Updates and Pictures as Promised

Nothing going on since my last post.  Just getting ready to travel as we will be leaving here on March 27th - two weeks from today.  However, now the weather is beautiful.  It began yesterday and is supposed to last all week.

Oh well, here are some of the pictures from Bob that I promised to post.  I'll do the ones from Three Rivers first.  I'm sure it'll take more than one post to get them all in so will do Valley of Fires on a later post.

The road into Three Rivers looking at Sierra Blanco

Rocks with Drawings

Judy climbing up the ridge looking at t he stones.

A close up of some of the rock drawings

What are Petroglyps?

History of the Three Rivers Sight

Judy climbing up the ridge of rocks

Judy  on the rock trail

Looking back down at the entrance to the Ridge

More Drawings

Fractured!!

Fractured!  Yes that's the outcome on Bob's wrist.  They X-rayed it again this past Tuesday and the verdict was that he did have a fractured bone in his wrist.  The doctor thinks everything looks good and that it will heel satisfactorily without putting it in an actual cast.  He has to continue to wear a stablizing splint and not use the wrist - no lifting or pulling, etc.  He can use the fingers but very lightweight.  We have to go back to have it X-rayed again on Monday, Mar. 26th.  The doctor wanted him to come on Tuesday, Mar. 27th, but we explained that was leaving day so he'll be going on Monday afternoon.  Let's hope all is healed so we don't have to locate another orthopaedic doctor in Tuscaloosa when we get back there to continue his care.  Oh well, life goes on!

We had a bad sand storm yesterday.  They are something to experience.  The wind blew hard and it was full of sand.  The visibility was only about one mile and that's not much here in the desert of Tularosa Basin.  The Sacramento mountains are only about 2 miles away and we normally have a beautiful view of them.  We literally could not see them yesterday.  It is still very, very windy today buy at least the sky is clear.  And you can breathe without inhaling sand.

We have done  no sightseeing this week so there's really nothing to tell about.  I did our taxes and am very proud of me.  I used Turbo Tax and not only did the federal but all three of the state returns I needed to do.  There's only one of the state returns that I'm a little leary about and that is Kentucky.  They do not allow non-resident returns to be e-filed and some of the questions asked in regards to that return were not clear.  I guess I'll find out how I did sooner or later.  Bob worked (one-handed) on the auxillary fuel tank he is trying to get installed on the truck before we leave.  Coming out here we came across a section of Texas desert where we really got paranoid about running out of fuel and of course there's no phone service in those areas either.  We're wondering about getting that new Wilson adapter for the truck before we leave here.  Better get on with it if we're going too but haven't priced one yet to see if that makes one prohibitive..

We ask everyone to please continue to Pray for Bob's arm to heal and for us to stay focused on our purpose - seeking God's will in our lives as we travel these United States.

So long for now!

Judy

P.S.  Still haven't received pictures from Bob to post showing last week's journeys.

Bob's Fall

I know I promised to post at least once a week but last week was kind of helter-skelter.
Last Saturday, Feb. 25th, abt 6:00 PM, just before closing the office, Bob took a tumble off the porch down the steps (5) to the ground.  I saw him fall and it scared me to death.  Luckily I was able to help him get up and he went on to finish his last chore before going home.  He skinned up the left side of his face and hurt his left wrist along with breaking his hearing aid in his right ear.  It cracked all the way around.  So, he did tumble hitting both sides as he rolled down the steps.

We spent Sunday afternoon in the Emergency Room in the local hospital here and the doctors there thought his wrist had a fractured bone in it.  They put a splint on it to stabilize it and told him he needed to see an orthopaedic doctor.  He really suffered with it until we saw the doctor on Tuesday morning.  It was swollen really bad and the doctor said he had a lot of arthritis in the wrist which he had severely aggravated.  Due to this he could not make a decision on whether or not there was a fracture.  He put a brace on his wrist and wants him to go back this coming Tuesday for another Xray after the swelling has subsided.  So, I guess we'll find out Tuesday if it is fractured.  However, Bob told him right up front that we were leaving here in 4 weeks which will be 3 weeks on this coming Tuesday.

Yes, its hard to believe that our time here is almost over.  Life here is quite different but we are ready to get out of the wind and find some humidity. 

While he couldn't do much of anything else, on Wednesday we went out sightseeing to see some of the places we hadn't gotten to yet.  We went up to the "Three Rivers" monument.  It is located on BLM land about 25 miles north of here and is where they have tons of drawings on the rocks which were done by the Indians over 600 years ago.  It was quite interesting and we did about half of the climb and walk thru these rocks.  Coming back down off the ridge, it was Judy who fell this time.  She stepped down on loose gravel and sat down on a rock.  Most of all it just hurt her pride but she did have a sore butt the rest of the day as well as torn pants.  After that we drove on up to Carizozo about another 20 or 25 miles to visit the Valley of Fires which is also on BLM land.  Here there are acres of volcanic rock which just erupted up out of the ground for about 225 square miles.  There was no volcano - the lava just started bubbling up and they think it continued for about 30 years.  Here they had a nice 3/4 mile paved walk out over some of this lava rock.  Then, we stopped in Carizozo on our way home and ate supper.  All in all we had a nice day.

I didn't have my phone out with me because my pants didn't have a pocket so no pictures.  Bob did take a bunch so if and when he gets around to sending some of them to me I'll post them here for everyone to see.  Things are hard to visualize unless you have something to base things on.

Well that's about it.  Please Pray for his doctor's visit Tuesday that he will get a good report.

Thanks,

Judy

White Sands

Well hello everyone.  We finally made the trip out to White Sands Monument.  Oh was it worth the time.  It was one of those things that you cannot describe.  It has to be seen to feel the impact of all those sand dunes - in the desert no less.  One of the locals told me that they have the prettiest beach in the US, just no water to go with it.  Actually, it is not sand, but gypsum (the stuff sheetrock is made of).  However, it has been blown so much by the wind that it is so fine in the dunes that it really feels like sand.  And it goes on for miles and you see the mountains in the background between dunes.  It's just amazing.  We took a lot of pictures but like most wonders of the world, they don't start to do justice to the sight.  It was totally overwhelming.  Will try not to bore you but here are some pictures:

Sign at the beginning

Front of the Visitor's Center

Starting our drive

And farther

Bob in front of the boardwalk trail!



Looking Back down the boardwalk

Another boardwalk view

Bob walking back to our truck.

Another boardwalk view

The pavement has ended as we go farther into the mounds

And farther

In the circle starting back

Another picture from the circle.  The head of a 2 mile trail.

We didn't take it.

So far this has been the highlight of our trip.  And, can you believe we only have 4 more weeks left here before we start back to Tuscaloosa.  It'll be over before we know it.

Later, Judy





Disappointment - son's visit cancelled!

Well, no pictures last week.  We absolutely did nothing but cleaning and shopping.  Of course we worked our two days on Friday and Saturday.

Our youngest son was supposed to fly out Saturday to spend the weekend with us but his flight got cancelled due to bad weather.  They had a later flight for that day but it was already booked so his trip got cancelled.  We were sure disappointed.  Had planned to go back to the Mexican Restaurant with him that we had been taken to the week before.  And, we were going to White Sands on Sunday afternoon.  So, we had hamburgers for supper and napped Sunday afternoon.

Planning on going to White Sands tomorrow if nothing happens.  Our time is drawing short here and there are lots of things still to see and do.  Will take pictures to put on our next post.

So, we really have nothing to write today.  Just wanted to stay in touch with everyone who follows us.  And soon, we'll be traveling again.  We're looking at March 20th for our departure date.

Until later with pictures,

Judy

Busy Week

We've had a real busy week but took no pictures.  Besides cleaning our living area carpet, we went to two musseum.

On Tuesday afternoon we visited the Otero County Museum located at the Visitor's Center and by the Chamber of Commerce.  It was a real nice free little museum which covered some of the history of this area.  Old timers called it inhabitable - the land of cracked skin - with nothing here but cactus and rattlesnacks plus no water.

Then Thursday we went to the New Mexico Space Museum.  It tooks us four hours to do it all including the IMAX theatre and the Planetarium show.  It was all really nice.  The museum is four stories with lots of space history - lots of it taking place right here in southern New Mexico. At the IMAX theatre  they were showing the documentary, "Everest".  It was about a group of people climbing Mt. Everest.  Personally I think they were a little crazy.  Then we also saw the Planetarium show on the planets.  Everything was all very good.  There is alot of outside exhibition stuff which we didn't really have time to explore.  I guess we'll have to go back another day and do that.  You can see this stuff without having to pay again.  It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Then last night, the owners of the park here took us out to eat at a very nice Mexican restaurant.  We ate things we had never had before.  The food was very good and the evening very enjoyable.  James and Cindy are really great people and if you're ever out this way stop and spend a night or two with them - Boot Hill RV resort between Alamogordo and Tularosa.

It is hard to believe that our time is almost half over here.  And our list of things to see and do is still very long.  However, we do not believe that the dry climate here agrees us.  We're actually missing the humidity back east.  We both have fingers cracked open and they're sore.  I have my right thumb and that makes it difficult to type.

So, until next time ----

Judy

Sitting Still

Well, we're sitting still and it's kind of nice.  We didn't do any sightseeing this week so their really isn't much to write about.  We kind of just stayed home - Judy did some cleaning and Bob did some repairing.  Living full time in an RV is just like living in a house.  They have to be cleaned and there is always something that needs to be fixed.  But, oh how we love the freedom of having our home on wheels.  We are actually working today as our days are Friday and Saturday.  There are 3 workamping couples here and we each do two days with the office being closed on Sunday.  That tells you something about the owners.  They're really nice and this is a great, clean park.

There are so many things out here that we want to see and do that we are having a hard time setting our priorities to be sure we get the most important things in before we leave.  However, we will be here until the latter part of March.  We may just have to toss a coin each week.  Weather permitting, I think we are going to go to White Sands this next week on our day out.

I've got to share that I woke up this morning thinking about those dreary, all day rainy days in Alabama.  Sure wish we could have one of those here.  I'd love to wrap up in a blanket, stay inside and read all day.  It just doesn't rain here.  I think we have had one rain in a month and it was at night.  Water is precious here in the basin.

The phone is really ringing with people checking on availability.  Looks like I'm going to get really busy this afternoon.  They'll probably all arrive at 5:45 and the office is supposed to close at 6:00.  Oh well, the business is good.  Maybe we'll fill up the park tonight.

Guess I better stop and start getting myself prepared for what appears is going to be a rush.

Later, Judy