Bill and Kim's Great Adventure
November 10-22, 2001
(for some reason this page works better in Explorer)
Saturday
We left the lake around 9:30 a.m. and drove up 280 and around the B'ham bypass to I-65. Lunch was smoked turkey and tuna salad at famous Uncle Mort's south of Jasper. On highway 78 we continued through northwest Alabama to Tupelo. It took a long time to find a hotel because Kim did not understand how the map matched the circular drives in Tupelo! The Executive Inn was old but nice.Sunday
The Arkansas welcome center provided coupon books for hotels. We drove to Fort Smith, AK and spent the night in a Hampton Inn. The hotel was next to Best Buy which had an amazing selection of electronic goodies. After purchasing a new battery and memory for the digital camera, some blank videotapes, a computer cable, a Keb 'Mo CD and a Santana CD, Kim swam in the pool and retrieved dinner from the Luby's cafeteria next door. Thank goodness she got through the service line before a charter bus load of old people arrived.
The Hampton Inn
Cherokee Trading Center
Monday
The Hampton had a nice healthy continental breakfast for us before we traveled on between the Ozarks and Ouachitas to the welcome station across the Oklahoma state line, listening to Keb 'Mo. After nice touristy photographs we entered the building. A lady told Kim that another airplane had crashed. Kim found the TV in the center and turned it on as a group gathered to watch the news. We left somewhat sobered and glad we were driving instead of flying. We stopped in downtown Oklahoma city for gasoline, then had a sandwich for lunch at a rest stop. Since state sites were closed due to the Veteran's Day holiday, we proceeded onward to Elk City, OK to the nice Holiday Inn there. We found a UPS station near a Texaco where Kim sent her proof edits to Silver Burdett, then toured Elk City. Elk City had already hung their Christmas decorations, featuring French horns! We paid our fee to explore the National Route 66 Museum, which was fairly interesting. Next, we stopped at the Sugar Shack bakery for cookies and brownies for dessert to go with room service. Before dinner, the indoor pool and whirlpool helped get the kinks out.
National Route 66 Museum in Elk City
Elk City Decorations
Tuesday
Finally, an exciting tourist day! The Holiday Inn price included a hot breakfast. Not as good as the Hampton, but at least it was hot! Two tumbleweeds were spotted and some antelope before passing through Amarillo, TX. A few more miles, and we found the long-awaited Cadillac Ranch! We braved the stiff winds to photograph the work of art. At the New Mexico information center we made nice photos. The Interstate in New Mexico was much smoother than in Oklahoma, where there was so much construction. The speed limit increased to 75 m.p.h. and there were few trucks. We made good time that day! Tucumcari was widely advertised as a Route 66 stop. We detoured there and drove down old 66. It was sort of like a step back in time. There were many old hotels and restaurants, mostly closed, that looked like tacky old Florida. We at lunch at one of them. It was a nice older restaurant with beef tacos as the lunch special. We instead had tasty enchiladas and soft tacos. We found gasoline before Route 66 rejoined I-40 and moved on down the road to Albuquerque. Bill had a coupon for a snazzy Radisson near the intersection of I-40 and I-25. We pulled in, but really didn't want to stay downtown in all the traffic, so we found a Ramada Limited (very) on the northwest side of town. So tired after 450 miles, Kim spent a long time in the sauna and pool, then we walked to a convenience store for meat and cheese and a Carl's (like Hardee's) for salads. Little Debbies from home topped it off.
Asked for directions to Cadillacs at Bushland, TX
Finally, the Cadillac Ranch!
New Mexico Welcome Center
Across street from Cadillacs
Tucumcari Train Station
Wednesday
Fun in Albuquerque! We ate some cranberry bread from home before checking out, then off to the Petroglyphs National Monument. The lady park ranger told us that there was a roadrunner around that would come to her door and wait for food. We walked around the little nature trail and learned about the various plants. Bill said that he wished he could see the roadrunner and Kim said there he is! He watch us from atop his rock, before running down the path toward us. We drove to the petroglyphs trails. The petroglyphs themselves were very interesting as well as being able to see the geology of the land. The petroglyphs are carved on volcanic rock that fell in blocks from a lava flow atop the softer land. The lava creates an escarpment or mesa. Bill spotted some quail in a ditch near the bottom and Kim spotted some white antelope squirrels, who played on the rocks. We drove south along the Rio Grande valley and crossed it going back into town. A group of sand hill cranes and Canadian geese grazing caused us to turn around. Then we went to the Pueblo Cultural Center for a brunch of Native America cuisine. Bill had a chicken sandwich with corn fries that were delectable. Kim had some kind of flat taco made out of soft puffy bread with pinto beans and green chili. Also, fantastic squash and corn and posole. After buying t-shirts for the Grace and Mitchell at the gift shop, we proceeded to Old Town Albuquerque. The area had a charming plaza and old gift and arts shops, much more authentic than the San Antonio river walk. Indians spread their blankets of jewelry for sale along the sidewalk of the old trading post. Strings of chilies hung everywhere. Beautiful clothes were much too expensive for our budget. With the afternoon approaching, we drive to Santa Fe to our home away from home, the El Dorado Hotel. So happy to be here!
Thursday
We registered for the conference. Kim had a lunch date with Kim and Sam in the hotel restaurant. Bill joined us as we planned our presentation. They came up to our floor where we loaded the Power Points on the computer and tested them. Kim went to some of the sessions, then Bill came down to watch the presentation. We had a large crowd although it was 5:00. We had refused several dinner invitations due to Bill's sore arm. After relaxing for a while, we went to a nice pizza place next door. The pizza was on soft puffy bread with fancy fresh ingredients. The salad was also fresh as was the micro-brewed beer.Friday
Kim had a breakfast meeting with Maud and Fred where to discuss CMS music education plans. Attended some sessions, then walked down to the plaza for lunch. We ran into Maud, Betty Ann, and some other ladies who were shopping in the drizzle who suggested the Blue Corn Café. We found the café but the oven wasnít working so we went on to a salad bar place. We passed Nancy Barry and Karen Garrison on the sidewalk and made dinner plans. Stopped at a gem and mineral store where we saw a $20,000 mastodon tusk. We saw lots of fossils there and bought an onyx chess set for a great price and some green amber earrings. Back to the hotel, we arrived at Nancy and Karen's Native American music recital too early. The recital was fascinating and Nancy's maraca playing was inspired. A big-deal ethnomusicologist came in the room, but Karen and Nancy continued to perform very well. Then Kim stayed for a lecture recital on ragtime women that was OK. More technology sessions then we met Karen, Nancy, Jack, and Flo to walk to dinner. Karen was worried whether her husband could get to his meeting since the Atlanta airport was evacuated for 3 hours that day. The restaurant was by the train station but there was an hour wait. So, Karen carried the buzzer and we walked around looking for another place, but returned there. We ate enchiladas in the Hillary Rodham Clinton room. After dinner, Kim went back in and asked why it was the Hillary Rodham Clinton room and was told that Hillary had held a womenís meeting there, but the maitre'd did not know what Hillary ate. We went back to the hotel to find that the concerts and dancing were over. Bill checked out the free food, but it was too dark for him to figure out what to eat so we all said goodnight.
Karen and Nancy
Saturday
Kim had a breakfast meeting with Floyd and George to revise the TI-ME 1A curriculum. Then Bill and Kim took the high road to Taos! The drive was INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL! The first stop was Chimayo, a small village with a pretty church. A house across from the church was attractively decorated with strings and wreaths of chilies hanging on the adobe fence and from the bare cottonwood. Dried vegetables were spread on a folding table in front of the house. As the children said goodbye to their mother, Kim inquired about the different dried corns, beans, and chilies. We bought some corn husk angels and a dried chili mix for cooking as well as posole and blue corn. The lady said to pressure cook the corn with pintos. We drove a short distance to El Rancho de Chimayo and had brunch in their restaurant. This was the most delicious meal of the trip. Bill had sopapillos and an omelet. Kim had huevos ranchero on a tortilla with pintos. Coffee and apple juice to drink. Both the green chili and the red chili were tasty and not hot. The sunroom was great for watching some kind of birds, possibly jays, hopping around in the cottonwoods and eating the pyracantha berries. Also, a hawk circled in the sky. Back out at the car, we watched magpies. Next, we drove up through the Carson National Forest, probably up to 10,000 feet in elevation. There was snow from the first snow fall on Wednesday on the tops of the mountains. Some sheep ran out toward the road in a small village near a stream. As we climbed, we went from shrubby junipers to cottonwoods, then aspen (?) and then huge Ponderosa pines and beeches. We did not see any bears. In Taos, we stopped at a grocery store for Advil and water. The low road back to Santa Fe was a much easier and more crowded drive along the Rio Grande. Falling rocks were warned of and were in evidence. It was amazing to think how this beautiful trout stream-type river flows all the way to Nuevo Laredo, where it is sluggish and green and other colors. Volcanoes and snow-topped mountains in the distance made a spectacular trip. Back in Santa Fe, Bill went to Albertsonís and Kim went to Ross to get some pants that were clean and big enough after all the eating. Back at the hotel, Kim attended a few more presentations. So glad that we drove. Other people still seem tired from getting ready to leave work, then rushing on the plane. Then out with the ATMI group for a fantastic Mexican meal. Green chili stew was HOT. Chicken enchiladas on blue corn were HOT. Chocolate mousse cake was nice.
Sunday
Kim and Bill enjoyed the breakfast buffet in the hotel. Underwear, a pair of pants, and pajamas were washed by hand. Kim attended sessions on distance learning. Karen, Kim, and Bill walked to the Plaza Bakery and had lunch. On the way back from the plaza we saw a mouse on a cat on a dog! Their human companion said that they accept donations to earn their food. Tried to mail edited proofs, but everything was closed. So we went to the Georgia O'Keefe museum across the street with Carolyn. The plaza bakery was so good, that we went back for sweets for dinner dessert, then met Jack and Flo downstairs to talk. Room service was a fine hamburger and a chicken sandwich. The bakery brownie made Kim's heart thump.
Monday
We checked out and drove 450 miles back to the Elk City Holiday Inn. Along the way, we saw some more tumbleweeds and antelope and WE GOT TO EAT LUNCH AT THE BIG TEXAN. There is no girl on the swing now, but the décor is still like being on the set of Gunsmoke and the food is still OK and cheap. I really wanted a photo of the big rocking chair since I remembered my little sister sitting in it, but a waitress spoke to me when Bill clicked the shutter button. In Elk City, we found UPS, then went to a grocery store for sandwich stuff, Advil and an elbow brace. Kim saw three V's of ducks fly by as she sat in the whirlpool. The steam room felt great after all the high country dry air.
Tuesday
The hot breakfast at Holiday Inn, then on the road again. The car was covered in frost due to the first hard freeze in Oklahoma. We saw more antelope and tumbleweeds. Anticipation built as we approached Amarillo and the Big Texan Steak Ranch was sighted. Kim got to relive her youth at the Big Texan as we ate steak and beans. The restaurant no longer has the swinging girl and several gambling machines have been installed although the signs said that only coupons were awarded for them. A waitress told Kim that she could sit in the big rocking chair just as Bill took a photo. We continued on to Forrest City, AK to the Holiday Inn there.Wednesday
We slept until nearly 7:00 then went for the free hot breakfast at Denny's. The restaurant was very crowded with people who were traveling for Thanksgiving. A cute family with three boys was fun to watch as the youngest one was very excited about the upcoming holiday. He said that he was not going to eat anything else that day except M&Ms so that he would have plenty of room for turkey. We made it to Hamilton, AL for lunch at the Subway. Then we called the parents to say we would be there soon. When we got to their house, Beth and her children and Greg were already there. We gave Mother the angel we bought at Chimayo and gave Grace and Mitchell the t-shirts from the Pueblo Cultural Center. I told Mitchell that his was a dream catcher that would catch the bad dreams so he said he wanted to sleep in his shirt. Mother explained to him it was not the shirt but the picture on it and that it was only a saying. Mother gave Beth & me Grandmother's silver. Grace showed off her piano playing and ability to do tricks on the swing. She fell on the asphalt several times, but kept going. She also performed the tootie-tottie. Bath time took a long time since the children no longer bathe together. Both still wanted to run around naked. Even little Hope liked the bath!
