Freebies and things

I think I'll start putting some items here at the start of each entry that didn't make it in the previous entries due to time, memory, etc.
Some miscellaneous ramblings that didn't make it into the previous posts:

I'm a bit disappointed about the La Caverna being closed. They had a web site still up not too long before we left so the interweb lied to me! Say it ain't so!
We've been getting some freebies or what we perceive as being freebies from the locals. Guess they are swooning at our charming ways:

Free dessert at Lucy's (Carlsbad)
Free entry into Carlsbad Caverns to see the bats
Free blow up space alien doll at the UFO museum (Roswell, will mention in a bit)
Free entry into the VLA ( will mention in a bit)
Free breakfasts at the hotel (it comes with the rooms of course)
Possible free night at Steven's Best Western in Carlsbad(check out fiasco, will mention in a bit)
free wireless internet service at the hotels.

On with the show:
Checking out of Steven's Best Western in Carlsbad was a fiasco. We asked to split the bill between two credit cards. They kept charging my card, then every time they tried to credit my card it would charge it again. So they've either depleted my bank account (it is a debit card) or they will comp the room charge. We shall see...

Dave is still the official photographer on the trip. I looked for a card reader to download my photos but Walmart wanted $30 for something I'll probably never use again. So with the debit card in crisis mode I'm trying to watch some of my expenses until at least August 1 (payday).So If I can't find a cheaper version of a card reader, I may just wait until my return to Dallas to upload my pix to the blog.

Leaving Carlsbad, we headed to the "VLA", or the Very Large Array, the radio telescope complex near Socorro, NM. We stopped in Roswell for a bite to eat on the way and checked out the UFO museum there. Note UFO crashing into building.
They were very nice in the gift shop and gave Dave a free blow up Alien doll!

After our near miss, we worked up an appetite running away from space aliens and headed to the Crash In diner in Roswell for a bite. We had the briskit sandwich which was featured on the Food Network.


We then headed out towards the VLA, and on the way stopped at the "Valley of Fire" a major volcano flow:


Then we stopped in San Antonio outside Socorro to drop in the Owl Bar and Grill where the A- bomb scientists used to visit. I took some photos so stay tuned on that.

Some 60 miles down the road we arrived at the VLA about sunset.
Here's some fun fotos:
Dave drinking from the font of knowledge:


My new chapeau:

And one of the MANY rabbits out there


And a serious photo or so. Thanks for letting your tax dollars entertain us!



To give you an idea of scale, two normal size houses could fit into each dish. There's 39 miles of rail to move these beasts. There is a special platform that can move these dishes that can turn 90 degrees on the rails.

After the VLA we headed to Albuquerque and checked in to the Hampton Inn. It was pretty late by the time we arrived in ALBQ, so we went downtown to find a bite to eat. There's a NY style pizza place that sell pie by the slice and we had two slices each. We lucked out as we were the last two customers before they closed. It was a pleasant night so we sat outside. The downtown area was really hopping,very much like 6th street in Austin. We were both surprised by the amount of activity. There were a ton of cops down there, on foot, in cars and even on horseback. It was a very safe environment even late at night. Made me pine for something like that in Dallas where you'd take your life in your hands that late at night downtown. There was a bar down there called "The Library" that had these massive "books" on top of their building. Quite an amusing sight.

After the pizza, we were tired and went back to the hotel for the night for some much needed rest.

Had breakfast this morning (Sunday now) and worked on this edition of the blog.

On to Santa Fe for the day (only 60 miles away, yippie!), maybe some golf today and/ or tomorrow, bum around Santa Fe, find a place to stay or camp for the night.

Might not be able to find any internet service tonight, so we'll see if I can update.

10, 9, ...Blastoff!

Well we got to take off about 2 hours ahead of schedule. Bit of a short fuse.
Dave G. woke up at 3am, took some relatives to DFW, then swung by my place. After a groggy phone call where he stated he was in my parking lot 2 hours early, I scrambled to get ready.

Packed his car with a combination of camping gear and golf equipment. We won't be at a loss for things to do on this trip.

On the road at 7 am. Stopped briefly at Mickey D's and off we went. In my planning of the route, I failed to realize I was sending us through downtown Ft. Worth during rush hour. But Ft. Worth seems to have gotten it right and their rush hour was a breeze, never having to tap the brakes during our transit.

First stop was in Sweetwater for gas. Our wallets $35 lighter, we head almost due west to our next stop Carlsbad, New Mexico. We arrive in Carlsbad in mid afternoon and grab a bite at Lucy's and had a really good chicken burrito.


Typical New Mexico sky



I inquired about the La Caverna Hotel. That's the hotel that my parents stayed at on their honeymoon trip in 1940 I believe. I was disappointed to learn that it has come up short in it's battle with the wrecking ball. At the waitress's suggestion we checked into Steven's Best Western. Our waitress is more knowledgeable about Mexican food than hotel rooms! This hotel is a little dogged eared, but we were pretty exhausted so it didn't matter too much at the time.



The Photo I'm holding is of a little ceramic sombrero that my parents bought on their trip in 1940. On it is painted "La Caverna Hotel-Carlsbad, NM"

We set up a little bar in the room, had a drink, then we took a little combat nap. Then we woke from our slumber, had a cocktail in room, and we were off to see the bats leave the cave at Carlsbad at night. The black smudge at the horizon are the bats leaving the cave.




After the bats, we checked out the lounge at the hotel that was also highly recommended. Well folks, Carlsbad is not Las Vegas. After a quick beer, and a few C&W songs, these cowpokes were ready for some shut eye.

In my haste to do last minute packing, I forgot to bring the cable that connects my camera to the laptop to upload photos. So for now any photos you see will be Dave's. If I get motivated, I'll try to buy a card reader to upload my photos.

Saturday morning 7/30/05:

On our way to Socorro where the "Very Large Array" is located. Those are the radio telescopes that you've probably seen in th movies.

Might stop at the "Owl Bar" in San Antonio, NM, right outside Socorro. Legend has it that the scientists working on the Atomic bomb used to come here and eat. On the eve of the first test of the atomic bomb the scientists told the proprietors of the bar to "look outside at 5am". Must have been some sight to be one of the few to see the world change forever.

Then on to ABQ, maybe to see "The Turtles" play there. Then possibly on to Santa Fe...

Roadtrip!

Hi,

I've created this blog so family and friends can hop aboard virtually and "go along for the ride".

This road trip, while planned with Microsoft's Streets and Trips, is very much a wake up and "where are we going today?" adventure.

I will try my best to update as often as possible, but no promises.

Blastoff is Friday, June 29 at approximately 9 am.