Off to the Grand Canyon - 2014 - Day 1

Back in 2014 we decided it was time to visit the south rim of the Grand Canyon and to visit a couple other sites along the way. As always the fastest way from Lubbock is through Clovis and Santa Rosa to I40, then go west. We always try and break the trip up so that we never go more than 400 miles in a day or eight hours on the road. Generally, we try and keep it in the 300 miles and six hour range. After fueling in Albuquerque, NM we stopped for the night at the Sky City Casino and hotel. 

They have a 36 site RV park

 FHU (Full Hook Up) with cable. They provide a shuttle service (driven by the security staff) to and from the casino/restaurant 24 hours a day. You are kind of in the middle of nowhere,

but it is just off I40, about 50 miles west of Albuquerque. For being so close to both the Interstate and Railroad tracks, you hear very little noise from either. On a trip in 2016 we did try the restaurant and found it acceptable. There is a little store on the property that though not over large does provide a fair variety of chips, snacks and frozen meals. There is also diesel and gas available at the location. A good place to spend the night.

45th Annual Albuqureque Balloon Fiesta Does Not Disappoint

Along with three other couples and our good friend David, we attended the 45th Annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. The last one that we attended was five years ago - the 40th Annual. As always the event is filled with anticipation and excitement. And, like the last time, we had some "newbies" with us. It is fun to watch first time visitors when they see all the balloons go up for the first time. Since we normally arrive on the last Thursday of the event, that evening there is normally a balloon glow, and this year was no exception. First thing every morning is what is called "Dawn Patrol" This is generally three or four balloons that launch to check the wind currents. The two pictures below are from "Dawn Patrol."

 

As the sun begins to come up over Sandia Peak and the mountains to the east, more balloons get laid out on the ground, inflated and launched. Of course there are a bunch of people watching. This year the total attendance for the nine day event was around a million people.

 

 As the sky gets brighter, more and more balloons get filled and sent skyward. Catching the winds and sailing down the valley. All sizes and shapes of balloons. bright colors contrasting with the bright blue sky. A site to be seen for sure.

Where we have stayed for the last three times is right on the grounds near the International Balloon Museum. They turn a large parking area into an RV parking lot.

From this vantage point there is a perfect view of the balloons rising above the launch field and sailing away. Some times it can provide some very exciting moments, if a balloon looses a little altitude as it crosses over.

 

There are a few other traditions that have developed over the years. These include breakfast one morning at Weck's Restaurant. Weck's is a great place for breakfast. The other is a trip to Old Town Albuquerque. It is amazing what you see around the square - besides the shopping.

So, we finish another Balloon Fiesta - plan for more trips and head for home. We will visit again  in the future - but for now, so long and safe travels.

This is a very delayed post - thought it had been published -

Well to finish 2015, we had a blizzard. Oh how I wish it was from Dairy Queen. Winter storm Goliath, or the Blizzard of 2015 brought 50+ mile an hour winds and officially 11 inches of snow. Personally we probably had about 10 to 12 inches of snow and drifts to three feet in some areas. The storm and winds came from the north, but most of the drifting was around the south part of the house. This blizzard finished off a year that had brought 29.45 inches of rain, which is 10.33 inches above the average.  It was the wettest year in the last eleven years. Now the blizzard was the third most snow received in a single event since records were kept which was 1911. We just shovelled out and with two jeeps - did not slow us down - much.

On Crutches - Temporarily

The day after my 63rd birthday, I went in to have some minor issues repaired that have been bothering me for two or three years. It was kind of a present to myself, so I could walk without having pain in both my left knee and left foot.
In medical terms I had an Arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in the meniscus. The cause of the tear is undoubtedly wear and tear of a moderately active older male. A person who will do everything himself rather than pay to have someone else do it or ask for help.  The problem with pain in the knee, making it painful to walk, had been evident off and on for a couple years. It would come on, I would rest and it would go away normally after about a week. About a year ago, during an emergency water heater replacement, I spent a lot of time on my knees working on the floor area of where the water heater sits. The knee pain came on and a month later it was still there. I made an appointment with one of the best Orthopedic Surgeons in Lubbock. Being one of the best surgeons, it took me more than two months to get an appointment. After X-rays and an exam, the Doctor felt that it was a torn meniscus and thought a conservative approach might be the best. This consisted of an injection and orders to slow down on walking, no kneeling for prolong periods of time, or at all, use of an exercise bike and rest. Two months later it was still painful to walk more than a mile, and daily walking, especially over rough terrain just kept the pain at the forefront. Another call to the Doctor and an appointment set two months out. At this appointment it was decided the next step was a MRI which would give a clear picture of what was going on. Results showed a tear in the meniscus. Surgery was scheduled for two months out - February 17.
Now, the toe, left foot. This has been causing discomfort since back in '13. I visited a local Podiatrist, who after x-rays, stated that it was arthritis and that in-soles would give me the best relief. So, after a year with Dr. Scholl's I got an appointment in early '15 with the Orthopedic Surgeon. After x-rays, he agreed that the pain was caused by arthritis, but that surgery was the best way to handle it. In addition, he discovered a genetic deformity in the toe bone that would have to be corrected with a "moberg" procedure. His advice was, keep on with life and when it got so bad I could not stand it, to come see him and he would take care of it.
Well, the stars aligned and after he got done with the meniscus repair, he moved down a little and did a Cheilectomy and the Moberg procedure. I'll let you google both of these so you can read the gory details.
Needless to say, I am on crutches until at least Wednesday, which will be my first follow up. The crutches are to give me "stability" while walking. I have pretty good range of motion in the knee, and it is the toe that is the most painful if moved in the wrong direction. I'll go back to work tomorrow. At least we are in a single story facility that meets all ADA requirements.
So, a very long story to tell you what is going on.
Travel in on hold for a little bit, but we plan a couple trips this year, including a trip to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.
So long for now -