Out of bed at what has become my standard time
of 6:15 a.m…give or take a few minutes. First order of the day was to shower, shampoo and style. Normally,
I don’t have to ‘style’ my hair, but I'm in need of a haircut. I cut my
bangs a week or so ago, but from experience, I’ve learned to keep the scissors
away from the rest of my hair. A touch of styling goes a long way with my
current hair circumstances.
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I momentarily felt
bad that a hummingbird was flitting around the tree searching for the feeders,
but I also know that there are other feeders around the campground. I scattered
the rest of the mealworms, peanut butter crumbs and the bird seed around the
yard. Didn’t take long for the sparrows to find the feast.
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OMGoodness, but the weather had taken a turn this morning. Cloudy,
breezy with the temperature hanging in the 60’s! Even had a splattering of
raindrops while packing. High in Picacho today is supposed to be in the
mid-70’s. Seriously? On the day we leave?!
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After Kim and Mom had their first cup of coffee, we put last night’s
plan into action. The ‘spare room’ was turned back into a garage. Our bed was arranged
so the guitars, Mom’s bags and the dinette table could be stored on it.
Overnight bags were strategically packed in the truck so whoever was in the
back seat would have room to move. Computer, camera, and drone bags were also
packed in the truck. The storage areas had been rearranged and were stuffed. We
were at the point where odds and ends were shoved wherever they fit.
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As I turned into the aisle where the cookies are located, the delivery man was still stacking stacking
them very neatly in place. I grabbed a couple packages, talked to him
for a few minutes then asked if I could get a picture of him. I’m guessing he
doesn’t get that request very often. 🙂
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This has been a different year for us…in a lot of ways.
Honestly, I've enjoyed the change. I know walking is a low-impact, weight
bearing, potentially aerobic exercise that does all sorts of good things to the
body. Biking is all those things also, except weight bearing. Mostly I like
that I can go farther, faster. There’s no way I’d walk into town to mail a
letter, but it’s very doable on the bike.
My legs are getting stronger from riding also. Still would like to do the Cotton Days 5K
run/walk next year, so I guess I’d better throw some walking in with the biking
when we get home.
Food: Didn’t eat at food trucks so much this year. Not
for lack of trying though. It seems that they weren’t as available as in past
years or maybe we didn’t know where to look. Except for Hot Dogs Alvarado, that
is.
Visitors: We had more visitors this year,
which altered our routine also. The trip to Big Ben Nat’l Park in Texas was
definitely not typical.
High heat and fuel prices: The unseasonably high temperatures
meant that whatever we did outside had to be done before 10 a.m. or after 5
p.m. The high fuel prices meant it was kinder to the budget to not venture too
far afield. Trips to Coolidge or Casa Grande usually satisfied the urge to get
out and do something.
Motorcycles: Visitors and heat affected our time on
the big bikes. It was too hot to put jeans on, and it’d be so wrong to take off
on the bikes, leaving our visitors sitting in camp.
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We’ve been through Alamogordo, NM, many times. Tonight, I finally
decided to find out what is meant by a ‘relief route’, as in the Charlie Lee Memorial
Relief Route. Turns out it’s a fancy way of saying ‘bypass’ and this one was
constructed in 2001 to relieve congestion on White Sands Boulevard. That was
the easy part; it was more difficult to find out who Charlie T. Lee was. I
eventually turned to Gemini AI, which responded with this: Charlie Thomas Lee (1928–2003) was a
prominent figure in Alamogordo, New Mexico, best known for his contributions to
the area's infrastructure and community.
The Charlie T. Lee
Memorial Relief Route: One of his most visible legacies is the relief route
(designated as U.S. Route 54/70) that bypasses the city of Alamogordo. It was
dedicated in his honor to recognize his efforts in improving local
transportation and reducing traffic congestion.
Life and Family: He was born on June 28,
1928, and passed away on March 29, 2003. He was the son of Donald Tom Lee and
Charlotte Lillian Thomas and was part of a family with long-standing roots in Otero County.
Community Impact: He is often remembered
as a dedicated public servant or community advocate who worked toward the
modernization of Alamogordo's roads. He is buried at the Monte Vista Cemetery in
Alamogordo.
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Staying Carrizozo, NM, for the night. Hoping to get an early start in
the morning. Lots of miles between here and home.
