The goal today was to leave by 9 for Albuquerque. We managed to leave our site at 8:30, but we had to wait behind our Cedar Creek friends at the dump station. By the time they finished and we finished it was close to 9:30, then there was the steep climb back up out of the canyon. Big Blue came through like a champ! It didn’t seem like we were pulling a thing. We were getting really close to empty but had seen a Love’s Truck Stop on the interstate right where we were exiting to take the ring road to I-40, so we stopped, fueled up and got right on I-40 with no traffic along the way. For a while the scenery was just like Kansas, but we did pass the biggest cattle stockyard so far. It was ½ mile long with probably 4 pens deep. That was a lot of cattle.
We crossed the time zone again and now are in Mountain time. That meant we would get to the campground on time! We planned to stop for lunch at a rest area listed on the map, but as luck would have it, the one on our side of the road was closed. So we decided to stop for lunch and fuel at the same stop, another Love’s in NM. There were several big truck stops at that exit, so we didn’t think it would be a problem, but the Love’s was backed up with semis and 4 new RV being towed someplace and all the lanes were full and everyone was taking their sweet time. Bill suggested he get us lunch at the Carl’s that was in the truck stop and eat in the parking lot since there didn’t appear to be enough space to open the slides and have lunch in the RV. I think he just rather have a hamburger than a ham sandwich! But that was fine. Ended up there was no place there we could even pull over it was so busy. So we took our bag of sandwiches down the road and parked in a hotel lot and ate. I had a teriyaki chicken sandwich and it was huge. Very good too. Burger boy had fries with his BIG burger and we shared a coke.
On the approach to Albuquerque there was a splatter of rain, but nothing major. Traffic was heavier in the early afternoon that I expected. We managed to change interstates and head north with no trouble. The campground run by the Bernalillo Sheriff’s Posse and they had sent us a good map showing 2 ways to get there. We were very surprised that there is only one other camper here. The Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is this week and we couldn’t get a space in a traditional RV park so we were referred to this, which is owned by the Sheriff’s Posse and they only do camping for special events. It’s nothing fancy but very level, has water and 30 amp electric and a dump station. The prices during the Fiesta are high everywhere and I’ve always wanted to see this so we bit the bullet and paid $50 a night for electric and water. At the Fiesta grounds you could get spaces early on but the same type of space there was $65. We are ¼ mile as the crow flies from the fiesta park and can sit outside our RV in our pajamas and watch the 500 balloons lift off tomorrow. This is going to be totally awesome!
We tried once again to hook up the Direct TV with no luck, so did the antenna instead and got better stations when we were down in the canyon. Guess we’re going to call Direct TV tomorrow and get this issue figured out. The one guy camping next to us is a balloon pilot and we talked to him a little. They are from CA. They have balloonists come to this from all over the world.
Bill was to get the grill out but didn’t by the time we fiddled with the TV, so I used George again and did him a steak and me a salmon filet. Had the rest of the Spanish rice and salads. This morning our milk was frozen. I keep adjusting the little electric fridge but when it gets cold at night I guess it gets colder in that fridge.
Bill’s taking the truck in for its overdue oil change in the morning after the balloons lift off. Best get to bed so I’m wide awake at 7!
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