2010 FMCA International Rally in Albuquerque, NM, March 2010

You're very welcome.  That's what we're here for - to help one another. I think you made the right decision.  I was able to attend our rally, but even with the elbow it was not easy, so I'm sure an ankle would be much more difficult.  Besides, that's probably more walking than the doctor would want her to do.  Just cooling it sounds a whole lot better.  As to the therapy, I did the "required" therapy with the therapist, but then devised others once we got home.  Every morning in the hot shower water I'd do a couple of routines to straighten and strengthen the arm.  That's where the year-long therapy came in.

ArdraF

Mark and Theresa,

I am disappointed to not get the opportunity to meet you in person in New Mexico, but getting well is the ticket to a next time meeting and  walking around with a broken ankle would not be so very much fun at a rally.

We had a pre rally luncheon on our way to Albuquerque today.  Terry and I left Yuma at  7 am and 8 of us  dined at The Hideaway Restaurant  in Camp Verde with Don and Peg.  Jeff and Sue and Ken and Sheila joined us a few minutes later in their motorhomes. We three couples  are  spending the night in Meteror Crater and will brave these high  winds overnight.  It's supposed to get to 25 tonight so we have all pulled in the water hoses.  We plan to leave this campground at the crack of dawn ( literally) for the  294 or so more miles to go.  We'll top off at Flying J tomorrow and meet up with Framily as planned.  It's gonna be so much fun.

Betty

[quote author=Betty Brewer]Jeff and Sue and Ken and Sheila joined us a few minutes later in their motorhomes.[/quote]

And the photos are .....

Mark and Theresa, Sorry you won't be able to join the group at the rally here in Albuquerque. We were looking forward to meeting you. I'm not surprised you'd have to dig out the motorhome. IIRC you're somewhere around Woodland Park? Brrr. If it makes you feel any better, it's 39 here in Albuquerque on the way to a low around 27 and we got snowed on on the way back from the dinner at Harla May's in Belen. Had a great time eating and chatting but I was a nervous wreck on the way back up I-25 with the snow flying and the wind blowing. There were even signs saying that I-40 was closed east of Moriarty (a bit east of Abq) because of weather. Fortunately, it's supposed to be gone by tomorrow...oh, wait, those are the same guys saying that who said the snow would stay above 6000 feet.

For the eastbound group headed this way, Dobrins are moving over to the casino tomorrow and there'll be 3 rigs sitting here waiting. Someone call us from Flying J and we'll be ready to go. Then if you can call us from Alameda (exit 2 miles from Tramway), we'll head out and we can meet at the parking area at the entrance. That's following the directions for attendees with credentials which is a straight shot up Balloon Fiesta Parkway. We can bypass the holding area because we all have our credentials. This is our final decision !! Unless we get a foot of snow tonight (just kidding).

Safe travels eastbound Framily. Mark and Theresa, stay warm and heal up !
Wendy

Oops, I bet you're gonna want pictures from Harla Mays, too, aren't ya?

The Harla May's pictures are stuck in my organic hard drive. . .but I'll always have them! By Sunday noon this wet snow will be gone from the lower elevations. See you in Santa Fe.

Mark and Theresa, I know we'll cross trails eventually and you made a wise choice! Besides, someone has to keep an eye on that yahoo Sprinter group while while I'm playing with framily!

Six coaches have arrived at the Fiesta Balloon Park under partly cloudy skies and temps in the high 40's.

We'll start the photos later with ID.

I love the sight of Sandhill Ceane or Snow Gueese flying south to Bosque del Apache. I ve seen the swallows return to Capistrono, another glorious sight.

I had the same feeling today driving I-25 south to Socorro and seeing all the motorhomes heading north to the FMCA Winter Rally in Albuquerque --Glorious!!!

Can't wait tio catch up with the three couples that just arrived. I'm sure Wendy will catch you up to date.

Jeff said:

Six coaches have arrived at the Fiesta Balloon Park under partly cloudy skies and temps in the high 40's.

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To  really appreciate Jeff's statement, you must know that 3 of us left Meteror Crater RV Park at o' dark  thirty this morning (6:15  am AZ time ).  At 9 am we got a call from friends  watching the news about the closures on  I 40 east and I 25 north.  Winds and snow and black ice were concerns.  We trudged east ward through some light snow flurries and  stopped for fuel earlier than we had planned as the Flying J closest to Albuquerque was full and a  a zoo (according to the lady I called. )

We stopped at exit 108 at Dancing Eagle Casino and Travel Center .  Terry and Betty and Jeff and Sue got diesel fuel but Ken and Sheila with their  new 2009  rig require  the new diesel fuel and this station did not carry it , so they trudged  eastward to  exit 140 where they called ahead and were assured of a fill up to meet  their needs.  We followed slowly and caught them in the parking lot as they exited.  Now we phoned Wendy and her group of 3  at the Sandia Casino in Albuquerque.  We let Wendy know we would call her when we passed Alameda exit so they could high tail it to the  destination and meet us.  We did so.  When we arrived at the  FMCA parking area the guys really wanted to accommodate us,  meeting us  with our three  rigs and their 3 but we had to know where they were.  I got Wendy on the cell phone and began calling out streets we were on.  Nothing familiar......  Decided close enough would work. Turns out they were right behind us with but one  RV in between our parties.

Terry said it was like a precision execution of  Rommel. All 6 of the RV Forum Framily who kept in touch is now parked in a row.  We had happy hour tonight at 4:30.  Some went to dinner and we  are cooking in .  Temps read 42 but it feels very cold especially when sun goes under cloud.  Jeff took a photo to make us real but he went to dinner so it may be later to see it.  I love FMCA rallies.

Betty

Springtime in the Rockies ! We woke up this morning to 2 inches of lovely fresh snow. Took one look outside and went back to bed. Gordon didn't even want to go out until after 9 when it was mostly melting off. But as Betty and Jeff said, we all made it here and are nicely aligned on the balloon launch field. I knew everything would work out because on Thursday, I got a fortune cookie that said "You will soon be enjoying the company of good friends".

Wendy

As I posted in the other thread, we're wimping out at the Santa Fe La Quinta. We will be parked with other Roadtreks. Plan to arrive sometime Sunday, possibly after the health deform vote goes down.

Don and Susan

If you're with the Roadtreks, then you'll be at the fairgrounds, about 10 miles from the balloon grounds. Maybe you could make your way up here for Happy Hour? No HH tomorrow since we're going to Gabriel's but we'll be happy here on Monday at 4:30, look for the yellow VW in Lot NN, 5th Street.

Wendy

To make this an official rally here is a photo of the hardy Forum souls acting as though 50 degrees is comfortable.

Attendees: Sheila Kuch, Terry Brewer, Betty Brewer, Sue Cousins, Lou? ( a friend of the Dobrins from AZ), Bernie Dobrin, Mike Lawrence, Ken Kuch, Wendy Lawrence, Raymonda Lane,  Bill Lane

It's no relief to you in ABQ but tonight, 130 miles north of you, in Taos it is supposed to be 2deg F tonight... of course where we are, that means below zero, even though yesterday it was 61deg F during the day. Big swing.  Welcome to NM!

After looking at the photo - are you sure you aren't all in Quartzsite?    Jackets, hoods, etc.  At least you have sunshine.  Enjoy the rally.

ArdraF

Wendy said:

If you're with the Roadtreks, then you'll be at the fairgrounds, about 10 miles from the balloon grounds. Maybe you could make your way up here for Happy Hour? No HH tomorrow since we're going to Gabriel's but we'll be happy here on Monday at 4:30, look for the yellow VW in Lot NN, 5th Street.

Wendy

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Wendy,
We'll try to catch up with you later in the week. We're back in a Hampton Inn because we discovered electrical problems with the help of our new Roadie friends. The House batteries weren't charging. The battery separator may be malfunctioning. The house batteries look corroded. So tomorrow morning we'll be seeking a service call to check things out. It's what you get when you buy used. Probably minor problems, but after more than two hours of inspections and discussions, we decided better safe than sorry. Anyway, we sure had fun with our new Roadie friends and look forward to meeting you guys in person sooner than later.

Don and Susan.

While in the after glow of an enjoyable evening at Gabriel's north of Santa Fe, on the way home I came down with a scratchy throat. I drove straight to the24 hr Walgreen Pharmacy in Los Lunas and now am on zinc lozenges fighting this head cold.

Wendy, I may not make it to see the displays if I cant kick this cold quickly. I am fighting to be able to go to New Orleans this Friday. Are you going to be driving this way again?

ArdraF said:

After looking at the photo - are you sure you aren't all in Quartzsite?    Jackets, hoods, etc.  At least you have sunshine.  Enjoy the rally.

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It's not so cold that Terry had to give up the sandals.  ;D

R

Wendy, we were looking forward to meeting you (and Bob M.) too!  If you ever come through the Colo.Springs area, PM me, and we would love to meet you for dinner sometime!  Thanks for the followup post! 

Bob Maxwell said:

While in the after glow of an enjoyable evening at Gabriel's north of Santa Fe,

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Do they still serve fresh guacamole?