We went to the Eisenhower museum today. There was a lot of wonderful WWII pictures, information and films to watch.  I have to say I like Ike and Mamie too. She was portrayed as fluff but I think there was a backbone in her.  Mamie and Ike are buried on the museum property.  The house Ike grew up in is on the land too. The museum, library and church was built around the house. It is on a big piece of property.

I am next to the WWII kiss

So dry there.Most of the ground/trees were brown or bare.  We have good weather so far.  We like Texas.  Eric had a steak dinner.

The cattle ranches have animals as far as I could see.

Today we went to the Pueblo Indian cultural center.  Eric took the walking tour, I did not.  It was a long walk (3/4 mile) and a bit tricky. He was able to see some of  the housing that the tribes live in.

We went into the Grand Canyon Caverns. It is 21 stories down into middle earth.  We get on a rickety wooden elevator with 6 other people.  Eric asks me what I’m doing. Hey, I’m looking for the inspection sticker on this thing (which I didn’t see). The drop was fast. Very fast. Eric helped me off the floor and we went out into the caves.  It is privately owned so a bit different than Carlsbad Caverns.  The caves here are “dry”.  No moisture and the cave will not grow any more crystals.  One can rent a bedroom in the cave overnight. Can you imagine the darkness?  The cave lights are turned off at night but the bedroom lights are left on.  How would you know when it is morning? When the first tour group starts?  I’d hate to be caught in my pj’s or worse.  There is a port a pot in the bedroom as well as a portable shower, microwave, dorm style refrigerator and TV which only plays disks. The tour guide was overly informative.  Going back up he told each of us to look up the wide crack in the elevator shaft.  I refused.  Going up was slower.  I have to say I felt queasy after the whole thing. Carlsbad did not affect me that way.  Carlsbad Caverns is 10 times larger though.

In New Mexico

Pictures now text later

We were 21 stories down in the cave. Took a rickety old elevator down.

I have to upload my pictures on my netbook computer then type on my laptop computer. The netbook has a tiny keyboard.  Tomorrow we hit the road for Illinois and Indiana. When I was a young child we went to the Toledo Zoo.  Fort Wayne did not have a zoo at that time and probably the nearest zoo was Toledo.  I was so amazed at the animals.  Our father ran into the chained off area of the peacocks and picked up off the ground  five feathers – one for each of us.  I kept my peacock feather for years.  One of my earlier memories of a family trip.

We often went camping at the lake.  It was always fun. Mom had a campfire nearly every night.  Pudgy pies and marshmallows.  Boy Scout dinners – which I still like.  We took our sons camping.  One of our traditional meals was fried taters.  We had a giant skillet and Eric was an expert at campfire cooking.

We are anxious to hit the road.  And a bit sad.  We are leaving a great campground and many nice neighbors.  We enjoy our jobs here.  And right now the weather is perfect. Sunny most days and the heat hasn’t set in yet.  We are heading towards our sons family. We miss them a lot.  And then I get to see my family in Indiana.  Then off to Thor’s in NYC.

Hopefully I can get the photo of the helicopter that buzzed us to upload.  Also a picture of Eric and Ken.

We went to a bagpipe festival last week. The peacocks roam the park. The birds aren’t too afraid unless kids are chasing them.

I took some photos of the archery range Friday. We had a helicopter from Nellis buzz us.  The Range Officer with Eric is Ken. He’s a nice guy to work with also.