AZ and NM 5/5/25

 We actually got on the road within two minutes of the planned time!

Mike and I left our house at 6:32, picked up Pam at 6:47 a.m. and hit the road for Texas.

We pulled into our hotel in Soccoro, NM at 6 pm. 

Here's what we found , saw and did on the way ( and Mike drove the Whole way!)

We made no wrong turns, didn't get close to running out of gas, and the truck ran beautifully.

It was cloudy the whole way. 50's for temps most of the day. Traffic was okay.

Our first serious stop was the meteor crater outside of Flagstaff.

Mike and I paid the entry fee ($27 each) and got to see the crater, enjoy the museum and displays. I also bought a magnet in the gift shop. It was a nice place with a good visitor center...clear out in middle of nowhere. We had a picnic lunch INside the truck as it was windy and cool with spitting rain.

We had a lot of potty stops, a gas stop...heavy rain thru a teeny bit of New Mexico. We stayed to I 40 and I 25. All day of driving and only a touch of rain.

Photos:

Wavy clouds in Northern AZ.

Vermillion Cliffs were somewhat subdued because of the cloud cover.

Meteor Crater 

Nice paths throughout the visitor center area.

There were viewing decks set up with viewing scopes. We checked out one, looked down at the hole, swapped photo taking ops with other visitors, and then a big wind came up, so we skedaddled out of there.

The inside exhibits were really nice.  Films, a 4 -D experience we skipped, nice gift shop and a rock shop.

A space man like this one was set up at the bottom of the hole. That was a surprise when I looked through the scope and saw that!

After Easter

 After Robert and Janet went back home after Easter, and AFTER we left for SLC and "Wicked", THEN Donna came for her quarterly visit with Mom. And us. But this trip took them up to Utah County to visit with friends and relatives. Donna is a very good caregiver, drove them safely there and back , incorporated plenty of rest time and the two day trip was not overwhelming to Mom. It helps that they stay at an ADA hotel room. 

And while Donna is here, we play GAMES! Lots and lots of games. Fun times. 

We went shopping at a nursery. So many succulents!

Mom got a new  cute little table to put outside her front door. And it was taken by someone before she even had a chance to get a display put on it! She was SO upset! Understandably so. We alerted the staff, made a couple of signs and posted them and lo and behold, it came back the next day. Fun drama at Our House.

Here is her cute entry area to Mom's very tidy apartment.

Fun card games that shall not be named at our house. I think this one is Five Crowns. The other game caused too much cursing.

Wicked, the Broadway musical

 I've been wanting to see this show for about 20 years now. 

Check!

In the lobby. I'm

Mike and I drove up to SLC on April to see it in the Eccles Theater. Lovely venue. Great show.

We spent the night with Nick's family, delivered Jane's belated birthday gift and then headed home. . . 

In a new red truck Mike just got! He does love a red Ford pickup.

Library Ladies (Ret) at Lunch

 

Janet Seegmiller and I planned this. Of the 8 possibilities, only 5 made it. We shall try again, quoth The Gatherer. Evermore.

L to R,  Paula Mitchell, Lorraine Warren, Sheri Butler, Janet Seegmiller, me.

And a cute license plate I saw on the way there:

It says, "IKNEADU" and the frame says, "That's what I do." Massage therapist?

Fiesta!

 Mike and I enjoyed a part of an evening at Cedar City's FIESTA! I mean, we ARE the Festival City. 

We enjoyed lots of flowy frilly dresses during dances, cute kids from our Spanish Dual Immersion East Elementary, singing and dancing. It reminded me of learning to square dance in Elementary School...with a Latin flare to it😊

We had street tacos for dinner, some yummy horchata to drink, saw a couple of friends to visit briefly with, and I rode my bike there and back.  The festival was in association with the Community Slow Roll. It was quite the party--- er, Fiesta!

Happy Cinco de Mayo in three days.🇲🇽

Yeah, it was really bright and sunny facing the stage. Occasionally there were clouds.

East Elementary kids singing.

And dancing. It was really crowded downtown on the blocked-off streets.

Chicken street tacos with mild green salsa, onions and cilantro.

There are lots of folks who can do these dances, so they took turns in the stage area. These gals have finished one set and are waiting for their next turn..

Two couples.

Mostly sunny skies. It was pretty warm, too. Nice evening. We didn't stay more than 2 hours. I'm glad I finally got to experience one of Cedar City's Slow Rolls.