Eastbound to the Balloon Fiesta

[tcandt]

Today, we drove from Holbrook, AZ to Albuquerque Palisades RV Park. There are
two words that do not fit this place; palisades and park. It is a little rough
and I am patrolling all night long with my .40 caliber Sig Sauer. We will make
the best of it.

The drive was uneventful today. A little rain but not much else. Fortunately, I
installed a Sirius sateltie radio in the coach so we could listen to all sorts
of music along the way. On the 70s station, we were blessed with hearing The
Village People performing YMCA. For those who don't know, I was the original
Cowboy, backup lead singer and choreographer for TVP (yeah, really). I was so
moved to hear the old band that I stood up and formed all the letters of YMCA as
we drove down the road. Thank goodness for cruise control. Carolyn had a moment
when I started to dance the full routine holding the coach in line with one
knee. So much for nostalgia.

Curt left us in his exhaust trail and moved way in front today. Fortunately,
Betty had a Jones for a Dairy Queen ice cream and they stopped west of Grants
and we caught up. Already there at DQ was Ed and Penny Arnold on their way to
the balloon fiesta. We stayed for lunch and then headed to our rendevous with
the Lone Star Birds at Palisades.

Tonight was quiet. I had to break out a lader to climb into our coach after
leveling. We put 8 inches of blocks under the front jakcs and still almost
lifted to over extend the jacks. The climb to the coach is extreme. The front
tires are 6 inches off the gound. There are Prevosts everywhere here (they are
the ones with the 1991 rusted Cadillacs next to them that have not been moved
for 20 years?). I did not know Prevost made so many small trailers.

Samantha, our Jack Russell, is very pleased that there are so many feral cats in
the park. It keeps her very busy.

Tomorrow, we caravan to the balloon fiesta site where we will be living for the
rest of the week. What a great idea to mix Southwest people with Texans! We are
bonding every moment we spend together. Rick Archie is doing a great job telling
everyone we can all get along. He learned that from Rodney King.

As I patrol the park with my Sig, I am very happy I did not chamber a cartridge.
I am afraid I would shoot myself for being found in this park. Did I tell you
about how nice my site is?

More to come later.
__________________
Tommy 'Two Shoes' McCarthy

1995 PT42 WBSA
Poway CA

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "tcandt" wrote:
>
> From Monday:
>
> Today on our way to Albuquerque was interesting. It started off with T-storms
in the distance. Our hope of avoiding them was lost when we entered a big cell.
I noticed some guy in a robe holding a staff ushering pair of animals to a big
ship out in the field. Rivers of water floating down Interstate 40. I
immediately remembered I forgot to shower this morning.
>
> We stopped in Williams, AZ for lunch after clearing another storm. We had
lunch at Pancho McGuillicuddy's restaurant. Great menu! You could get a corned
beef and cabbage burritto, shepard's pie enchiladas, Irish stew tortilla soup
and much more. I ordered a special Pancho coffee and received a hot glass of
Irish whiskey, tequila, topped with a dollop of salsa. No identity issues in
that place.
>
> We are stopped for the night at OK RV in Holbrook, AZ. This place is OK. We
all have pull through spot together. No one had to unhook toads. Ready for the
barroom shootout at 10 PM. We should be on the road by the crack of 10 AM. Curt
found out they have free coffee and pastries at 8 AM so we will never get out by
9.
>
>
> Tommy Two Shoes
> 1995 PT42
> Poway Ca
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "tcandt" wrote:
> >
> > From Sunday:
> >
> > Today, Sunday, we met at Rod Gallagher's riverside resort on the AZ side of
the Colorado River. Unfortunately, Rod only had 15 toys for each person in our
little caravan. We only could choose between ski boats, off-road vehicles, jet
skis, off-road ready grills, and many more. We took a vote and decided to stay
here for the week but someone had a conscience and we will head to ALB anyway.
> >
> > When we arrived with Pretty Penny, it was like Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears;
which 50 amp spot would we choose. The one facing south or one facing west at
the river's edge. We tried out a few before settling on a westward view on the
water. Nice sunset.
> >
> > We have 3 Birds and 3 SOBs heading east in the morning. We plan to stop in
Williams, AZ, for lunch, gateway to the Grand Canyon and the famous Grand Canyon
Railroad. It has a restored section of the original Route 66 complete with an
ice cream shop where one can order a malted or a banana split from the soda
jerks (not the drivers in the caravan).
> >
> > Tonight, we feasted on fine Southern Italian cuisine prepared especially for
us by the James Beard Award winning chef, Chef Dominos. We enjoyed a fine
preparation of dough, tomato sauce, Italian sausage, peppers, ham, pepperoni,
olives and more. We all were amply sated and will have leftovers for later in
the week.
> >
> > Taskmaster, Curt Sprenger (I mean wagonmaster) will play Reveille at 0 dark
30 so we can be on highway 40 at the crack of 9 AM. That is 12 hours from now so
I need to sign off and hit the sack.
> >
> > Tommy Two Shoes
> > 1995 PT42
> > Poway, CA
> >
>