We got back from Colorado a few days earlier than expected for various family-oriented issues. For one, my youngest sister Elaine was hospitalized – though she is doing fine she will have to stay for a few days nevertheless. And two, money was getting tight, and we ran out of things to do at the cabin, so it was time for us to head home. There were only the three of us traveling together this time: Me, Kendray and his friend Dewayne.
While we were on our way home, Butch, our adopted fur baby who had stayed home, decided to venture off during the night chasing wild things. He ventured about a mile from home on Hwy 84 and got hit and killed. My daughter found him the next morning and there was a funeral for him. It was upsetting news when we finally arrived home, and both Kendray and I cried ourselves to sleep that night. Butch was a good dog and protected us from things that go bump in the night on the outside. He is already missed so bad. It wasn’t like him to venture off. There was someone here caring for him, but he apparently found him a girlfriend close to town that was in heat and he went a little crazy and ventured off one time too many. Still, we miss him so bad.
All in all, we had a wonderful trip in spite of the little extra activities the two boys decided to delve into without permission while we were gone! Kendray fell down a mountainside and got banged up a little more than I liked. He ended up in the ER with minor internal injuries that we are still keeping an eye out for, making sure there is no blood in his urine. A follow-up with his PC doctor next week and he’s good to go. He got skinned up pretty good but the wounds are already healing nicely.
Enough about all that! I know everyone wants to hear about our trip! So here goes…
When we arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico late in the evening, there wasn’t a lot of time to do anything except eat, swim and relax. But the pool was closed when we got there, which sucked. When I called, and booked the room for several nights we were informed that it would be open. Just didn’t work out that way.
I want to complain a little about Albuquerque, New Mexico anyway while it’s still fresh on my mind. We have been going to Albuquerque since 1992 and have always made it a priority on our westerly trip. We’ve always loved it because of Cliff’s Amusement Park, the zoo and aquarium, Hinkle Family Fun Center – just a few of our favorite places there. The last few years though, there have been panhandlers in various parts of the city and each year they get worse. Now they are on almost every major street corner asking for money and stuff. I would think there would be a city ordinance against this type of thing. Who wants to pull up to a red light to be confronted with people in wheel chairs or possibly crack heads asking for money? Not me, especially when I have children in the car with me. I don’t usually complain but it has only gotten out of control. Now, crack heads are hanging out at the motels and are in the parking lots waiting to make a deal. Not happening on this level.
I just don’t feel safe going to Albuquerque anymore and it will be deleted from my travel plans for 2024. I guess what I am really trying to say is this: I live in a small town in Louisiana – our town is almost small enough that everybody knows everybody else – almost anyway! Everybody knows the meth heads, the pot heads and the crack heads, if you will, and honestly when I leave home, I don’t want to be confronted on every street corner with basically the same thing just in a larger and different way.
Maybe if some of the city officials were aware that this is the type of things that keeps families away, maybe they will clean it up so we will come back. Or not… But it’s not my duty to complain. I am a travel writer trying to show people wonderful places to visit – not the negativity of a city. But since I don’t feel safe there anymore, I don’t think I should send families there where they may not feel safe either. Just saying it the way I see it…
We left Albuquerque, went through Durango, Silverton, Ouray, and made our way over to Lake City (Colorado) where we had a cabin waiting for us for the next few days. After we settled down a few days, we took a drive over to Creede, and then I took the boys to the Great Sand Dunes near Alamosa, Colorado. They loved it but it was hot! One of the ranger guides said that the sand temperature was 135 degrees. That’s not exactly my cup of tea (or should I say sand!)
Back at the Texan Resort the two boys had the time of their life fly fishing and swimming in the river that flows through the property. I kept my promise – I brought a book, bottle of cold water and a folding chair and sat out there everyday reading and just relaxing. That’s exactly what I have been needing for a long time. I probably had just as much fun enjoying my book as the boys did fishing and swimming.
When we finally decided to pack up and come home, I cried. I’m not kidding. I knew I had to go but part of me wanted to stay. And so did Kendray. His friend Dewayne was home sick and ready to go, but had it been only me and Kendray alone I would have stayed a few more days.
I’ve already started planning next year’s trip (minus Albuquerque). Now it’s time to start saving money! That’s a tough one though, but I can do it. Sheer willpower because I love to travel! Simple as that!!!
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