Hello all!
Sorry for the long gap between posts. Safe to say, there isn't a lot of Wireless Internet service in the Southwest deserts!
Right now we're in Chandler Arizona, outside of Phoenix, visiting our Cousin/Nephew Jason Braun & his wife Olga.
The past 6 days have been VERY busy, and a lot of fun.
From Houston, on some local knowledge, we decided to head to San Antonio TX before Austin, and staying at a KOA camp ground for the night right outside of the city.
Sunday morning we took the bus into San Antonio, walked the river walk and local shops, and saw the Alamo. Before leaving, we stopped in one of the river walk restaurant, and had some of the biggest BBQ ribs we've ever seen! We left around mid afternoon and went up to Austin, which has a VERY different feel and look from the rest of Texas. We drove around the city, saw the capital, and went around the local park trails, where we got to see a bit of the Annual Austin Reggie Festival that was going on. In the evening we met up with our good friends the Merrits to see the Congress Avenue Bats flight, from under the Congress Ave Bridge, and dinner at a local TexMex place.
That evening we made a little ground towards the the NM border, camping in Forst Stockton TX for the night. Monday morning we continued on, stopping in Fredericksburg, a small Germantown in Texas where we had some great Bavarian food at the Auslander Restraunt. Also, stopped into the National Pacific War & Admiral Nimitz Museam.
From there, we headed straight to Carlsbad New Mexico, to see the Carlsbad Caverns. Sadly we arrived too late to see the caverns that day, so we camped near by down the mountain, and hit it up early Tuesday morning. But WOW was the delay worth it, the Carlsbad Caverns are absolutely amazing. We spent about 6 hours in the caves, and probably walked 20 miles. It's absolutely a geographical marvel.
From Carlsbad we went to ROSWELL! (Que spooky space music here). We stopped in more for a novelty, but made ourselves Tin Foil hats to keep the Aliens out of our brains, as seen above!
From Roswell we went straight to Albuequrque, got in around 11:30 PM, and parked outside Smith's shopping center, where we were scheduled to meet up with our Balloon crew for the morning! We were up up bright & Early at 5:30 AM, and then to the park to for sun rise lift-off by 6:15 AM - sunrise liftoff with A lbuquerque mountains as a back drop. We were airborne about 1-hour, but it was about a 3-4 hour proccess all together. It was an absolutely awesome experience -- quiet, serene, and majestic! It was a very different form of flying than anything we've ever done before.
We were finished by about 9:30-10:00 AM and then we continued west towards Arizona -- driving along the mountains and found Albuqueques and New Mexico to be truly the "Land of Enchantment." From Albuquerque, we drove west along Rte 40, stopping a few times in some small towns, including Grants at the Continental Divide, and the in Gallup, the last town in NM before crossing into Arizona.
Our first stop in Arizona was just befor Holbrook AZ, to see and tour the Pained Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. It was a 28 mile drive through amazing scenery of the colorful hills and sands, before heading on to Heber, AZ, where we stopped and camped for the night.
In the morning we drove through quite a lot of mountains towards Phoenix, passing through Payson, which is a small town outside a natiional forest and Indian Reservtion where the hunting, fishing, and canoeing would be amazang. Payson is at 5,000 feet above sea level (nearly a mile high small town). We stopped in Payson, AZ for an Oil change, and while waiting discovered a local Antique and Classic Car show that was really interesting and which ended with a huge classic and antique car parade through the town that we videoed.
From Payson we drove to 2-hours southerly to Chandler, AZ, which is a suburb of Phoenix, Mesa, Scotsdale, and Tempee (home of Arizona State Unniversity, to visit with family - nephew Jason Braud and his new bride and familymember Olga. Friday evening Jason and Olga took us out to the Tempe Market Place for dinner and some live music to see and experience some local flavor and catch up with family.
Today (Sat., 25 April) we said our goodbyes following a windshield tour of downtown Tempe, and then we headed out with our next destinations beiing Sedona, Arizon, and the Grand Canyon. Stay tuned...more exciting adventures to come in our Airstream Adventure!
**LOTS** of New Pictures up on our Photobucket:
http://photobucket.com/airstreamadventurers
'Till next time,
Scott & Shan
PS: Leave us a comment to let us know you're there!
Hi Scott & Shannon, Could you post some pictures of the Painted Desert and more of the amazing scenery? Sounds like a lot of fun -- and so nice that you are connecting with old friends along the way. If I had known you were passing through Sedona, would have had you look up Michael Jokich, the friend who was married to Lolly and Niels' best man in our wedding. If it's not too late, write me for details. Send some pictures of the Grand Canyon the next time! A bientôt! Love, Jamie Bonne continuation!
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