Albuquerque to Kansas

We spent two nights at the Albuquerque Hyatt -- I'm too cheap to pay the $10.00 for internet access so we are posting on Thursday night from the home of Toto and Dorothy in Liberal, Kansas. Our motel is downwind from a feed lot, but otherwise o.k. It is just a block or so to the yellow brick road (see photo).

Here are some other photos: Atomic Katherine with a backpack nuclear device at the Atomic Museum; Bon, Kat and Adrian in front of their new home; and a pic of Bon in Albuquerque Old Town with chile ristras hanging in the background.

Maybe Bon will say some more about our visit with Kat and Adrian -- I'm heading for the pool.

--Mike

Moab

This little desert town has been a nice surprise. Besides being a vacation destination to enjoy the canyonlands and four wheel drive, white water rafting, canoe, hiking , mountain biking , it also has a location in a valley at the foot of red cliffs and the La Sal mountains that overlook the Colorado River that was familiar to Butch Cassidy. Zane Grey made Moab the center of many of his novels and it has been a setting for movies frequently. John Wayne starred in several movies here like Rio Grande, The Commancheros and one motel's claim to fame is that John Wayne stayed here.
Friendly people, full sun and warm have made our stay here a good one. Tomorrow we head to Albuquerque but wait, I hear my pool lounge chair calling me to return. Bonnie

More pix

Day Five: Canyon Tours

Last night we checked into the motel, then headed into Canyonland National Park and caught great views and photos at sunset. This morning we headed into Arches National Park, nice and sunny but a little too late in the morning for dramatic photos-- but still awe inspiring. Here are some photos from our trip.--Mike

In Moab, Utah

Hi folks. Just to let you know we did not drop off the edge of the earth-- just having a good time and putting on a lot of miles. The last two nights we were at the Salt Lake Hilton-- but did not want to pay the rip off internet fees. Now (Sunday 3:30 pm) we have just checked into a Best Western in Moab, Utah-- gateway to Canyonland National Park and Arches National Park. We are going out now to explore and hope to catch a nice sunset photo to post. Already we have some good photos of our trip, but to busy having fun to post them now. over and out from Mike
Howdy this is Bonnie speaking at ya now and we are having many adventures. Saturday we walked 3 blocks from the Hilton to a mall for a quick cellphone repair. We hopped on the free light rail to get to Temple Square and spent the whole day immersed in Mormon culture. Lots to see and do and got some family history research done. We walked all around the famous temple and the grounds were jawdropping lovely......everything within this complex was well done.....
Hey Adam......we walked by the Delta center and the Jazz were hosting the Lakers......I also saw Karl Malone and John Stockton boulevard....they love their hoops here. All in all a gorgeous and clean city...more later from Moab.

Eugene to Boise

Day one of our journey was 451 miles, Eugene to
Boise, Idaho. We followed Hwy 26 via Prineville, John Day and Ontario.

This photo is looking west toward the Strawberry Mountains in eastern Oregon-- a view that may have discouraged the pioneers who, looking west, realized they had more mountains to cross.

On the Road Again

Our next grand adventure begins in the morning-- we are on the road again, at last. With the wind in my hair (whats left of it) and not a care in the world, Bon and I depart on a 6,000 mile jaunt across country. First stop: Boise.

(the photo is me on a 750 Honda circa 1971 while stationed in Okinawa, Japan)

Amtrak Departure

The train came. The train went. Beginning of story.

Here are some photos

Easter Sunday

Today as I am unloading the dishwasher for the second time, and still facing a sink of assorted serving dishes that I do by hand......I am amazed at the amount of time spent deciding on a menu, shopping for just the right food and then the preparation time to finally sit down to a attractive table and Poof! The feast is over and everyone heads to the comfy sofas in the Great Room.
I am a list maker and I had planned what to serve trying to really concentrate on easy and yet tasty offerings. Had the traditional spiral ham a ten pounder which Sue bought at her store and even delivered it to the house. It was a gorgeous ham if one can say that about a glistening piece of pork........Miss Piggy would probably approve of the gorgeous part. It was easy to pop into the oven and the taste was sublime.
Yams, baked beans had to compete for oven space but all ended up hot and ready to go at the crucial moment. That left two kinds of dinner rolls, butter, raspberry jam, potato salad, deviled eggs, fresh pineapple and a plate of sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives and fresh basil leaves. We enjoyed Champagne and sparkling cider with some fresh local smoked salmon just before the dinner.
Dessert came later in the form of fresh Strawberry pie and a carrot cake with vanilla bean ice cream. Decadent, yes but we not only celebrated Easter but also Susan's birthday and a Bon Voyage send off for Kat and Adrian.
We even found time to look at all the pictures from Sue, Steve and Steven's trip to Disneyland which were great and reminded us of our own trips to the park. I had two birthday bags for Sue to open for her birthday and then she gave me Mother's Day presents as I will be gone on that day this year on vacation. In one final tribute, I gave Sue her baby book album..........I had looked at everything in it one last time earlier in the week remembering all those happy memories. Kat and Adrian looked at it and Steven also had a look and said.....that was really interesting to see all those pictures of my Mom. Steve said that his Mother had given him and his brother and sisters all their books about 4 years ago. There really is a time and place for everything. Later Mike asked me if that was hard to give Sue her book and I truthfully said., no because after all it was all about her and now she can become the memory keeper. As Yul Brenner in the movie "The Ten Commandments" said....."so let it be written , so let it be done"

Last Supper

I am sure Bonnie will have more to say about our wonderful Easter dinner, for which she worked very hard. But it was also our "last supper" with Kat and Adrian. On Easter morn we checked 8 huge cardboard boxes plus a bicycle at the Amtrak station-- their things are on the way to ABQ. The kids leave this afternoon by train. They are ready; I am not. Their hearts are full with adventure and new beginnings; my heart aches. But I love them, so let the adventure begin!

-- Grandpa

Kat and Adrian

Time is running out, the kids are thinning their household items, selling or giving away things, peparing some for packing, others for storage-- some things to go with them to Albuquerque by train; some things to go by caravans of two sets of grandpartents who just happen to be driving that way. Katherine is particularly concerned about packing her harp to avoid damage.

They are warn out but remain hopeful for a new beginning: School at Univeristy of New Mexico and a better chance at finding jobs.

Spring Day

O Spring! You have arrived!

Katherine is moving to Albuquerque

Our granddaughter Katherine, now twenty years old, is moving to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. She and her friend, Adrian, are leaving by train the day after Easter. We will miss them and might even worry about them too much, but we are confident that they are ready for such a challenge. Katherine is always a winner when she puts her mind to it.

Her past adventures and her sense of confidence inspired a short story that I wrote for my writer's group. I have posted it on my writing page. Click on the link if you would like to see it.
-- Mike