities, education and decision making. The kivas would have had covers and I imagine climbing down the ladder into a dark room with flickering torches and people sitting on the floor. This was a special place, the communities heart and center.

From inside the cavattes (cave rooms)

The ruins of the village in the distance and up close

The quiet air brings the murmur of the creek to your ears. The song of this canyon is still present making you connect to the collective unconscious of these ancestral people.

After this incredible hike we found our way back to our campsite and enjoyed yet another evening under the stars.

April 19, 2018

At some stage in the game you have to do laundry. The day however was not lost – we started the morning with the best breakfast burrito at the iconic Frontier Restaurant in Albuquerque.

Then off to Old Town. What a great little place full of shops, local dives and street merchants.

Spent the night in the Sandia Hotel and Casino paid for by my smart husbands poker winnings. I took a long hot bath!!!

Thanks Carol Lee for all the great tips!

Santa Fe

Julie suggested we go to Meow Wolf and I’m so happy we did. What a unique art experience. The house is a 20,000 sq foot art exhibit with dozens of rooms, secret passageways and musical objects with which guests can play for hours. We had a blast (without kids). Bennett and Brooklyn would have gone nuts exploring all its secrets.

The oldest church structure in America – the San Miguel Church ca. 1610

When the Loretto Chapel was completed in 1878, there was no way to access the choir loft twenty-two feet above. Carpenters were called in to address the problem, but they all concluded access to the loft would have to be via ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior space of the small Chapel. Legend says that to find a solution to the seating problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. On the ninth and final day of prayer, a man appeared at the Chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months later, the elegant circular staircase was completed, and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. After searching for the man (an ad even ran in the local newspaper) and finding no trace of him, some concluded that he was St. Joseph himself, having come in answer to the sisters’ prayers.

The design was innovative for the time and some of the design considerations still perplex experts today.

The staircase has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. It is said that the staircase was built without nails—only wooden pegs. The entire weight of the staircase rests on the bottom stair. The original staircase had no banister – it was added later.

Oldest house in America ca 1646

We spent the whole next day enjoying the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, St Francis of Asssissi Church, walking the plaza and just enjoying the street life.

For my sisters and brothers.

April 18, 2018

Stopped in at Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge. Saw so many gambel quail and black-chinned hummingbird and cactus flowers.

In the midst of the sleepy town of San Antonio, New Mexico lies a dive called The Buckhorn. Known for their green chili burger and featured on the Food Network we had to stop. We chatted long with the owner about his Throwdown with Bobby Flay, politics and shared jokes. Oh yeah – he beat Bobby and yes, the burger was great!

April 15, 2018

Found our way to Caballo Lake State Park. It’s a pretty little spot and since the RV can’t walk on water decided to stay for 3 days.

I love that Brooklyn is tracking us.

April 14, 2018

We ran into a herd of javelina’s as we left the Observatory.

An early and excellent breakfast at The Kitchen in El Paso then road the Wyler Aerial Tramway for a view of the city and the Franklin Mountains.

Outside Las Cruces found this champion, the state bird of New Mexico who stands 20′ tall and 40′ wide.

I am in awe of the artist, Olin Calk whose recycled mass makes great use of our waste. See up close his choices – the eyes are from a VW headlight.

April 13, 2017

In 1998 observations of supernovas changed everything. They showed that the universe is expanding at a much faster rate than expected. Astronomers expected to find the expansion of the universe slowing down rather than speeding up due to gravitational pull of all the mass in the universe. Instead, it is speeding up!

What could be pushing galaxies apart? Is it a property of space itself we don’t understand? A modification of the Big Bang theory? A problem with our understanding of how gravity works? No one knows and for a lack of a better name they call this dark energy.

With the installation of a 40 million dollar upgrade to the Hobby-Eberly telescope astronomers hope to figure it out. How does one begin to explore the estimated 100 billion+ galaxies. There is so much excitement in the air here at McDonald Observatory.

The larger Hobby-Eberly mirrors looks nothing like a typical telescope . It’s made of 91 hexagonal mirrors and weighs 80 tons. Each mirror weighs 320 lbs with its underlying support system. The curvature of all 91 mirrors forms a very large spherical surface. You have to look deep inside the cage to see them.

The smaller Harlan J Smith telescope installed in 1969 weighs in at 160 tons.

We braved 45 degree temps with wind gusts to 40 mph to view stars through telescopes set up outdoors for the star party. We LOVED being here and spent the night in their parking lot. Shh-don’t tell.

April 11

For Marie

We climbed to a grave marker perched on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere in Big Bend. The views spectacular. The grave site is one of the few visible traces of Curtis and Nina Hannold’s pioneer homestead. They moved here in 1908 in covered wagon from Oklahoma. Nina passed away at 29 from uremic poisoning. She was pregnant with her fourth child. She asked to be buried on the hill overlooking the spring where she often read to her children under the shade of a cottonwood.

The cottonwood long gone I take in her view and am left with the beauty of her world and the pain of her struggle.

More Big Bend

Boquillas Canyon overlook and Rio Grande River. Across the river Boquillas del Carmen in Mexico. The idea of a wall ludicrous.

The stillness, quiet and blackness of night are the beauties lost in our city living. As I leave Big Bend am reminded that I am but a speck of dust on this vast planet.

Terlingua – ghost town

Ate at the Starlight Theatre after pulling Arnie out of jail. Great dinner – even better margaritas.

April 12

Lajitas – The gorgeous tree is the Palo Amarillo which grow all along the Rio Grande and roads. Their vibrant yellow is a break from the wheat colored fields and bleached rock.

Drove scenic Hwy 170 along the Rio Grande all the way to Presidio.

Elephant Rock

 

Marfa

In the middle of nowhere lies this gem. We ate an OMG dinner at Stellina’s then out to view the Marfa lights. We saw the lights (although convinced they are from distant cars) and enjoyed the camaraderie of the many present to witness an alien abduction. We did enjoy the sunset.

April 9, 2018

Sitting in Fort Davis listening to gorgeous church bells. Song after song is chimed from these bells. One could say I attended mass.

Spent the night in Davis Mountain State Park. Met some great people from Canada. We are finding many with like minds. There is a lot to be said for the peace and comfort of nature. I feel I’m living a prayer.

Morning coffee – okay so it’s 10am. Playing shithead- a game Christine and Brad taught us – yes that is the name of the game.

April 10, 2018

Found a dinosaur exhibit off the road in Big Bend and stopped.

Not a soul around so spent the night

George Brown friends check out the 50K contributors.

The idea was to start a blog immediately following my retirement. I didn’t know that I would find even turning on a computer an impossible task. So here I am 6 months later and powering up.

I love our life. There are no expectations so every experience is a gift. Some would say they are simple – to me they are magical. It’s not that I haven’t seen or felt these things before its that I have the “time” to really experience them. I feel deeper – the warmth of the sun, the beauty of a sunset, the hug from my grandbabies. With no to-do list it’s easy to live in the moment.

I retired October 6th, spent several days in Massachusetts for my niece (Liz) wedding and Boston (cool city) then back to Houston and moved out of the loft. We worked on the flooded houses next. The idea was to start this journey right after retirement but Harvey put us behind.

November 22, 2017

We finally left town, spent several days in San Antonio and was in Wimberley with Bob and Susan when we were pulled back to Houston for a funeral. I drove back to Houston with Bob and Susan – Arnie continued in the RV to Midland which was our next stop. I flew to Midland and met Arnie but the weather was beginning to change and since the RV had not been winterized decided to wait until March or so to begin again. So back to Houston.

January 24, 2018

Bored with the cold decided to cruise with Kitsy and Van to Key West (did the Hemingway thing), Costa Maya, Cozumel and Cuba. Havana was our favorite by far. Of course had to go to the Tropicana one night. After the cruise explored Miami, Vizcaya, Everglades, Key Largo and Islamorado. We are thinking we will stay a month next winter in the Keys.

March 2, 2017

Spent a night in Lake Charles so Arnie could play poker. He always wins and at least pays for the hotel. Next day drove to NOLA for our sons (Dan) graduation! We are proud parents of this mastered genius.

March 6, 2018

Our new official start date. We spent a few weeks visiting and saying goodbyes with my sister Julie, Arnie’s Dad, Ginger, John, Ronnie and our daughter Emmie and grandson Tucker.

March 8, 2018

Great times with Peggy and Teddy in Austin. We enjoyed wine at the El Goucho winery, hiked in Krause Springs and drove their old stomping grounds. Their house is beautiful and they are wonderful hosts so I highly recommend staying with them. 😜

March 19, 2018

Our first stop was in Boerne to visit “Cave without a name”. The cave was discovered in 1938 by a few kids while their parents were away. They had left the 15 year old in charge – mistake. Spent the night along the Guadalupe in an RV park littered with antique RV’s.

March 20, 2018

We visited Stonehenge in Ingram. I have to ask why but guess the answer would be – because we can.

Our next drive was to Sonora and hiked the Caverns and found them pretty amazing at 150′ deep.

March 21, 2018

In San Angelo toured Fort Concho and walked along the river. Viewed some outdoor art in a city park and spent the night in San Angelo State Park.

March 22, 201

Midland- First haircut 31st

April 2, 2018

Made it to Carlsbad and ate a Cuban panini at a cute little dive named Yellow Brix. Since we had not planned a place to spend the night got to experience my first night in a Wal-Mart parking lot. It wasn’t bad believe it or not.

Hiked in and out of Carlsbad Caverns. This is a pic of a section of what they call “The Big Room” a natural limestone chamber almost 4,000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high at the highest point and 750 feet below the surface. It’s crazy big!

Spent the night in Guadalupe Mountain National Park at a cost of a whopping $4. The hike alone was worth the cost.

April 5, 2018

Back to Midland for Greyson’s first birthday!

I have thoroughly enjoyed being with my daughter, Brad, Brooklyn and Greyson and must admit to a sense of loss as I pulled away from their driveway.

Okay call this the catch up blog. From here on out I’ll update as we go.