New Mexico Jaunt
October 5-17, 2025
Sunday, Oct 5
High Country Lane to Springville, UT
522 miles
We pull out of High Country Lane shortly before 7am, Spur looking sad in the garage entry. First stop is the church to drop off the Backpack bins in the back of the car, letter mailed, then gas and coffee at the Maverick station. NOW on the road south!!
Rick drives us through Boise traffic (not as bad on a Sunday) and stops at the rest area on the east side of town. I then take over the wheel for the ‘scenic’ stretch of southern Idaho, which in the fall is a little bleak!
The day is perfect driving temperature...hovering around the mid 50’s. (It was mid 30’s when we left Baker City!) But big clouds are forming in the east!
Quick stop at a gas station in Burley to get drinks and pull a few things out of the food boxes/ ice chest for a snacking on the road lunch. I drive to the second rest stop on 1-15 just north of the Utah border. That’s 200 miles and enough for my share of the day. I have more pieces of Kai’s stable to finish in Needlepoint!
Rick runs into the storm in northern Utah – heavy rain briefly while we can see blue sky ahead! By the time we make the Wasatch Mountain run, the peaks are covered in snow and they are beautiful!
We pull into our Microtel in Springville around 4:30 MT. Have been upgraded to a suite which is large and spacious!
Quiet evening – Rick watching football. We eat the leftover quiche from the other night. I walk around the floors for abit talking to Annalea who is just getting to the house. We plan out a route on some roads we haven’t taken before to get down to Rusty and Anne’s in Bluff tomorrow.
A few pictures along the way...
 |
| Some flowers in bloom at the rest stop near Ontario |
 |
| Blue skies and a rain storm! |
 |
| Wasatch Mt beauty outside Provo...taken from motel window |
MONDAY, October 6
Springville to Bluff, UT
388 miles
What a day for some GORGEOUS scenery!
We arise, eat some breakfast, and check out by 8am. Gas up at the Love’s (just topping off, but the price was right!) and then on our way. Once we checked the map again in the car, we altered our route to include a road that Rick had seen earlier that cut off from Hwy 89 at the town of Fairview, and cut UP UP UP to a 9500’ pass before dropping DOWN DOWN DOWN to Huntington. Our road was lined with aspen trees, cottonwood, lots of junipers. The colors were amazing! We thought we were going to miss the fall colors by not going through Colorado, but ….WOW! Between the aspens and the redrock, I probably took 100 pictures today!
We went through Torrey and the upper part of Capital Reef National Park – red rock walls and canyons everywhere. I thought they would end at Hanksville, and the terrain did level out for abit, but then we wound down through gulch and canyon and red rock past Natural Bridges and over to Blanding. The rock formations just never ended! Plus we actually saw water in the Colorado River.
Into Rusty and Anne’s place in Bluff by 3:30pm. Visit and get the house tour before meeting Rusty’s sister Janice at the local Smokehouse (the only restaurant open in town tonight).
Left the restaurant in time to see the full moon rise over the rock formations. Amazing.
I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story...
 |
| The top of the pass on Hwy 31 |
 |
| Leaving Capital Reef area |
 |
| Full moon rise from Bluff |
TUESDAY, October 7
Bluff, Utah
A rather lazy morning as we enjoyed cinnamon rolls, sausage and blueberries before finally leaving for a slickrock hike around 9:45! The moon was just setting when I went to join Rusty and Anne around 7am.
Hike highlights….I rode with Rusty’s sister Janice and her dog Caddy, while Rusty and Rick drove with the other three dogs – the hiking area was only about 10 minutes from their house. We didn’t go clear to the top of the ridge because Belle was still recovering from her rattlesnake bite a couple weeks ago. (Life in the southwest!) Love the potholes in the rocks, some filled with water. Prickly pear and Mormon tea that seems to exist in nonexistent soil.
 |
| Starting out on sliprock trail with Janice and Rusty and the dogs! |
 |
| Caddy and Pox enjoy a drink from the 'tanana' |
 |
| Looking east toward Ute mt and Cortez area |
Restful afternoon – did some errands with Anne about town.
 |
| Had to stop again at the Twin Rocks Trading Post with Anne, so another chance to take a photo in daylight! |
Anne worked on computer and emails/phone calls regarding the Bluff art festival 10 days from now. Rick and I relaxed reading or doing needlepoint while Rusty took a nap and then worked on his writing.
Dinner with bread, mozzarella, tomato, basil appetizers and then a shrimp stir fry with asian sauce – a bit spicy but good! After dinner – off to Cottonwood Canyon to watch the full moon rise behind the rocks. Best part was watching the light shadow move down the cliff behind us, anticipating the moon to peak over the mountain. I was surprised to be able to get some pictures using the Night Vision setting on my phone. Early to bed!
 |
| Rick gazes at the moonlight on the rock |
 |
| Rusty and Anne...by moonlight |
 |
| Rick watches the moon come up |
WEDNESDAY, October 8
Bluff to Albuquerque NM
301 miles
We are up and on the road shortly after 9, having enjoyed a delicious Rusty breakfast in a cup (perhaps one of his former guide service meals of egg, banana, blueberries, and pancake type mix!) We take the main road having heard from Rusty and Anne that the cutoff road directly out of Bluff toward Shiprock is full of construction delays right now. So it is down into the NE corner of Arizona and then cutting across to Shiprock/Farmington/Bloomfield.
I began driving in Bloomfield and took us through the high mesa country on US550 until a little past Cuba. We were hoping to pick up a sandwich at the Subway in Cuba, but apparently it has closed! So, I pull over a few miles past and we pull whatever we have left in the ice chest and food box for munching on down the road.
Near Bernalillo we veer off the highway shortly before I25 to head through Rio Rancho and a small little bookstore where Anne has asked us to drop off a poster for the big artfest in Bluff next weekend. I didn’t pick the best route, especially since the Walmart where I was hoping to pick up some yarn turned out to be a neighborhood store with just food and pharmacy. But they did have a much needed bathroom!
Into Luke’s around 3:30! He had a 5pm lesson, which ultimately got cancelled due to a thunderstorm dumping a bunch of rain on the courts just prior! Rick and I got just a few drops of water on a short walk up and around the neighborhood park. Kady home from school and conferences and we enjoyed a good dinner together.
A few games of cribbage and Spite and Malice while watching the Dodgers blow their game…
 |
| Shiprock! |
 |
| First view of the new house |
 |
| A type of sunflower we saw in the neighborhood! |
THURSDAY, October 9
House Closing Day!!
Luke and Kady leave around 7 to head up to HomeWise – a nonprofit lender located near Grandma’s old apartments up on Wyoming. They have an 8am closing time to sign papers for the new house. Exciting time! Rick and I have a leisurely morning. Kady has taken the morning off (it’s conference day) having scheduled many conferences for after school earlier in the week. She has to be back to work by noon.
Luke returns around 9:30 and we put together a plan of attack for the day which includes purchasing new keys, changing locks, and assessing the place. But first, we have to wait for the phone call from the lender that all papers have gone through on the seller’s end and he can pick up the keys! In the meantime, I make some bread and leave it to rise...slowly!
So we load up our car and head back up to HomeWise, get the keys, and over to Lowe’s. We didn’t find the desired locks, but did run into Ran, Patty, Reg, and Kai! We will head out to their place on Sunday afternoon. A stop at Home Depot nets the locks and we head to 1714 Anderson Place!!
As soon as Luke pulls into the driveway, a man crosses the street from across the way, introduces himself asking if Luke is the new homeowner. They visit for nearly a half hour! But he has a lot to share about fixes that have been made and a little history from the previous owner.
Afternoon spent tearing apart some pieces of the kitchen – determining the nature of the pillar, removing the stove (too old), chunks of the floor. As Rick puts it, ‘it is Discovery Demolition!’ We don't know what we'll find until we tear it apart!
I take measurements, trim some hedges, rake the leaves, etc. Around 3 a guy from the flooring company comes to assess the damages in the master bedroom. Not good news there, but he says the rest of the floors don’t need sanding – they’ll clean and put new sealer on. That’s good news! Bedroom floor needs to be replaced – the stains go all the way through.
 |
| Finding out what is under the kitchen floor |
 |
| Uncovering the pillar in the kitchen...is it load bearing? |
 |
| Arborvitae out front need trimming. I find some clippers in shed! |
 |
| Such a strange pillar! |
Time for dinner! We head to The Bosque Brewery...I enjoy my second glass (ever!) of beer from a restaurant – Elephants on Parade again!! Rick and I share a nachos. This was the brewery where I had my first beer several years ago!
More S&M tonight. I finally won a game! And...the Dodgers won to clinch the Division playoff. In a weird 11th inning finale that was more Philly mistake than Dodger victory which was sad for the Phillies. Oh...and the bread did eventually get baked!
FRIDAY October 10
Demolition, Tennis, and Professional Development!
Luke is off early for a morning of tennis and Kady off a tad later for a day of professional development. (Always an exciting day (?) for a teacher! Rick and I enjoy a rather lazy start to the day and don’t head over to the house until 9:30 to begin our work.
Rick’s goal for the day was gutter and gate, but….we spent a great amount of time at Home Depot and Lowe’s pricing gutter materials, purchasing a few gate items, and driving all over Albuquerque. (The Lowe’s is a good 7 miles from Luke’s house, Depot more like 3 ½.) Waiting for the rain to fall so we can assess the water issues in the carport and patio before proceeding. We did get started on the gate. Rick discovered the central pillar is well anchored in cement. It will have to be cut off with a saws all! By the time Luke arrived around 3, Rick felt like he hadn’t accomplished much. I did finish sweeping patio and carport, raking more leaves, and trimming the arborvitae bushes out front.
Kady came over after work and while we roamed the yard talking plants, etc. Rick and Luke went up on the roof and cleared a lot of the debris off. Based on what they threw off – there was a lot of tree branches and leaf debris.
While Luke and Kady left to put some dinner in the oven (we have decided to forgo the Glow Night at the Balloon Fiesta) Rick got one half of the gates toggled to pull into square. This will make them open and close more smoothly.
Back to the house to find L&K still there, but ready to leave for Lowe’s for supplies. It is 5 when they leave and nearly 7 when they return. Rick and I had given up at 6:45 and sat down to eat dinner!
Luke’s brain is in full home mode and he sits down after dinner to put together a spread sheet/list of what needs to be done and prioritize stuff. Rick has the Mariners game on. We do manage to get in our required 3 games of Spite and Malice! But as the Mariners game enters the 11th inning, I go to bed!! (I read the next morning they won in the 15th inning! I thought Rick and Luke might have stayed up to watch, but Rick said he went to bed in the top of the 15th!)
 |
| I couldn't resist taking a picture skyward of the beautiful tree in the backyard. |
 |
| Luke clears debris from the roof |
 |
| Rick cleans out the gutters! |
 |
| Figuring out what to do with the center gate post - must be moved to get tent trailer into back. |
 |
| Look! They have pyracantha! |
 |
| Chaste plant or Vitex - front yard has this and a large sycamore |
 |
| Didn't take long to destroy the corner of the kitchen trying to determine if post is load bearing. |
SATURDAY October 11
Butternut Soup, Friends, and House!
Ah, quite the day of activity!! Luke has an 8am lesson (he has to keep some income coming in while we are here!) and Kady a cycling class at 9. I prep the butternut squash soup we are having for dinner, along with the second loaf of bread I made. And then...time to head over to the house and get to work!!
We check to see where the rain is draining (and again later in the day when it came down a little harder!) Luke is thrilled with the sound of the water on the FOUR skylights in the sun room. And then it is time to take down the paneling in the front bedroom. I spend a little time removing electric plates from plugs and switches (eventually do the whole house) and then go out front to remove or pound down the nails from the trim boards and panels that Rick sends out the window! We tried to keep the baseboard MDF trim intact, so I remove all those nails very carefully! The rest of the room will be dumpstered!
The gate toggles are installed, curtains removed from most rooms, and the sheer panels are tossed in the washer – both to remove odors and to test out the washing machine functions! It and the dryer appear to be fairly new and in good condition.
Kady arrives with more cleaning supplies and I grab the smaller trash bag to sweep up Rick’s mess in the bedroom (so much paint and plaster came off the walls as well and we weren’t sure what might have lead in it). Secured that bag and put it in the larger trash.
Friend Jen arrived around 1 to see the house, bring some fun gifts, and give advice as to kitchen remodel. She and Craig have remodeled one house already. Good visit, back to work briefly, and then Russ and Rachel and their two kids arrived – also bearing gifts! They also have redone parts of a home so filled with more advice etc. The 4 year old Sean and toddler Daphne played and entertained us from the sunroom carpet! Kady had a table of snacks out all afternoon which everyone enjoyed. I figured out a few more of the plants growing in the backyard which is zeroscaped for the most part.
Done shortly after 5 and head back to Girard to dine on soup and bread! Kady and I drop Luke and Rick off at the Isotopes field where the New Mexico United soccer game is held, and then head to Walmart where I am able to pick up some needed yarn.
Quiet night while the boys are at the game! Just glad the rain abated so they could enjoy the evening. (Footnote: they got home around 10 having walked the 1.5 miles home after a 3-3 tie.)
 |
| Quick photo of the morning glories blooming in yard of old house - complete with raindrops! |
 |
| Debris pile from what Luke took off roof |
 |
| Taking off the trim in front bedroom |
 |
| Rick removes paneling...a messy job! |
 |
| Paneling removed! |
 |
| Working on gate toggles |
 |
| Inspecting the wire cutters? |
 |
| Sunroom |
 |
| Kady, Sean, and Daphne |
 |
| - this plant covers the gate to the back alley |
SUNDAY October 12
Visit with the Edgewood Rembolds!
A relatively quiet morning as Luke leaves around 8 to roll the courts before his 9am lesson. Kady cooks up a great breakfast of hashbrown patties, sausage, and scrambled eggs (from our chickens!) I work to get the Christmas package (stable) done so we can deliver it this afternoon. Work on it while I accompany Kady on a shopping trip to Trader Joes and Albertsons to pick up stuff for this afternoon and some much desired flowers (Kady loves having fresh flowers in vases in the house) Trader Joe’s is clear up at the north end of town so we take the freeway up and then get off on Paseo del Norte.
I do get the stable finished by the time Luke returns at 11:45 from his clinic, showers, and we are on our way out to Edgewood, arriving just before 1.
Weston is fun to watch as he excitedly run out to greet the car as we come through the gate into Randy’s. Jaxon didn’t have shoes on so he waited on the cement driveway! Kai is taking a nap, so we will see him a little later. Boys barely give Luke time to breathe before they have him out on the trampoline for a good wrestling/jumping match! I see the improvements made in the basement for Rach and Kai, as we munch on appetizers. After pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni or potato salads and baked beans (our Albertsons offerings), and chips, I start the process of mixing up the dyes for our tie dye fun. Kai has emerged by then – what a cutie! We tie shirts out on the cement driveway, then down to the pit to the rocked garden to dye on the racks. Jaxon is meticulous in his two efforts, Weston a little more ‘free lance’! Rach does a swirl for Kai, and then we do an ombre drip on a light green onsie. By the time we are finishing, Reg shows up from work, and a bit later, Chris. First time Rick and I have met Chris. Nice guy.
Then it is game time!! While Chris, Rick, and Randy watch football on the TV and at times tend to Kai, the rest of us gather around the table for an aborted game of Mad Gab (we were horrible at it!) and then Imagine If, which Regan and Jaxon ultimately won! That was a fun one!
Chris left in the middle of Imagine If, and then Reg and the boys after the game – they have school tomorrow! Kady does not! It is Fall Break day for ABQ schools. We hang around for a bit longer visiting, and then leave around 6:45. A beautiful sunset spans the skies as we head west back into ABQ.
A good day of family time!
