Santa Rosa Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 1

Mary remains at home in California tending to medical issues.

Yesterday I drove the motorhome on Historic Route 66 about 125 miles from Albuquerque to Santa Rosa Lake State Park, New Mexico. I expect to be here through the weekend.

If you are a regular follower of my Blog, you may recall that I’m in the process of a two-year circumnavigation of the United States…my sixth. Whenever possible I try to drive on roads I’ve not driven before. I also like to drive historic roadways whenever they are on my way. Yesterday I drove in an easterly direction from Albuquerque. The only downside when driving east with an early morning departure is you are looking directly into the sun…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The traffic on Route 66 was light because Interstate Highway 40 closely parallels it to the North…left in the next photo. I could see it, but it doesn’t show well because of the brilliant sun. If you look just left of Route 66 at the horizon you can see it…

I arrived safely at Santa Rosa Lake State Park after 3 hours and 15 minutes of driving…

I always like to show the view from the dinette window wherever I park overnight. Here it’s not terribly inspiring…just the top of a bush and an RV across the road…

Standing in the doorway of the motorhome I have a peek-a-boo view of the lake about one-half mile away…

It doesn’t matter because after being in the noise of Albuquerque for the last few days, I’m here for the peace and quiet that all New Mexico State Parks seem to offer.

I expect to be entering West Texas in about 10 days and spend the colder weeks of this coming Winter season deep in South Texas hiding out from the cold weather. I’ll use some of my time here to do research, using maps, books and the Internet, to identity likely prospective routes and things/places not too be missed along the way. As I tell folks…It’s a lousy job, but someones got to do it!  🙂

Enjoying historic highways is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Taos, New Mexico – Day 2

The motorhome is currently parked at the Fraternal Order Of Eagles Airee #3849. I expect to be here for several days.

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Here’s the view from my dinette window. It’s not truly spectacular, but the price is right…

My first pre-sunrise was not as spectacular as Lake Heron…

Speaking of Lake Heron…here are the final photos from there…

On September 5th at about 7:00 AM, I was working with my computer and looked out of the dinette window and…THERE IS WAS! I rushed to grab my camera and within 30 seconds it was gone!

Enjoying beautiful sunrise rainbows is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

In other news…

Yesterday was 111 days since the accident and it was my best day since that event. I’m not sure if it is more psychological with being back on the road again and new scenery…but I definitely felt better. I’m still wearing my elastic chest bandage, taking my ibuprofen and icing my chest twice a day. My right rib cage remains slightly swollen and still a little tender to the touch…BUT…the pain is starting to diminish noticeably.  I’m feeling so much better that I’ve decided to remove the recovery status page from the header. Unless I have a strong relapse I’m also going to stop talking about my recovery process as well.

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Taos, New Mexico – Day 1

Yesterday I drove the motorhome the about 100 miles from Heron Lake State Park to Taos, New Mexico where I am parked at the Fraternal Order Of Eagles Airee #3849. I expect to be here for several days.

Along the way I crossed a 10,500 foot mountain pass. According to information I found on the Internet, U.S. Highway 64, on which I traveled, is the highest contiguous highway in the United Sates and is routinely closed in the wintertime. Also along the way walking alongside of the roadway was a bighorn mountain sheep. By time I realized what it was, I was passed it and nowhere to stop to take a photo. A neat happening.

Despite still recovering from my May 27th accident, I managed the drive okay. I’ve decided, now that I am on the move once again, to wear my elastic chest bandage all day long rather than take it off at 2:00 PM like I’ve been doing lately.  I continue taking Ibuprofen and icing my rib cage area twice a day.

I’ll finish with the Heron Lake photos with tomorrow’s Blog. Today’s are the finals of the sunsets…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful brilliant sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 80

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico. I’ll be departing later this morning for Taos, New Mexico, about 100 miles from here.

I’m finding I’m not fully recovered from the May 27 accident. I seem to tire easily…I don’t have the physical resiliency I once had. I seem to be moving at half my normal speed. I’m still wearing my elastic chest bandage, taking Ibuprofen and icing my rib cage area twice a day. Oh well, I’ve no choice but to live with the situation until things take care of themselves. Life still must go on. I’m glad I’m still around to enjoy it.

For the next couple of days, I’m going to finish showing photos from Heron Lake State Park. Today’s photos are particularly stunning, as in several of them…the clouds act as a filter and the distinct circle of the sun can be clearly seen. A most unusual happening!

 While they are similar because of the momentary setting…they are all very different and unique. I hope you will open each one and enjoy their uniqueness. I particularly like to enjoy the colors and the shapes. Just like staring at a fire from moment to moment…you never see quite the same thing…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful brilliant sunsets is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 79

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico.

I’ll be departing here tomorrow. Over the last few days I’ve prepped the vehicles to be back on the road again including topping off fluids, battery maintenance, topping of tire pressure and cleaning windows.

I’m finding I’m not fully recovered from the May 27 accident. I seem to tire easily…I don’t have the physical resiliency I once had. I seem to be moving at half my normal speed. I’m still wearing my elastic chest bandage, taking Ibuprofen and icing my rib cage area twice a day. Oh well, I’ve no choice but to live with the situation until things take care of themselves. Life still must go on. I’m glad I’m still around to enjoy it.

Lake Heron has an amazing number of widely varied sunrises, sunsets and cloud formations. I’ve got some really neat photos to share. I’ve already taken them and will finish them up over the next few days.

 While they are similar because of the momentary setting…they are all very different and unique. I hope you will open each one and enjoy their uniqueness. I particularly like to enjoy the colors and the shapes. Just like staring at a fire from moment to moment…you never see quite the same thing…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful foggy mornings is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Heron Lake State Park, New Mexico – Day 78

The motorhome is still parked at Heron Lake State Park about 20 miles south of Chama, New Mexico.

=======================================================

Finally…some change is in the wind…

Last Wednesday Mary made her flight reservations to rejoin me. On Thursday she found out she needs carotid artery surgery asap. So, cancel reservations…she’ll be delayed rejoining me. We discussed the possibility of me driving the about 1,075 miles to be with her. We decided that I’m in no physical condition at the moment to do that. In addition, the surgery is not complicated and she has lots of family and friends to assist her. Recovery time is about one week. I’m hoping to get her back by mid-October.

Now that the Labor Day weekend has passed. the days are starting to grow shorter, the temperatures are starting to fall and my current allowable three week stay in the state park is nearing…I’m forced to move on. I’m currently at 7,200 elevation and over the next 4-6 weeks will slowly zig-zag the about 150 miles south to Albuquerque at 5,000 foot elevation. I’m planning to depart here this coming Thursday and drive the about 92 miles to Taos, NM at 7,000 foot elevation. I’ll stay there for several days until I continue moving south. 

Between Heron Lake and El Vado Lake State Parks, by time I’ll leave here on Thursday I’ll have been here 87 days. It’s been a beautiful and tranquil place to recover from my injuries. I want to thank the Head Ranger Anthony Marquez and Camp Hosts Rusty and Libby for their considerations and kindness extended to me.

If you missed the Blog entry about the accident, click this link… http://wp.me/pDCku-4Eh

To fully understand this tragic accident, you’ll need to read the several subsequent Blog entries.

=======================================================

Now back to today’s Blog…

I’ve been here for several weeks now and have photographed everything worth seeing within a 30 mile radius. I’m still not feeling that well that I care to drive lots of miles in search of photographs. The doctors told rest should be my #1 function.

Lake Heron has an amazing number of widely varied sunrises, sunsets and cloud formations. I’ve got some really neat photos to share. I’ve already taken them and will portion them out over the next several days.

 While they are similar because of the momentary setting…they are all very different and unique. I hope you will open each one and enjoy their uniqueness. I particularly like to enjoy the colors and the shapes. Just like staring at a fire from moment to moment…you never see quite the same thing…

As always you may left click upon an image to see an enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Enjoying beautiful cloud formations is another joy in the life of a full-time RVer!

If you have not checked out my new Ramblin Man’s Photos Blog, you can do so by clicking this link…
http://ramblinmanphotos.wordpress.com/

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust