25 May 2007
High of 79, partly cloudy
...Friends of Charlie and Barbara
Well, we’re in Albuquerque a day earlier than planned because of a screw-up by Bill Gates. We drove over from Gallup yesterday.
On the way, we crossed the continental divide at 7275’. From here everything flows into the Atlantic, here specifically via the Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico.
Charlie has used Microsoft’s “Streets and Trails” software package to plot Highway 66 and to locate places we’re interested in, like campgrounds, museums, pizza parlors, etc. The map have limited accuracy as we have found. For example, the pointer to the right is where Bill Gates plotted a KOA campground, near Budville (below) on old Hwy 66. The pointer on the left is where we after the fact found it to be, some 20 miles past.
Scenic Budville probably as it was during the hay-day of 66.
So we went on the Enchanted Trails on the western approaches to Albuquerque. The push pin marks our site under a couple shade trees. This aerial photo must have been shot 2 years ago about when we were here last because the construction site next door has blossomed into a Camping World where Charlie is heading after I finish this. The freeway on the left overlays Route 66 which on the right still exists and goes through downtown Albuquerque.
On your approach to Albuquerque we noticed a series of (illegal) bill board along the freeway announcing something new. We had to explore, casinos generally have good eats.
The casino was done in high casino style with finesse but with the destinctive slotmachine sound, notice the custom carpet design. Not pictured is a large 6-story hotel addition under construction. Inside, this surreptitious shot suggests the large gaming floor with slots; there were separate bingo and card room and two restaurants. The clientele seemed to be mostly white, mixed gender, and younger than the female Social Security set we have observed elsewhere. The arrowhead symbol seems to be somewhat popular along 66.
In a bar overlooking the gaming floor from which the interior picture above was shot we had an interesting conversation with a well dressed and groomed young man who is a Isleta Pueblo Indian that works at the casino; the casino is owned by the Laguna Pueblo Indians. In answer to our several questions: (1) alcohol still is the principal problem on reservation, (2)reservation Indians are generally addicted to the welfare life while about a third who have left the reservation are caught up in the work-a-day American life style, and (3) most Indians feel remote from national politics such as the current immigration bill which Charlie feels may be characteristic of many mountain-time zone public -- the Federal government in Washington is as remote and un-responsive as London was to the American colonists.
At dinner at a great seafood buffet ($15.98) we also had a very interesting conversation with a trucker who drove in from LA that day. Most of his life he was a senior sea captain in the marine support to the off-shore oil industry. He has had an extremely interesting life, great stories, that literally ranged around the world.
Well enough of Charlie’s opinioned drivel. We’ll be here in Albuquerque at least to Monday, maybe longer. Maybe more later, like a new blog of Barbara‘s Good Stuff.
… Humphrey for Charlie and Barbara
