Travel Journal October 2008

Travel Journal October 2008 (begins at Leasburg Dam State Park near Las Cruces, NM.

A small break in the cycle of doctor’s appointments allowed us to

ake a few short

excursions.

On October 2nd we took a day trip with our friend Dick to Alto, NM (see “green route”

under the menu selection “Travel Route October 2008” above). In Alto we visited the

Spencer Theater and the largest private collection of Seattle Glass Sculptor Dale

Chihuly (see photos under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”).

Unfortunately, the major attraction of the tour was the building itself and not the

Chihuly exhibition. The avant-garde and elegant architecture of the building (see photos

under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”) was quite interesting

and we were able to view and admire the Chihuly creations throughout the building as an

added bonus.

Built at a cost of $22 Million by philanthropist Jackie Spencer, the Spencer Theater for

the Performing Arts was opened in October 1997 and has the reputation of being one of

the world’s seven best theaters. See http://

www.spencertheater.

com/Theater/SpencerFactSheet.html

for further information.

After the tour, Dick invited us to his favorite Ruidoso restaurant that specializes in

Italian dishes. Dick said he always liked to stop there for a pizza and a beer, but when

we arrived there we found out that they recently stopped serving alcohol so he had to

settle for just the pizza. We enjoyed a shrimp Alfredo that was quite good.

Our trip continued on to Cloudcroft where we took a walk with Lobo in the woods while Dick went to the visitor’s

center. While there, he came upon the idea of going to the IMAX theater at the space center in Alamogordo, where

we saw a spectacular film of the moon landing. We had dinner at “Memories”, an elegant old Victorian house in

Alamogordo that has been converted into a restaurant. With full stomachs and a full day behind us, we had the long

trip back to Las Cruces.

The following day the doctor’s appointment began again with mammography for Renée. On October 5th we left

Leasburg and travelled back to Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus, NM for trips to the ophthalmologist, dentist

and regular doctor.

On the 9th, Renée finally finished her visits to the dentist in Palomas, Mexico and got her bridge and crown

attached to her implants. To celebrate and try it out, we called Dick and had him meet us at the

“Adobe Deli”

(< - -

please click) and see photo on the left above), a rustic restaurant with character located in the middle of nowhere

that even served authentic German Hefeweizen beer.

On the 13th we left Columbus for Leasburg Dam State Park for our next round of medical appointments. At the

vet, we learned that Lobo’s lethargy is being caused by a recurrence of Lyme disease and he had to be placed on a

month long antibiotic treatment.

Meanwhile, Renée’s battle with her potassium levels continued. Reducing blood pressure medication (an ACE

inhibitor), brought the potassium level around the high side of normal, but caused the blood pressure readings to

rise above an acceptable level. The ACE inhibitor combined with a diuretic is now supposed to bring everything into

balance again. Of course, the diuretic has the possible side effect of increasing the blood sugar! It appears to be

an endless cycle. Wait and see!

Renée’s chain of medical exams in Las Cruces ended on the 16th with a follow up at the Gastroenterologist. All in

the normal range with the next exam due in five years. Chuck’s series of appointments still continues as he bounces

between the dermatologist, ENT specialist, ophthalmologist and gastroenterologist. In the near future lies a

colonoscopy and a nose job for him, but not at the same time. A visit to the ENT specialist has prompted a long

overdue operation, scheduled in November to correct breathing problems caused by malformed sinus passages.

On the 22d we awoke to an extremely strong wind. As we tried to roll up the awning, the wind caused a long rip in

it. We have decided that a new awning will be our Christmas present.

On the following day we met Madeline and Rex Berryhill for supper. Dick was not with us since he left for

Pennsylvania to be with his sister who is being operated on for pancreatic cancer. It was a nice evening with lots to

talk about.

On the 24th, we stopped at a park on the Rio Grande to give Lobo a walk, where we met a lady with her female

Labrador. She invited us to a program that evening at the

Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum

in which she had a role

as a spirit of the past (see photos under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”). We accepted

the invitation and were able to also see a lot of the museum’s exhibits. The presentation was very well done with

“stations” inside and on the grounds of the museum. Each “station” was a historical narration by “ghosts” of the 19th

century relating the stories of their lives in this part of New Mexico. Live music, cookies and drinks of a more

recent era were also provided.

For the rest of the month we were free of doctor’s appointments so on the 26th we left for Albuquerque where we

had an appointment to have the satellite internet system repaired and updated. No sooner than this was completed,

the hot water heater developed a leak. Chuck attempted to repair it, first with solder but it is aluminum and

wouldn’t hold, then with epoxy. After it began to leak through the epoxy seal, we realized it had to be immediately

replaced or we’d go without hot water. Fortunately this happened in Albuquerque, where we were able to locate an

RV water heater in stock. While in Albuquerque, we drove to the Acoma Pueblo (also called Sky City)

(see photos under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”). A visit to the Acoma Indians had

been on our wish list for a long time. The water heater problem almost caused us to cancel it, but instead we

decided to buy the water heater but forego hot water for a few days while we visited Sky City (see “green route”

under the menu selection “Travel Route October 2008” above). Again we drove along the historic Route 66 (see

photos under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”). We arrived in time for the tour

departing at noon. Although a road now exists to the top of the mesa, visitor traffic other than the tour bus is not

permitted. Photography is quite restricted and requires an additional $10 for a permit to photograph where it is

allowed. One lady came close to being scalped and sacrificed at the stake because she tried to use her camera

without having the required permit. When Renée pointed her camera in the direction of the outer wall of the

cemetery, although the instructions stated that photography was prohibited INSIDE the cemetery, church grounds

and church itself, she was severely reprimanded. Inhabitants and their pottery, etc. could be photographed only

with the individual’s permission. Two Acoma Indians followed the tour group to ensure that these rules were not

broken (see photos under the menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”). The pueblo still does not

have electricity, gas, running water or a sewer system. Port-a-potties are strategically placed throughout the

pueblo, but along with the inhabitant’s cars, they tend to detract from the overall ambiance of the pueblo. After

the tour, rather than taking the bus back on the only road, we were offered the opportunity to return to the desert

floor via the cliff trail used by the Indians before the arrival of the Spaniards. It was quite an experience and

gave us the opportunity to get a few pictures that would otherwise not have been possible (see slide show under the

menu selection “Photos and Slide Shows October 2008”).

We were still in Albuquerque on Halloween but had no goblins come and beg at the door. That is something we

haven’t yet experienced while on the road.

To be continued……