Monday Has Finally Arrived. Will Our Tires?

We spent the weekend trying to do as little driving as possible, to baby the possibly mortally wounded tire that is mate to the alien BF Goodrich tire. (It was Halloween and we're in New Mexico, so the alien reference feels appropriate.)

We moved back to our original campground after a night at the KOA, since our original place is closer to things--less driving. (It also has free decaf and popcorn, which Lisa likes, and very nice showers and laundry, which Julie likes, and a much better play area, which Nick likes.) We are forgetting what boondocking is like with all these amenities....

Spent Saturday at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which was wonderful. This place represents the 19 pueblos of New Mexico and, with the exception of the old exhibits which are getting modernized, is really wonderful. We met artisans of the Santa Clara Pueblo who make exquisite, polished pottery, which looks like stone carving. We resisted, but barely. I was too afraid it would crack on our journey. We saw a series of wonderful Navajo dances, which were thoroughly described and put into cultural context. (We were able to photograph, but had to promise not to post on Internet.) Had an 85+ year old woman give us a very personal tour of one of the traveling exhibits, e.g., how her 100-year-old house was just like this one, except... And how her 95-year-old sister did this, etc. Really made things come to life. On our way out, we stopped by the cafe to pick up some fresh-from-the-beehive-oven bread. Have been enjoying that for days now.

Couldn't find a pumpkin to carve--all the stores were out--so we had a pretty uneventful Halloween. No trick-or-treaters that we were aware of. Now, we have to dispose of the candy we bought....

Sunday had us out on several trails at Petroglyph National Monument, home to more than 20,000 petroglyphs from pre-Colombian times to Spanish herders in 17th century to the beer-addled idiots of today who shoot guns at the rocks. Sigh.

My iPhone photos didn't turn out too well--nor is the area actually terribly scenic, as most of it is just piles of big black volcanic stones--but it was really enjoyable. Crazy steep trails and an urban vista--the town has grown right up against the park borders. Nick was able to join us at the second stop, Rinconada Canyon. He liked it, too.

Here's a drawing that lent one of the trails its name: Macaw Trail


And I just liked this one:


After getting our cardio exercise in (we've also been lifting weights in the coach this trip--hooray!), we went to the metroplex and stood in what seemed an endless line for This Is It. We aren't the world's biggest MJ fans, but his music was pretty important in our childhoods and we'd heard good reviews of this documentary (which is also my favorite film form). So, off we went. Wow. It was a really good film (if a bit long), just overflowing with talent. The best of the best worked on this show--especially the dancers. Unbelievable. And Michael was very good, too. To think that he was 50 and health-compromised and dancing just as well as (or better) than the 20-somethings behind him--amazing.

Now, we sit with bated breath for the call from Chet's Tires that our tires are in and ready to be installed. Of course, the rear duallies that are OK keep losing air now, too. Guess we'd better have those looked at, too. Off to clean the coach while we wait.