Visiting in New Mexico with the NC Dolbows

Happy 2009 to all!

We drove from Cameron to Amarillo on New Year's Day. It was a long ride, but weather was warm and dry. We took advantage of it.

Bill kept trying to get a milkshake, but the machine was either down, or the restaurant was being razed! We finally got one at a SONIC. Never went to one of those before. In order to drink we had to water the milkshake down with old coffee....actually not too bad. Laugh.

In Amarillo the hoteliers sent us by limousine to the Big Texan Steakhouse. The meal was delicious. We sat at the bar and talked with two truck drivers, father and son both named Don, from Calistoga, CA. This is in wine country, they told us. They were "stuck" in Amarillo, because a woman did not pay her $1600 delivery bill as her husband is in the hospital. These are independent truckers, going from haul-to-haul. They sleep in the truck, watching movies on DVD at night. Amarillo was the farthest the son had ever travelled, but the dad had once gone from Daytona, FL to Alaska! We found them to be delightfully nice men. You have to wonder about that kind of life. The family included six other brothers, and one sister. "Don" is the oldest. He does not want to get married until he can be a father ho is home more. He believes that Obama is going to bring a big chnge to the economy.

The next day we took our time setting off, as we knew we would arrive in Albuquerque before the kids. We visited a very remote park along a dammed up part of the Pecos River. Not too exciting.

In New Mexico we found a Red Roof Inn in a somewhat run-down part of town. The people at the desk were very helpful. We met John, Alice, and Maddox at the airport and helped them load up the rental car. Maddox had been up all day, through two plane flights. At one point she told me she wanted to "hold her bed." I don't blame her!

The next day we all met for brunch at "Peeps." John had been here before in his travels. Great place for breakfast!

Then off we came to 5304 Tennyson St. This is an apartment complex of stucco, tile-roofed buildings. They look out on the Sandia Mountains, and the view is just wonderful. Like the ocean, the weather over the mountains is always changing. We have some beautiful sunsets.

Alice did a wonderful job organizing this move. All the furniture was here and placed when we arrived. The kids spent the weekend emptying boxes and getting settled while we played with Maddox. The weather is kind of cold, even for New Mexico, I gather. But we have been able to get outside every day.

I will try to post some pictures.