NEW RV? and THE MOUNTAIN IN ALBUQUERQUE

We really like New Mexico! There are extra milers everywhere we turn. People going out of their way to make us feel welcome to this city and state. There is a cajun word I learned from some of the flood victims of New Orleans...lagniappe, pronounced lan-yap. This is a creole word meaning something special a little something extra or an unexpected surprise.

Update: Tomorrow we decide if we will ditch this RV and all the trouble that has come along with it ... and purchase a new one. Ken is worried this one will not make it through the mountains. That means I would be able to, of course, drop a considerable amount of my passenger side driving assistance. I know Ken doesn't fully appreciate my assistance and guidance (whoaaa...are you really going to keep drifting this close to the white line on MY side?), but I feel it continues to be my duty. Possibly with some additional horse power and the relief of knowing we have a good engine, brakes, etc., we will enjoy this journey even more than we already have, (despite the multiple RV problems). Can we spell, "lemon?" We continue to deal with the Indiana dealership (Tom Stinnett RV Sales, Clarksville), who sold the RV to us and did not follow through with promises made by his salesman - hopefully they will come through and do the right thing. It is all so tiresome. I'll keep you informed...tomorrow morning is decision time. UPDATE: Tom Stinnett decided not to fulfill his dealership's promises - but agreed to pay half of the bills acquired. Ken decided he didn't want this hanging over our heads throughout the trip, as we have had enough grief already; therefore we agreed. We will also lose considerable money in the trade, which we have decided to do. This is a sad part of life and we will move on and enjoy the remainder of the trip...continuing our search for Extra Milers.

Today we did something truly fantastic! The fun keeps on coming...as we boarded the WORLD'S LONGEST AERIAL TRAMWAY, headed to the top of Sandia Peak, New Mexico! Hey, Mike and Judy...it is even longer than the tram to Guntown Mountain in Cave City! This one is 2.7 miles and takes you to the top of this beautiful mountain. I have so many photos that I will have difficulty selecting those to share with you. Ken and I had lunch in the High Finance Restaurant at the top - then headed up the trail to a small shelter (used to protect hikers from the elements if they should get stuck on the mountain after dark). One of the guides referred to the shelter protecting hikers from "teddy bears and kitty cats" found on the mountain...not to mention the various types of snakes; however, it has no doors or windows, so I'm not so sure it would do more than block some of the gusty winds. We only saw two squirrels played tag on our 2.8 mile trail up the mountain to the highest peak. This is a popular trail...exhausting (especially in the altitude), but the views are spectacular.

During the first 1/2 mile, I was doing what I always do...chatting away...mostly about how I would love to bring my grandkids here one day and hike up this mountain with them (there seemed to be a lot of grand-families on the mountain today so it was in my mind). After the 3/4 mile marker, I had nearly consumed all of the 1/2 bottle of water that I casually grabbed before the hike, and was thinking those grandkids better be born soon, or I wouldn't be able to escort them up this mountain. By the 1 mile marker, I was no longer going to ever take my grandkids up this mountain (Jeff would have to hike up with them) and by the top, I wasn't sure I would be alive to ever meet future grandkids. I have just enough vertigo that I slowly (VERY slowly) inch closer and closer to the edge, but never get right on the edge to look over. Ken does that for me...so several of the shots were taken by Ken. I will stand as close as 2-3 feet, but that is close enough.

Enjoy these photos, knowing they cannot possibly do justice to this absolutely spectacular view in New Mexico. If you ever get the opportunity...make this part of your trip out west. And TIM GIFFORD, you need to get to the top of this mountain - soon!
Nite ~ Carol and Ken