Scenery is much the same as yesterday, and the cloud formations are lovely.
It is an easy day into Albuquerque, and we are wise to have made a reservation at High Desert RV Park, as the International Balloon Fiesta is scheduled for this weekend.
Find Willie's Tug ....
Find the tall pine trees ....
We have plans to visit with our friends, Skipper and Cathy Brown, whom we have known from our BMW motorcycle riding days. As this is the first time we have been to their home in Albuquerque, we get a tour of the house.
A prized possession is a crucifix, which is one of Gabe Simpleton's productions, and one of which was atop Pope John Paul's crozier.
Jake visits Sam in the back yard. They really want to come inside to see what all the excitement is about.
A view from the front of the house shows downtown Albuquerque far in the background.
Skipper still has motorcycles as a big part of his life, teaches motorcycle safety classes, and displays a map with rally buttons at the locations where he has attended BMW rallies in the US.
We decide to take it easy tonight, and opt for dinner out. Our first choice restaurant has a 45 minute wait time for a table, so we chose another nearby for flavor and color -- Corrales Bistro and Brewery!
The live band, "Bartender 4 Mayor," plays for our listening pleasure, and gives us can koozies labeled with their name.
"Keep Austin Weird" has competition with these folks.
It is a wonderful evening to catch up on each other's lives since we last saw our friends, which was the wedding in Phoenix of their daughter, Meeghan, and Carlos -- several years ago. Now there is also the daughter, Lauryn, who is just over two years old.
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| Carlos, Meeghan and Lauryn |
Skipper and Cathy's son, Jacob, likes to tell the story of when I scared him with my driving as we followed Herb and Skipper on motorcycles to a rally in Death Valley one January. He was quite young at the time and played some "Nine Inch Nails" songs for me on his iPod.
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| Jacob |
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| Skipper and Herb |
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| Cathy and Skipper |
Our best entertainment of the evening is Lauryn interacting with her family, and she finally warms up to the strangers, Herb and me, and touches knuckles with us.
Here she is about to give her grandmother, whom she calls "Tat," a kiss.
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| Lauryn and Tat |
We recall that when we saw the Browns the last time in Phoenix, they moved to Albuquerque the next week. We learn today that they will move next week to Santa Fe for their retirement home, and tell us we should come more often so they would not move again.
We are very happy to have this visit tonight and promise not to stay away so long again.
Willie of Willie's Tug,
and of Walldog, Willie and Jake
Thursday, October 11, 2012
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