Nancy's Travel Journal

Forty-three years ago today, a precious little boy was born.  My son, my son, Matt Towers was born in Boston, MA.

Matt-age 3

So this day is always special to me no matter where I am.  Before the day was over we made contact before Dana and his friends went out to celebrate.

Because we are leaving tomorrow, grocery shopping was a priority.  David and Alison took us on an excursion to Cosco.  Of course most items are packaged in bulk, but we managed to find some cheese and other goodies to eat along the way.

I did find time to snap a few photos of David and Alison’s home.

Outdoor Shower

Eagle at Hudson Hacienda

Gate-Hudson Hacienda

As the sun was shining its last rays on the Sandia Mountains, David, Alison, Polly and I drove up the home of Bill and Alice Willis.  It is perched in the foothills of the mountains.  I have known Bill (from Swainsboro) since 1963 when he came to Metter to work in the tobacco market.  We lost contact after our college years.  When Bill and I went to Santa Fe in 2004 I managed to locate him in Albuquerque.  Since that time we have stayed in touch when he and Alice have come to Georgia or I have been in New Mexico.  We were treated to dinner and a spectacular view of the mountains and of the sunset over Albuquerque.  Bill and Alice, thank you for a memorable evening.

Entrance to Willis Home

Scene from Willis home

Scene from Willis home

Sunset Through A Window

Nancy, Bill, Polly

Bill and Alice

October 10, 2012

Riding the train to Santa Fe?  What a novel idea.  And, that is just what we decided to do.  The Rail Runner Express  is convenient, inexpensive, comfortable and the route is quite scenic.  One station was only a few miles from David and Alison’s home.

Which Way is Santa Fe?

We left at 8:50 AM, as scheduled.  One of the places we passed was Santo Domingo Pueblo(officially changed to Kewa Pueblo in 2009).  In August 2005, Bill, Wendy, Wichelle and I were honored to observe the annual corn dance of more than 2000 Pueblo people who participate.  We saw lots of interesting sites from the window of the train.

LIttle Bicycle Seen From the Train

Arriving in Santa Fe, we rode the shuttle to downtown and met Julie Hall at La Fonda Hotel for lunch.  It was a special time for the three of us, since our dads had been business partners in the 1940s and 1959s.

Polly, Nancy and Julie at La Fonda

Lunch At La Fonda

Having a limited amount of time before our train departed for Albuquerque, we decided that we would like to see the art of Canyon Road.  The photos below depict some of the beauty on that was on that road.

Julie and Nancy

Canyon Road Art

Polly and Julie

Canyon Road Art

Canyon Road Art

Canyon Road Art

Polly and Friend

Canyon Road Art

Canyon Road Art

Cottonwood Tree

Canyon Road Art

Adobe Building

All too soon it was time to tell Julie goodbye and head back to the train.  Our ride back to Albuquerque was just as pleasant as the first one.  I highly recommend trying the train if you are ever in Albuquerque.

Our special meal for the evening was with David and Alison at the Standard Diner.  Like so many other service stations across the country, this one was converted into a restaurant.  I wonder if it was a Standard Oil station?

October 9, 2012

Sleeping in until 7:30 is a wonderful luxury after getting up before dawn two days in a row!  After breakfast, David, Polly and I donned helmets, adjusted bicycle seats and took off for a ride to the nearby Los Poblanos Farm a former dairy converted into an inn and lavender farm.  Two little girls, ages 3 and 5, entertained us with their lack of fear in playing with the friendly milk cow, goat and sheep, while their mother made crafts close by.

Los Poblanos Farm

I had been to this farm two years ago and wanted to go back for some aromatic lavender salve.  After making our purchases, we stowed them in our bicycle bags and pedaled back to the Hudson hacienda.

Nancy and Polly at Los Poblanos

Yet another culinary experience awaited us at the Range Café  in Bernalillo.  Opened in 1992, it is a funky restaurant in an old adobe building.  Green chili stew was the favorite for four of us at the table.  It took several bites before I could enjoy it without needing a sip of water each time.

The Range Cafe

Dining Friends

Green Chili

The Ranges

Silva’s Saloon is next door. Rumor has it that the original owner, Felix Silva, Sr. kept nine loaded guns hidden throughout the building.  It’s walls are coated in newspaper clippings, old photos and other momentos from a bygone time, including one of Julia Roberts in one of her first movies where one scene was shot in Silva’s.  Sadly, Silva’s daughter and current bartender has the business up for sale, but is looking for someone who will keep its spirit alive.

Silva’s Saloon

Silva’s Liquor

Polly at the bar

Old cigarette machine

One last adventure for the day was a visit to Albuquerque Alpacas, an experience recommended by Julie and Lydia.  The photos tell it all.  Yes, I came away with a rug.

Alpacas

David, John and Peter

Alpaca Fun

Leslie and her baby

My Rug

Finally it was time to say goodbye to John and Peter.  What a great time we have had.

John, Polly, Nancy and Peter

The alarm woke us out a deep sleep at 4:00 AM.  It was the same routine as yesterday, leaving the house at 4:30, riding the bus to the park, finding hot coffee and donuts, and waiting for dawn.  With the help of cell phones and texting, my fellow Metter Magnolias, Julie and Lydia found us before the launch.

Metter Magnolias plus one

As the light dawned over the Sandia Mountains, the first balloons began to raise their heads.  First there was the Dawn Patrol.

Dawn Patrol

Then everywhere we turned there were more and more popping up and ascending into the ever-brightening blue sky.  We kept losing each other in the excitement of snapping photos all over the field.  But, somehow we managed to meet at the designated spot when it was time to leave.  The photos below cannot do justice to the adrenalin rush one gets while watching these giant creatures unfurl in all of their splendor.

Balloons

Balloons

Stagecoach

Nancy and Balloons

Balloon

Elephant

Clock

Polly and Nancy

Balloons

Up, Up, and Away!

Polly, John, Peter, Nancy, David

Somehow in all of the excitement, we hardly noticed that the temperature was dropping.  It became more and more difficult for our fingers to push the camera buttons.  Finally, with hands almost numb and bodies shivering, we decided it was time to seek shelter and warmth.  Catching the bus back to the car, we all agreed that food would be the solution to shaking bodies.  So, off we went to Lily’s, a place that David’s motorcycle friends meet for breakfast.  We were not disappointed.  Then it was back home to catch up on some much needed sleep.

Brunch at Lily’s

Sunday evening John, Peter, Polly and I were treated to yet another epicurean dining experience.  Alison prepared a roasted vegetable medley while David grilled pork tenderloin.  The meal accompanied by assorted wines and a dessert of grilled peaches and ice cream was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

October 7, 2012