I thought it’d be fun to create an animated GIF of selfies and other pictures of Jenn and me from 2023. We’ve been to some interesting places!
GIF
Merry Christmas; New Orleans Celebration in the Oaks
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, or Happy Holidays!
To mark the occasion, here’s a post out of sequence. We stayed in New Orleans around Thanksgiving this year, and while there attended the New Orleans City Park’s Celebration in the Oaks holiday lights. The blog posts about New Orleans aren’t scheduled to be published until February (yes, I’m rather behind; we do things faster than I can post about them!). But I figured I could bring this one forward to a more appropriate time.
This holiday celebration has driving and walking options; we did both. Here’s a map of the routes:
We started with the driving portion, where one drives along roads in the park that have holiday light decorations:
A timelapse video from my 360 camera of the drive:
We then parked at the mini golf in the park, and played a round (Jenn won):
Then proceeded to the walking part, wandering around the New Orleans Botanical Garden and environs, with lots of holiday lights:
Jenn reaching for a star:
A cute narrated Cajun Night Before Christmas story, with synchronized lights:
An amusing New Orleans variation of 12 Days of Christmas:
Model trains:
Amusement park rides were also included, but we didn’t participate in any (considered the train, but it was full, and the carousel, but didn’t want to wait):
It is a nice historical carousel, though:
A fun festive evening. Always interesting to see local variations of holiday lights.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
West Truck Services Center
We unexpectedly stayed at West Truck Services Center in Moriarty, New Mexico, after getting towed there due to a brake getting stuck on the way from the Balloon Fiesta.
Dates:
- Check in: 2023-10-16
- Check out: 2023-10-18
- 2 nights
Weather:
- Sunny
- High temps ranging between 76-79°F, lows around 38-42°F
- Negligible wind
Noise:
- Some Route 66 highway and freeway noise
- No train noise
Site:
- Parking lot, gravel
- Toad was disconnected as the coach was towed
- Fairly level; used air leveling
- Some trash
Utilities:
- 15 amp power from the shop
- Water provided from the shop
- No sewer
Internet (in usage priority order):
- T-Mobile: 1-73 Mbps down, 2-17 Mbps up, 65-146 ms ping
- Verizon: 24 Mbps down, 24 Mbps up, 64 ms ping
- AT&T: 20 Mbps down, 20-27 Mbps up, 64 ms ping
- Starlink: not used
- Campground Wi-Fi: none
Amenities:
- Garbage dumpster
- Truck repair
- Diner across the road
An interactive map:
We arrived after they closed, but one of the techs was still there, and provided a power cord and water hose for us, parked out front of the shop:
We walked across Route 66 to a truck center:
We had dinner at Lisa’s Grill, a diner in the truck center:
Back to our coach:
Sunrise the next day:
A tech unstuck our brake, and we moved the coach into the shop for more diagnosis:
We went back to the diner for brunch. On the wall, a history of Moriarty:
Our tow truck with another customer:
Another tow truck delivered another truck early in the morning:
Our coach getting worked on:
See the Braking: Bad blog post for a summary of the breakdown, tow, and repair.
Our stay here was as pleasant as one could expect from a repair situation. It was nice to be able to put out our slides, have power, and a diner across the road. Plus, of course, getting our coach back on the road!
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta flight
Last year we had a reservation for a ride in a balloon, but it was cancelled due to rain. A big reason for coming to the fiesta again this year was to have another chance for a balloon flight.
This time, the weather was perfect, and we got to experience the ride. And it was indeed a very special experience.
We signed up for the VIP Ryders Club package, which included a shorter line, a breakfast, and some swag:
A boarding pass:
Heading to the balloon:
Our balloon:
Jenn helped hold up the balloon envelope while they used fans to start inflating it:
Hot air inflation:
Raising the balloon:
Getting into the basket:
Burners:
Selfie in the basket. I wore my 360 camera on my head; stay tuned for a timelapse video of our flight:
Liftoff:
Aerial views:
The north RV lot; you can see our coach next to the power pole near the center of the picture:
Another angle of the north RV lot and our coach:
Coming in for a landing:
Deflating the envelope:
Exiting the basket:
Bubbly celebration:
We landed very near the field; the van could have taken us back, but we opted to walk; the blue dot on this map screenshot is where we landed, and our coach was just above the middle of the word “Presbyterian”:
This ride was a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We’re super glad that it worked out to do it this year.
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta evening sessions
Not every day during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has an evening session, basically around the weekends. The balloons don’t fly in evenings, but they still inflate for an evening glow.
The crowd on the concourse by the food and swag stalls:
We went to Macology for dinner:
They produce interesting variations on mac & cheese:
One of the vendors was Lectric Ebikes; we had Lectric bikes, but Jenn didn’t find hers comfortable, so we sold it. She is interested in getting a Lectric trike instead, so was pleased to be able to see and try one:
Jenn on the Lectric trike:
Back to balloons:
Fireworks:
Sand sculpture of balloons, in progress:
Long line for dinner:
I had a meat pie, Jenn had a zydeco bowl:
And some Dole soft serve for dessert:
Alpenglow:
Jenn with a collector card:
Even without flying, seeing the balloons inflated and glowing is still a magical experience.
Badlands National Park
We visited Badlands National Park several times while staying nearby. Badlands was good lands; we enjoyed exploring the park.
Here’s a map; most of the scenic stuff is in the North Unit:
An interactive map:
Relief map in the visitor center:
Exhibits in visitor center:
Pressed penny:
Badlands:
The Stronghold Unit visitor center:
Back to the North Unit:
RVers camping on the top of the wall:
Big horn sheep:
Cows on the road:
We enjoyed the badlands.
Black Hills area
While staying in Spearfish, South Dakota, and later while staying in Hot Springs, South Dakota, we visited several of the nearby scenic byways and towns in the Black Hills area, including Spearfish, Belle Fourche, Deadwood, Custer, and Hot Springs, amongst others. This post is a collection of some interesting pictures from this region. (Several big attractions of this area, including Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Monument, Custer State Park, Iron Mountain Road, and Wind Cave National Park, will be covered in separate posts.)
We really enjoyed the Black Hills area, and could see ourselves buying property here one day. Though we still have lots more of the country to see, so you never know!
Here’s an interactive map of the Black Hills area; part of it is in Wyoming, but the majority is in South Dakota:
Roughlock Falls Road, south of Spearfish:
Spearfish Canyon Highway:
Some mountain goats licking something on the road:
Another day, still there:
Custer:
Lunch at the Purple Pie Place:
Keystone:
Deadwood:
Hill City:
Dinner in Lead:
Dinner in Rapid City:
Belle Fourche:
Belle Fourche claims to be the geographic center of the US, when including Alaska and Hawaii:
Hot Springs:
Pitchfork Steak Fondue and Medora Musical
Medora is perhaps most famous for the Medora Musical, a western themed outdoor musical variety show.
An optional but related part of it is the Pitchfork Steak Fondue, where they put steaks on pitchforks and dunk them in barrels of oil, plus BBQ-style buffet.
A way-too-loud performer:
After dinner, looking down into the amphitheater:
We brought our inflatable cushions:
An actually amusing stand-up comedian:
A fun evening.
Buffalo KOA Journey
We stayed at Buffalo KOA Journey in Buffalo, Wyoming. (Campground Reviews listing.)
Our second visit to this very nice KOA, again staying in the new Clear Creek Loop section.
Dates:
- Check in: 2023-08-13
- Check out: 2023-08-16
- 3 nights
Weather:
- Sunny
- High temps ranging between 72-90°F, lows around 49-59°F
- Some wind on arrival day, up to 20 MPH gusts, otherwise negligible
Noise:
- Some faint road noise
- No train noise
- Negligible neighbor noise
Site:
- #82, pull-through, gravel
- Didn’t need to disconnect toad; parked in front of coach
- A little unlevel, not too bad
- Gravel driveway about 60 feet long by about 12 feet wide
- Grass and rocks between sites about 15 feet wide
- Young trees
- Concrete patio with table and chairs
- Fire pit
Utilities:
- 50 amp power, very inconveniently located
- 60 PSI water, very inconveniently located
- Good sewer connection, somewhat conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe plus 1 3-foot pipe needed)
Internet (in usage priority order):
- T-Mobile: 30 Mbps down, 7 Mbps up, 70 ms ping
- Campground Wi-Fi: 6 Mbps down, 2 Mbps up, 15 ms ping
- Verizon: 22 Mbps down, 22 Mbps up, 70 ms ping
- AT&T: 105 Mbps down, 20 Mbps up, 90 ms ping
- Starlink: not used
Amenities:
- Garbage dumpsters
- Swimming pool
- Package delivery to office
- Path by creek
Our review on Campground Reviews:
Newer section is lovely
This was our second stay here, and we enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Once again, our site was in the newer creekside portion, and it’s still very nice. There is minor road noise, but pretty faint. The sites are level, and hookups are all good. We’ll definitely stay here again on our next trip through the area and try one of the back-in sites along the creek itself. We camped at Buffalo KOA Journey in a Motorhome.
Tip for Other Campers: Crazy Woman Canyon is a fantastic drive. Tie Hack picnic area was a great spot to enjoy a bite to eat afterward.
The campground map:
Interactive map:
Our site:
Utilities:
Decoration:
Bridge:
Dog run:
Creek:
Video of the creek:
Group fire pit:
A path from the creek area, and other sites:
Four different Tiffin motorhome models; our Allegro Bus, a Phaeton, an Allegro Open Road, and an Allegro Red:
A nice KOA; our second stay here, and we’ll definitely stay here again in the future. If we were to stay here more than a few nights, one of the back-in sites in the Clear Creek loop would be delightful.
Chief Joseph Scenic Byway
We took a drive along the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway in northwest Wyoming.
Here’s an interactive map of our route:
Info sign:
Interesting rocks:
A screenshot of my map, showing lots of switchbacks:
Switchback gravel road:
A picnic spot by a river, which was rather flooded:
Flume trail:
Cooke City:
