The Killdeers Come for a Visit

This past week, a small family of Killdeers visited our yard. We saw 2 adults (mother and father, I assume) and 3 chicks. They spent several days scurrying about the yard. With each passing day, they would spend less and less time with us, but we would often see them in neighbor's yards.

The adults, as you might expect, were very protective of the young. On several occasions, black birds would get too close to the chicks and the adults would come to the rescue, driving away the intruders. We were careful about going outside, and made it a habit to look out the windows before venturing onto our patio. Quite often, the chicks would actually be on our patio, inspecting everything they came into contact with.

Then one day, we looked out and saw only a single chick. The rest of the family was not in sight. We watched for a while, but no one came to check on the chick. I guess it got separated from the rest of the family. Later that evening, we did see the family in our neighbor's yard, but I only counted 2 chicks and 2 adults. I think that was the last evening I saw the birds. I guess they have moved to greener pastures.

Below are a few pictures of our yard guests.

This picture shows all 3 chicks. They would just wander the yard, pecking here and there.

This is a close-up of one of the chicks.

One of the adults keeping a watchful eye on everyone, including me.

Both adults in this picture

This picture shows one adult (lower right) and 2 chicks (upper left)

Life Without the Trailer, Part 3

In the previous 2 installments, I looked at what we missed about the trailer and what we didn't miss. In this last installment, I'll look at traveling without the trailer.

In our recent trip to Colorado, I really enjoyed the ease of traveling without the trailer. I could pull into gas stations, cafes, and other businesses with ease. It was nice to turn on the cruise control and just motor down the highway. And when we stopped for the night, I'd check in at the front desk of a hotel and we'd carry a few small bags to the room. The next morning, we'd eat breakfast at the hotel (if they had a free breakfast), load our bags in the car, and drive away. It was quick, easy, and efficient.

I don't even want to think about what it would be like to drag a trailer through some of the country we just traveled through. Traveling in our RAV4 was easy. And we made better time as well, not that this is important. When you full-time in an RV, you really aren't in that much of a hurry.

So, does that mean I'll never own another RV? No, not at all. However, as I've said before, I just don't enjoy traveling occasionally in an RV. If I have another one, it will be for full-time purposes. I do enjoy full-timing in an RV. I like the freedom that such a lifestyle provides. If I were to full-time, I would want to ensure I get a rig that is comfortable and that has all the perks I need for full-timing, including doing a great deal of boon docking. These are some of the things I would look for in an RV:

• I'd want some power source, probably solar panels, so that I could spend time in remote areas and still have power. This would allow me to camp on public lands that might not have utilities available. 
• I'd want reliable Internet. It's so much easier to plan your travels when you have access to Internet.
• I'd want television regardless of my location. I guess that would mean some sort of satellite plan.
• I'd want larger than average storage tanks so that I could stay in remote locations longer.
• I'd want tank heaters for cold weather camping.
• I'd want comfortable chairs for Donna and me to rest in at the end of a long day of hiking and exploring. And there are those times of bad weather when we would be confined to our rig, so you want to be comfortable.
• I'd want a comfortable bed for a good night's sleep.

But right now, we're pretty satisfied with traveling in our RAV4. In fact, we have another trip coming up soon. I hope you'll travel along with us.

Life Without the Trailer, Part 2

As you saw in the previous post, there are things we miss about our trailer, but there are far more things I don't miss.

I certainly don't miss emptying the holding tanks. That's never a pleasant job, even though it becomes routine after a while. And I really don't miss when things get clogged up or an "accident" occurs while emptying the tanks.

I don't miss towing. I have never liked towing of any kind, but towing a heavy travel trailer on busy highways, treacherous roads, during gusting winds and other bad weather can be very stressful.

I don't miss the ongoing maintenance. When you own an RV, there will be maintenance. After all, when you bounce down the road at high speeds, things just jiggle about and problems eventually result. We were fortunate in all our travels to never have any serious problems, but we did experience a few things, such as:

• damaged sway bar bracket
• damaged electric cord from trailer to truck
• damaged water feed to toilet
• leaky pump
• numerous electrical issues
• stripped gears on electric hitch
• and various other minor problems

I don't miss setting up or breaking camp in cold and/or rainy weather and/or in the dark. This didn't happen often, but I well remember those times when it did. Luckily, I kept proper clothing in the trailer for such situations. Being properly clad helps tremendously. Most people today think of clothing as simply a fashion statement; to me, clothing is a tool.

I don't miss spending cold nights and/or days in the trailer. Yeah, the trailer had a good furnace, but when it switched off, the cold creeped right back in almost instantly. There's little insulation value in a trailer. It does get cold in a trailer.

I don't miss riding out violent storms in the trailer. When the wind is rocking and the rain is pelting, it's a bit unnerving. We were fortunate in all our travels to never encounter large hail.

I don't miss taking showers in a small shower with limited elbow room.

I don't miss maneuvering the trailer through tight spots, such as gas stations, parking lots, and busy intersections.

I don't miss cramped RV sites in overly priced parks. I much prefer staying in state parks and similar places where you have a little room to breathe.

Of course, this list is not complete, but you get the idea. 

Life Without the Trailer, Part 1

Well, it's been about 2 months since we sold the trailer. Are we missing it at all?

The truth is that, yes, we miss it at times. Overall, though, we are happy with our decision to sell it.

I miss waking up in a state park or other similar place to the sound of happy birds. Or perhaps watching a deer wander through our campsite.

I miss the freedom of going where you want yet always being home. When you travel by RV, you take your bed, your favorite foods, your television, all your necessary clothes, and other comforts with you. You can pull into a picnic area and use the bathroom, fix a meal, or take a nap. I miss that relaxed mode of travel.

I miss being out of doors as much as we were whenever we traveled in our trailer. We would spend hours each day outside. We'd often start the day by cooking breakfast outside on our camp stove. Perhaps we'd take a walk around the park or take a hike. Sometimes we'd just sit outside watching the wildlife, watching other RVers come and go, or just enjoying the weather. Donna would often grab her poles and head down to the fishing hole if there was one while I'd relax around camp.

I miss the slow pace of life living in a trailer. We'd pick a place to go and allow ourselves plenty of time to visit the museums and other points of interest in the area. There was never a rush to do things because we were always "home" in the trailer.

I miss breaking camp in the morning and getting the trailer hooked up to the truck. Then, with a fresh cup of coffee to help me, we'd pull out for a new destination, a new adventure. I miss that feeling.

So, yes, there are plenty of things I miss. In the next installment, though, I'll look at the things we don't miss.

I Deserve a Medal

Our trip to Colorado and New Mexico last week was a celebration of 40 years of marriage for Donna and me. Actually, our 40th anniversary is today, but we had to take the trip early due to obligations here in Angelo.

I had just completed my student teaching assignment when Donna and I were married in the small side chapel of the First United Methodist Church in Conroe, Texas, Donna's hometown. For the next 2 years, we lived in a small cabin outside Huntsville while I worked on my MA degree and taught freshman English classes at the university in their fellowship program. From there, we've traveled far and wide, living mostly in West Texas but also working abroad a few years in the 1980s. It's been an interesting journey.

Yep, we done been married for 40 years. I must be a saint for putting up with that old woman for so many years. She's one lucky gal. But I'm getting kind of used to her now, so I guess I'll just keep her for another 40.

I wish all of you many happy years of marriage as well. I'm afraid that marriage as an institution is on the decline. I still believe in it, though; I believe in the commitment that it requires to make a marriage work. I believe in the trust that a couple builds over the years. I believe in the team work that a marriage requires.

I guess I'll take the old woman out for lunch today. I believe she deserves a good hamburger on a special day like today. I wonder if I have any coupons.

Bronco Billy's

We really enjoyed our recent trip, and we really enjoyed our time in Cripple Creek. Even though I mentioned our stay at Bronco Billy's in a previous post, I wanted to go back and provide more detail.

We spent 3 nights at Bronco Billy's. When we checked in at the hotel desk, we were greeted warmly and friendly. The clerk asked if we had player's cards; we said "no" and asked if we needed them before checking in. She replied that she could issue us cards. The hotel found that to be more convenient than sending customers to the player's club. Now, how many casinos do you know that provide this type of service. Imagine, trying to make things easier for the customer rather than the establishment! After issuing our cards, she then presented us with a rebate voucher, a coupon for 2 free meals at either Baja Billy's or the Home Café, and then 2 coupons for 1 free breakfast at the Home Café. All of these were given to us for each night of our stay; in other words, we were able to eat free twice each day during our stay.

The rebate voucher was a nice comp. Our individual accounts were linked together. As a couple, all we needed was to acquire 250 points a day for a $10 cash rebate and 500 points a day for a $20 rebate. We were given one of these vouchers for each night we stayed at the hotel. By my calculations, each point required $4 coin-in, so it was no problem for us to get 500 points daily. As a result, we received $20 cash rebate each day of our stay there.

We played mostly quarter NSUD, which is a 99.73% deuces wild game. There are probably a dozen or more of these games in the casino, mostly at the bar in the Tap Room or at another bar in another room 4 or so "levels" to the east (I don't know the name of this bar). Since the games are all progressive, they are actually worth more than 99.73%. The progressive feature enhances not only the royal flush but also quad deuces. I hit quad deuces twice, and the mini-jackpot netted me at least $250 each time. Donna hit the royal for over $1100 as well as quad deuces once. There are other progressive games at various denominations, but I don't play them so I did not note their pay tables.

Further, natural quads, including quad deuces, entitles the player to a wooden token they call a "Woody". When you get 4 such tokens, take them to the cashier and get $5. As if that is not enough, Tuesday is double points day, so points add up even faster.

The rooms at Bronco Billy's are old; after all, it is an old building. But they are well maintained and clean. Our room consisted of the bedroom, a dressing area consisting of the sink and closet, and the bathroom consisting of the toilet and tub. The bathroom was tight; we had to squeeze in to shut the door. But everything worked well. There was a microwave and mini-fridge, and the flat screen TV had plenty of channels. Even though we were above the casino and facing the street, we were not bothered by noise. One big lack is the insufficient number of electrical outlets, but this is to be expected in an older building.

Bedroom at Bronco Billy's. Window overlooks Bennett Avenue

This is what I call the "dressing area". To right is closet, while sink is to left. Notice that bath area is very small. Microwave and mini-fridge are out of sight on right.

Photo taken from door to dressing area. Flat-screen TV on wall on left. Windows overlook street.

We enjoyed eating at Bronco Billy's. We arrived on a Sunday and immediately went to Baja Billy's to get our free meal. The coupon entitled us to ANYTHING on the menu. I ordered the carne asada plate while Donna had the taco salad with chicken. We enjoyed these items very much. In addition, we enjoyed the chips and the 2 salsas and frijole dip that was served. We looked forward to returning; unfortunately, the restaurant was closed our remaining days (Monday - Wednesday) so we did not get to eat there again.

We ate breakfast each day at the Home Café. This is a small place, but full of character. The waitresses are old style; they could teach waitresses at fancy restaurants quite a bit about customer service. For example, our waitress one day noticed we were having trouble getting ketchup out of the bottle, and she brought a new bottle for us. Our drinks were always full and nothing else was lacking. They were efficient and friendly. There is a $.49 breakfast served each morning, and that is what the coupon allows. I ordered something different each day. The first day I ordered the omelet. The next day I ordered the pancakes. The last morning I tried the eggs. The omelet and egg orders came with hash browns and toast/biscuit. I preferred the toast to the biscuit. The pancake breakfast came with 2 pancakes that literally flowed to the edge of my plate. We also ate a late lunch at the Home Café.

In all honesty, the food at the Home Café is not great, but it is very decent and very filling. No, it is not gourmet food; it is down-home basic stick to your ribs food. And that is the way it should be in a casino like this.

The Tap Room was only open Sunday during our stay there, and that is a pity. Now, you can still play when it is closed, but there is no one tending bar when it is closed. The one day we played at that bar, we were able to order Dunkel beer on tap, and it was good. Dunkel is one of our favorite beers, and it is difficult to find. Of course, while playing, the beer is comped, so we are essentially able to drink free. During summer months, I think the Tap Room is open more days.

There is a lot about Bronco Billy's that reminds me of what I call "old Vegas." It's difficult to find a casino these days that give the player a good gamble and good service. We are already planning our next trip.

Bosque Redondo

The following event occurred on Thursday, May 18.

On our way home from Santa Rosa, New Mexico, Donna and I stopped just outside the small town of Fort Sumner to visit the Bosque Redondo Memorial.

Bosque Redondo Memorial

Along the banks of the Pecos River, one of the sadder episodes in our nation's history occurred. Under the direction of Brigadier General James H. Carleton, Commander of the Military Department of New Mexico, U.S. troops rounded up Navajos and Mescalero Apaches in the early 1860s and herded them onto a newly formed reservation on the barren plains of eastern New Mexico. The Navajos lost over 1,000 people on the "Long Walk" of 450 miles from their tribal homelands in the Four Corners area. The land was unable to support the number of people the army placed there, and conditions were horrible. The Apaches finally left one night and disappeared into the countryside. When General William T. Sherman investigated conditions at the post in 1868, he found the conditions abominable and reported his findings to Washington. General Carlton was removed from his post, and a new treaty was signed with the Navajos, allowing them to return to their homeland.

Mural in the memorial depicting the "Long Walk" taken by the Navajos.

Close up of the above mural.

Later, the Maxwell family acquired ownership of the post and its buildings. A small ranching community sprang up. During the late 1870s and early 1880s, Fort Sumner played a role in the Lincoln County War as it was a popular stopping place for William Bonney (aka Billy the Kid) and his companions. In fact, it was in Pete Maxwell's home that the Kid was killed by Pat Garret on the night of July 14, 1881.

Supposed final resting place of William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid. However, in the years following his death, there was flooding along the Pecos River, and bodies from the Fort Sumner cemetery were often washed away. It is unlikely that the Kid and his pals actually are resting here.

Today, irrigation makes farming possible, especially alfalfa. Canals crisscross the countryside and fields were green and lush as we passed by.

If you stop, allow 1 to 2 hours to really take a close look. Start at the visitor center, where numerous displays are available. Then walk over to the remains of the military post, passing the Treaty Rock and Travel Shrine along the way. Spend a few minutes in the soldiers' barracks, then take the walk along the river.

Navajo Travel Shrine. These rocks were first carried here from the Navajo Nation in 1971 to commemorate those who were exiled her and who died here.

Navajo Treaty Rock marks the field where the Treaty of 1868 was signed by Navajo leaders Barboncito, Manuelito, and Delgadito, as well as US officials William T. Sherman and Samuel Tappan.

Soldiers' Barracks (right) and Artist-in-Residence Home (left)

Interior of soldiers' barracks.

Plaque placed near location of Maxwell home

Marker indicates specific location of William Bonney's death.

Marker at exact location of William Bonney's death.

This goat was grazing next to the memorial. I found the horns to be highly unusual, so I stopped for this photo.

The murky and alkaline Pecos River, working its way downstream. This is the water the Navajos and Mescaleros were expected to live on.