A sampling of interesting restaurants.
While in Las Cruces we met up with friends for dinner in the historic Mesilla district:
Plaza:
We had dinner at the historic Double Eagle Restaurant:
The Imperial Bar:
The Peppers casual dining restaurant:
The Double Eagle fine dining restaurant:
Tableside caesar salad preparation:
My steak and baked potato:
Jenn’s steak and scalloped potatoes:
My cheesecake dessert:
Heading back to our car, the church at night:
We visited the town of Truth or Consequences in New Mexico. A town mostly notable for having renamed itself after a radio show in 1950.
Downtown:
We had lunch at A & B Drive In:
Pigeons nesting in the roof:
An interesting mountain:
Castle-like structure:
We headed up the hill to take a look at Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande river:
The reservoir is rather low at present; here’s a picture of it near capacity for comparison:
The morning of our fourth day at the Balloon Fiesta was supposed to be a very memorable one: we were scheduled to go up in a balloon!
However, the weather gods had other ideas.
That morning, we headed to the Rainbow Ryders tent. Here’s the line for balloon rides:
However, we were able to skip that line, as we had splurged on the Ryders Club VIP option, which gave expedited access, buffet breakfast, transport to the balloon, and a swag bag:
While waiting for the flight, we went out and watched the drone show:
But when we went back to the tent at the appointed time, they announced that the flights had been cancelled, due to inclement weather.
The fiesta announcers didn’t announce the cancellation for quite some time after that, but several balloonists fired their burners in the sky, which was a sign they knew they wouldn’t be flying:
Cynically, I thought that’s because they wanted to give the vendors more time to sell more food and swag. But charitably, one could say they hoped the weather would improve.
The rooftop announcers:
So, that was very disappointing. The weather had been iffy all week, with pretty much all of the evening activities cancelled, and some of the morning ones, though they had been able to fly most mornings. Just not on the day we were scheduled. Boo!
Oh well, we’ll try again next year. They will refund the cost, but it still was unfortunate and frustrating.
That evening was also a bust; just before we were going to go down to the field, the skies opened up again, and they sent a notification that things were cancelled, again.
They still set off the fireworks, which we watched from inside our coach (through the rain-streaked Magne Shade):
On the evening of our third day at the Balloon Fiesta, we attended a “Lift Your Sprits” event behind the Balloon Museum, where they had booths with alcohol vendors and crafts, food carts, and live music.
The Balloon Museum entrance:
A quick look at some museum exhibits in passing:
Outside, the music pavilion:
Craft vendors:
Cocktail vendors:
We shared a fruit loop cocktail:
A food cart:
Where we got some chicken and waffles:
Another food cart:
Where we got some nachos:
Alcohol vendors:
Vodka juice box:
Artwork:
Sunset:
Back through the balloon museum:
After returning to our coach to get more stuff, we headed to the launch field for the evening glow. The VIP entrance security line was longer than usual, since the evening activities were already underway:
(The security was pointless theater: they had metal detectors, requiring emptying pockets, but didn’t inspect bag contents.)
The evening balloon glow is where they inflate a bunch of balloons, tethered to the ground, and light them up with the burner flames:
It’s impressive to get up close to the balloons:
Suddenly, the “zebras” (launch directors) started blowing their whistles, telling the balloonists to deflate, as rain was on its way. Minutes later, it started to pour, and lightning flashed, and the announcers told people to seek shelter.
While people were rushing to exit or shelter, they set off the fireworks, that had been scheduled for later in the evening, figuring that if they didn’t launch them, they’d be too soaked later:
The balloonists had to deflate and wrap up their balloons in the downpour:
We heard later that they took their balloons to local gyms and indoor arenas to re-inflate and dry them out; a great level of support from the local community.
As we exited, the fireworks continued:
They sent emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place alerts to everyone’s phones:
And notifications in the Balloon Fiesta app:
We were totally soaked when we got back to our coach, even though we were more fortunate than most, since we had the forethought to have jackets. Certainly an interesting experience, but not exactly ideal.
We had some chores to do, so went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and explored a little of the area.
The route from Taos took us along the Rio Grande River gorge:
A hot air balloonist, no doubt on their way to Albuquerque:
We really enjoyed how the adobe buildings blend into the landscaping:
Santa Fe sign:
After our chores, we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch (with a red hue due to an outdoor canopy):
Cute bill folio:
We went to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, though had neglected to make a reservation, so couldn’t get in:
We then headed to the Chuck Jones gallery:
But they were closed, probably because they were at the Albuquerque balloon fiesta:
Some interesting buildings:
Santa Fe Plaza:
An interesting overpass:
We took a scenic drive back to Taos:
We drove our coach 158 miles, about 3 hour of driving, from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Alamosa, Colorado.
The map route, heading south then west:
Leaving the state park:
Paladin emerging from behind the couch — travel day again?!
Fort Carson army base, across the road from the state park:
Elk and bald eagle artwork:
Park pond in Pueblo, Colorado:
Downtown Pueblo, Colorado:
Arkansas River in Pueblo, Colorado:
I-25:
Airstream travel trailer:
Mountains:
Wind turbines:
Exit towards Alamosa:
We didn’t particularly need fuel for our coach, but a T/A truck stop was a convenient place for fuel for us:
They had an A&W restaurant in the back of the convenience store:
We took it back to our coach to eat:
We considered getting fuel after lunch, but it was rather busy at the time, so we opted not to bother:
I started to close the step cover, but Paladin jumped down there to peek out the window, so I left it open until he went elsewhere:
Walsenburg, Colorado:
Snow fences and mountains:
Roadworks:
Scenic mountains:
Arriving at Alamosa KOA:
We drove our coach 124 miles, about 3 hour of driving, from West Glacier, Montana to Missoula, Montana. Beginning our trek from the top of the country to the bottom — we’ll be spending the winter in Texas this year.
The map route for this leg, heading south:
Smoky US-2:
US-2 next to the Flathead River:
Roadworks on MT-206:
We stopped at Woody’s Country Store for lunch again:
Very tasty fries and burger:
Paladin sitting on the dash as we returned to our coach:
Some sights along MT-35 next to Flathead Lake:
Flathead Lake:
Oops, a dining chair fell over; we might want to think about securing it with a bungee or something:
Several places in Ronan had decorated hay bales:
In the Flathead Reservation, the signs were bilingual:
A wildlife bridge:
Our destination, Jim and Mary’s RV Park:
Our site before occupation:
Our coach:
Jenn and Paladin looking out the driver window:
We stayed at Moose Creek RV Resort and B&B in West Glacier, Montana. (Campground Reviews listing.)
A nice place for a family reunion. We met up with some family members to hang out together and visit Glacier National Park.
Dates:
Weather:
Noise:
Site:
Internet (in usage priority order):
Amenities:
Here’s our review on Campground Reviews:
Great place for a family reunion
We met up with several members of the family so we could do Glacier. We have a 40′ motorhome and had a great back-in site on the edge of the property, central to where everyone else stayed in the park with their small trailer, rooftop tent, and glamping pod rental, so there was something for everyone. Being just a couple of miles from Glacier was great for day trips to the park. It was wonderful having the caf on site for breakfast or a latte in the morning. We camped at Moose Creek RV Park and B&B in a Motorhome.
The RV park map:
Our site before parking:
Our site:
The weird little concrete pad:
Back jacks; no need for jack pads on concrete:
Utilities:
We used the Starlink dish; I put out cones to mark the cable, since it was on grass (good thing, too, since the grass was mowed while we were out; they mowed around the cable):
The entrance:
Office and playground:
Phone booth (kids, ask your parents):
Group fire pit:
Bathrooms:
Dog park:
Other sites:
A retro trailer at the dump station:
The back of our site:
Sites 42 and 41, where some of our family stayed:
The parents stayed in a glamping pod:
A nice thing about this park was an on-site café:
Café breakfast:
Another café breakfast, eating in the nice little seating area by the café:
Dinner while watching baseball on our outside TV:
There are wildfires in the area; here’s a helicopter with a water bucket:
For the last family breakfast, I cooked bacon and pancakes on my griddle:
A sunset:
Our coach after removing the Magne Shades, in preparation for departure:
We drove our coach 64 miles, about 1 hour of driving, from Marion, Montana to West Glacier, Montana.
The map route, heading northeast:
Leaving the McGregor Lakes RV campground:
US-2:
A barn:
An interesting building:
Crossing Flathead River:
We stopped at Woody’s Country Store for lunch; unusual in our coach, but I noticed that they have parking available for big rigs:
Tasty BLT and excellent fries:
Back to our coach:
Paladin in the steps:
Flathead River again:
Hungry Horse; a place name that reminds me of a Hungry Horse restaurant I went to as a kid in New Zealand:
The Huckleberry Patch, where Jenn later got a huckleberry pie, pancake mix, etc:
Our destination, Moose Creek RV Resort and B&B:
Approaching the office (a little narrow for a big coach):
Jenn checking in:
We unhooked our truck out front:
I drove the truck to our site, while Jenn drove our coach around a longer route, to avoid a sharp corner:
We stayed at McGregor Lakes RV in Marion, Montana. (Campground Reviews listing.)
A one-night stay, with a restaurant across the road.
Dates:
Weather:
Noise:
Site:
Internet (in usage priority order):
Amenities:
Here’s our review on Campground Reviews:
Nice spot for a quick stop
We stayed here one night on our way to Glacier. Our site was reasonably level, and it was easy access to the highway but without any road noise. Having the lodge restaurant across the street was very nice on a travel day. We camped at McGregor Lakes RV in a Motorhome.
The RV park map:
Our site:
A video of the bedroom slide coming out:
Paladin in the steps:
View across the road:
The Lodge:
Lake view:
Food:
Sunset:
Sign:
A good idea; using a bucket to carry a water softener (something I plan to get one day):
Other sites:
