Kingston and Silver City....Completing the Augustinho Experience

Gnomey says that it's hot here in New Mexico.

He likes the scenery.

Beautiful drive to Kingston.

Spit and Whittle Club...sounds fun.

Here is the Black Range Lodge.  Rose asked me to stop by.

 

                                         This is Catherine, Rose's friend.  She runs the place.
                                         She fed me, gave me water and a bag of her home grown
                                         pears to take with me.  Awesome.

 

                                                 The drive to Silver City is breathtaking.

Sign says Gila National Forest

Cool old sign for a hamburger place in Silver City, NM

                                    Here is my Cousin Carl, wife Paula and me.  Great dinner!

 

Next stop is Tucson, AZ

 

Love,

 

Laurie

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

 

 

As explained in the previous blog, it is so interesting how the town got its name!

 

 

 

Here I am with Nancy, Rose's friend. We had lunch yesterday after I arrived.  Nancy was present as a Doula at Taya's birth (my friend Rose's daughter Taya is a beautiful light in my life).

 

Here is where we went to lunch.  Awesome burgers!

 

   Awwww, here is where Taya was born.

Here is the sky as I approached the RV site on a big hill.  There was plenty of rain, thunder and lightning.  I don't seem to get very excited about that anymore.  I've seen so much during the trip. As BB King says...."The Thrill is Gone".  Hey William...."it goan."

Here is Elephant Butte.  you have to use your imagination a bit.

The water in this reservoir is so low.  Same story in California.

 

Here is the Marina at "Damsite"

Selfie of me and Nancy on the T or C tour. 

This is a native species....Quickimovicus (Blurry Lizard).  Ha Ha

Go get me some milk at the Dam Store!

We checked the doors....locked.  We looked for people...none.  Oh!!!!!! Gee, there's a sign.

CLOSED!  Duh.

 

Had to stop at the tye-dye store here.

Here's is the hippie dude, Dukatt. I am not sure if that is his first or last name.

Even aliens get in on the tye-dye craze.

 

 

 

Here I am in the tye-dye vortex!!!

Dukatt put these antlers on me and took a picture of me with his camera. (this is my new, one-of-a-kind tye-dye shirt).  I had to have a picture too.  I think I am now in some kind of "Antler Club". He is such a weirdo..that's why I like him.

 

Nancy and I went to lunch today at the Pacific Grill Restaurant today and it was fabulous. 

Welcoming committee of one again at the Charles Hotel

 

Tomorrow I head to Kingston, to see Rose's friend Catherine at the Black Range Lodge in Kingston, New Mexico.  After a short visit there, I will head to Silver City, NM to visit with my cousin Carl and his wife Paula.  After that, Tucson and then......San Diego to see Rose and Taya!

 

Love,

 

Laurie

Beautiful New Mexico

When I woke up yesterday in Amarillo, this is what I saw, then it started raining a bit.  I looked over on the other side of the RV and there was a double rainbow.  Wow.

 

 

Here is my first site of New Mexico.  My cousin Cynthia asked me if I saw any New Mexicans.  I said I'd only seen old Mexicans.  HA HA

 

The sky doesn't look like this in Pleasanton, CA

 

Welcoming committee of one in Albuquerque.  Looks like an ambush behind a bush.

 

 I love this little campsite.  I had my own swing and a chimenea.  I lit a fire this morning and had coffee by the fire.  You know, this is the life.  I am enjoying the trip far more that I had expected....far more. I continue to find what I am looking for during the entire journey, the

      good in people, experiences and places.  That good is everywhere; I see it and I go for it.

As I was driving into Albuquerque, I took a chance that John was around.  He was my neighbor in Hayward and had moved here.  Well, did I ever get lucky!  Not only was he available, but his
lovely girlfriend Kathleen was too.  They picked me up at the KOA and we went to a lovely Greek restaurant called Yanni's. We shared a bottle of wine and some great conversation. John....thank you so much for treating me to a wonderful dinner. The restaurant is on the main drag and it is really cool how the folks here preserve the look of Route 66 with old neon signs and original store fronts.



I took a photo of this tattoo parlor because it reminded me of President Obama's promise to his teenage daughters he made on the Ellen show.  He skyped in and Ellen asked him about his daughters ever deciding to get tattoos.  He said that if one or both did, he and Michelle would get identical tattoos in the same spot and he said it reduced the "cool factor" by a large margin.  Really funny.

Heading to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico today to see a friend of Rose's.  I will meet up with Nancy for coffee and spend some time in "T or C".  Interesting name of a city..here is the scoop:

In 1950, NBC television and radio producer Ralph Edwards, on the 10th anniversary of the Truth or Consequences radio program, called his staff together and said, "I wish that some town in the United States liked and respected our show so much that it would like to change its name to 'Truth or Consequences.'" Upon hearing the proposition, the New Mexico State Tourist Bureau relayed the news to the manager of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the news spread like wildfire. They held an election and the name change passed.

By the way, have I mentioned how wonderful it is to be in cool weather without humidity?  OMG is it ever great to need a sheet and a blanket to sleep at night.

Honorable mention:  I spoke with my grandson Jack, who turned 7 today.  I called him at 5:00 a.m. my time and he was getting ready for bed.  I just had to talk to him on his birthday.  Plans for his birthday are to go to YOKOHAMA HAKKEIJIMA SEA PARADISE!  There is an aquarium and thrill rides.  His parents said he could take a few friends.  Since his Nona and Grandpa, as well as Grandpa Dave are coming tomorrow, they get to go too. 

I had a great talk with Jack and he thinks I should try going around the world in a speed boat with a "buggy" (dune buggy) or a jeep towed behind.  That way, I can just pull up to any port and zoom off.  Bright kid and great idea.  He said the only drawback is that the speedboat would not be stable in rough seas and I agreed.  :-)   I told him I met with someone from Australia.  He said people there talk funny and say things like "diggeridooo".  Damn, he is funny. 

His three-year-old brother Kohl now likes to say "poop" after every Japanese word he knows.  He is going around saying Konichiwa-Poop, (Good afternoon-Poop), Ogenki desu ka-Poop, (How are you-Poop). Look out, another funny man. All the Japanese ladies think this is hilarious.

Off to T or C, where Rose lived and Taya was born, and then to Silver City in a few days to see my cousin Carl Augustinho and Paula!

Love,

Laurie

Don't Mess with Texas!

I didn't want to leave the RV park in Oklahoma City.  It was really nice.  I miss trees.  I knew the landscape would change....

This is a nice rest stop in Texas, about 100 miles from Amarillo going west on 40.

I am enjoying the open sky and amazing clouds.

                                  This cross reminds me of Castro Valley's Three Cross Church.
                                       It's very churchy here.  I saw a highway sign with a
                                     picture of Jesus and it said...."I specialize in U-Turns"  :-)

There is a sign in the distance that says..."FREE 72 oz. STEAK"

 

Here is what it is all about:

 

YOU HAVE TO EAT IN LESS THAN ONE HOUR! (See small print under the word steak).

Texas picture postcard

The Amarillo welcome committee, the mariachi band and a lonesome cowboy 

There's a storm a brewin'.  I can expect 60 mph gusts tonight with rain and hail.  I covered the windshield with a protective cover just in case.  I already had to replace the windshield on this trip!

 

These are NIGHT TIME temperatures of course and storm activity.  You know what I love here? DRY heat.  My sister Kathleen said I would be kissing the ground when I get to California.  I bet I will, no matter how dry that ground is.  Drought conditions are very bad I hear.

 

As Bugs Bunny said.....I will try not to "Make a Wrong Toin at Albe-coi-kee"

 

Love,

 

Laurie