Lower Antelope Canyon

 We did it.  Finally we got to experience the wonders of the stupendous Antelope Canyon.  

Through the years as full-timers (2009-2019) we saw pictures of friends who had been through the canyon.  Once we had planned our Brothers and Wives Reunion in Albuquerque at Reid and Amy’s, we put a stop in Page, AZ on the map.

Sometimes pictures tell the story so here’s my favorite one of all

Then some of my many photos of Lower Antelope Canyon:

The Wave:

The short walk to the starting point.

Descending down the two or three flights of stairs into the slot canyon.

Then the hour of mesmerizing wonder.  Every time we turned around too much to comprehend.

Toward the end of our hour long walk through the canyon we joined up with the tour group in front of us as we climbed up the couple flights of stairs to get out of the canyon.

It was everything I hoped it would be and much more.  The tickets were a bit pricey but it was worth every penny.  I would not hesitate to highly recommend.  It was one of the absolute highlights of our trip so far.  

Thanks for joining us in what is becoming a more irregular update of our days on the road trip.  We’ll keep plugging away and “back-fill” some of our stops.  The trip has been really fun.  See you next time on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Bro Time - Family, Church, and Golf

Here we are crossing over into the great state of New Mexico.  The landscape continued to change from our journey from Oklahoma, through the panhandle of Texas to the Land of Enchantment.  Not many states have a welcome sign like this one.

Once in NM, we made our way to Albuquerque in time for a World Famous Green Chile Cheeseburger.  Nothing like it at Lot-A-Burger. 

We 

Next, we headed over to Reid and Amy’s and waited the arrival of Marty and Elena, Brad and Sue.  Here are some of us hanging out and telling stories on Reid’s back patio.

Later that evening we gathered around the dining room table where we have spent many hours eating and talking.  Pam and I and the kids were stationed here in Albuquerque (Kirtland AFB) and we had many extended family gatherings right here.

The next day, on Sunday morning we all joined Reid and Amy at their church.  Growing up, we all attended church regularly and that tradition continues for each of us today.

After a nice service we were surprised to hear one of the parishioners had a restored 1958 American Motors Rambler station wagon.  What a beauty.  Our family also had one just like this model but it was bright red.

Pam and me, Elena and Marty, Reid and Amy, Brad and Sue.

Later that day Pam and I drove by the house we lived in from 1988-1992.  The house was basically the same but the tree in the circular spot in the drive way was gone and the small from lawn was no longer there either.

That evening, cousin Linda and husband Jim (who are currently the first lady and mayor of the village of Corrales NM-- came by for dinner and a visit.

Good times!  This is one of the reasons we like to get together -- share stories we have never heard before or to refresh our memories of how things really were.  It was great to see them.

The next day, the guys went out to the University of New Mexico Championship Course to play in a fund raiser golf tournament.  Our grandad was an above average athlete and played golf.  Our dad and mom played golf so all four of us grew up playing and it’s the thing we try to do every time we get together.  Its always a lot of fun and this may have been the first time all four of us played together on the same team.

We comprised one of the 14 teams playing and gave it our best shot at a sychronized golf swing shot on the practice tee.  Brad, Reid, me, and Marty.

We took a couple of obligatory mug shots on the course.

We played pretty well but finished tied for fourth but had a fun day with a banquet where the ladies joined us.  As we left we had a fantastic rainbow that was one of the brightest I’ve seen in a while.

Thanks for checking in today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Oklahoma City - More Time with Kirk and Susan

We left Amarillo for Oklahoma City after an overnight stop at a Spring Hill Suites hotel. We like that hotel chain because they are about the same price as a Hampton Inn or Fairfield Inn, but they have a little more room for all our stuff.

And since we have a truck with lots of storage, we have a lot of stuff. We travel with food for snacks and sandwiches, a laundry sack, a very small “pod" coffee maker, our meds and toiletries, pillows, and our suitcases and some miscellaneious bins.   It takes a couple or three trips to unload the truck and move it into the hotel room. 

When we get ready to leave each morning, I repack the truck.  Our truck bed cover began leaking, so I use a couple of tarps and put each of our suitcases in a yard and leave bag.  So far my waterproofing techniques have worked out fine.

Enough on logistics - we got to Oklahoma City to stay with Kirk and Susan before noon.  We drove to their home in Nichols Hills and met Kirk there.  We unpacked for our over night stay and then all went do the First American Museum in Oklahoma City.  It’s a large, new museum with a restaurant.  

One thing I learned was the Indian Code talkers were not only from Arizona and New Mexico.  In fact, the original Code Talkers were part of the Choctaw Telephone Squad going back to World War I.  Later, members of the members of the Cherokee, Comanche, Osage, Pawnee and Poncha people were part of the 12,000 who volunteered in WW I.

Susan joined us for lunch at the nice museum restaurant and then we went back to Nichols Hills and came upon a Home Show that was underway.  We decided to take it in and see a multimillion dollar mansion that was decorated by local designers as part of the 50th Anniversary Symphony Show House 2023 supporting the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

If I understood it correctly local designers propose up to three rooms they want to decorate. Once chosen a room, they can repaint, redo and bring in all the props they want to decorate a room with furniture, paintings etc.  They pay for the privilege.  That, as well as admission tickets for viewers like us, generate the revenue.

We wandered through all 35+ rooms and found it different and interesting.

The last stop was the garage which served as a gift shop of sorts.  These bags were on display with amusing sayings.

From there Kirk went to a local church that has a nationally ranked tennis club (BCC Tennis Academy) where he volunteers. In high school and college, Kirk was champion tennis player.  I went to watch and helped by picking up hundreds of tennis balls for the instructors and kids.  It was kind of amazing.

Afterwards we had a quick visit to see their daughter Mandy and her three kids.  Mandy is the same age as our two kids and we knew her growing up.  Its great to see her as a wife and mother and teacher. 

That evening we had a delightful dinner of grilled talapia and fresh vegetables for dinner with Kirk and Susan.  We reminisced some more that evening.  As a talented woodworker (Kirk) and artisan/embroiderer/quilter etc (Susan) we love to hear and see their creations and projects.

We packed a lot into one day before saying good-bye and getting back on the road to Albuquerque and our Warner Bros / Wives Reunion.  That’s next  on the Roadrunner Chronicles.  Thanks for joining us!