Smile at New Techology

We bought an I-pad to keep on top of e-mail and requests for reservations.  It has a handy camera but I couldn't figure out how to access those photos to add to our blog as we travelled.  A tech-savvy friend stopped by and showed us how to mail it to our blog.  She asked to use a photo for a test and I picked this one. 

Gordon A. Mueller

There was actually a reason for making this selection.  I was asked to participate in a panel discussing possible ways to improve recovery efforts for endangered fish.  The answers have been obvious for 20 years but the same questions are being asked. 

Anyway, just before I retired a fellow researcher wrote me a nice note saying I reminded him of the "Lorax" in the Dr. Seuss stories.  I wasn't familiar with the character but discovered it was the "environmentalist, the one wanting to save the trees"  that was quite a complement.  Anyway, the theme of my talk was Dr. Seuss, something I would never have gotten away with when I was employed.   At the end I showed the Lorax and diffused my image over it.  Fun!  I have to work on my mustache. 

January brings "TIME OFF!"

Winter is our slow time and since Gordon was asked to participate in a fishery meeting in Laughlin, NV, we thought we'd take some time off.  ROAD TRIP!  Gas up the Prius! 

We love checking out other B & B's as we try to compare and improve our service.  One place we stopped was the Sedgewick Antique Inn, located in Sedgewick, CO.  Sedgewick is a small (pop. 80) eastern Colorado town. There were two Google reviews on the establishment, one in 2008 and the other was only a couple of weeks old.  It had warned they were apprehensive seeing the outside of the building but would stay there again.  We thought we'd give it a try.

The business is operated and owned by Lupi, a charming and innovative retired school teacher.  Ten years ago she bought an old State Bank building which housed a 15 room hotel upstairs. 
Her Inn is unique and extremely casual to say the least; not your common B & B with all the 'frills.'  Her primary clientele are goose hunters which hunt at the local refuge.  Rates were $20 per person which included a continental breakfast. 

When we entered, we were greeted with a 'spattering' of yellow signs instructing us to use the phone along with other house rules.  We call the specified number and Lupi showed up.  She gave us a 2 hour tour of the building and we had a delightful conversation about Inn keeping, small town business, local politics, family and each other's dreams.

Our next experience was staying at the Inn On Broadway.  This B & B was an elegant, 4 bedroom Victorian home built 1880's.  It sits just off main street in Silver City, NM; the boyhood home of Billy the Kid.  We walked the old down town and we were given recommendations where to eat.  These appeared to be 'tourist traps'.   Instead we ate dinner at "Nancy's," a 'local' Mexican restaurant.  The small, commonplace restaurant served an OUTSTANDING meal.  It was really authentic and couldn't have been beat!  The hostess serviced and nice breakfast and we talked shop.  She had been in the business the past 8 years and offered that business had been down the past two years.  (No photo, sorry).


Our last B & B stay was at the Wisteria Hideaway in Luktin, TX.  The business had just been recently purchased by a young couple and this was their first week of operation.  The 1939 house was the home of Ted Trout, one of the founders of Luktin Industries.  The home was charming, breakfast was great and we had an enjoyable conversation with Candi who also runs a day care and a commercial bakery.  She's quite an energetic woman! 

Our trip took us through 12 states and 5,000 miles.  We stopped at Hoover Dam where Gordon had worked 30 years ago.  At that time they had started planning a bridge to span the Canyon walls to bypass traffic from the Dam.  It only took the Government 30 years to complete the project.  Regardless, IT IS AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE!

We saw some remarkable sites.  We visited Lincoln, NM, the site of the Lincoln County War and the famed Billy the Kid.  Its a small, quaint village out in the middle of no where. We visited the jail where Billy escaped and killed the sheriff. 

We visited Saguaro National Monument to see the lush Arizona desert and walked the 'Cat Walk' which Gordon visited 30 years ago.  At that time it was the original suspended wooden structure which has now been replaced with a suspended steel walkway.

Saguaro National Monument

The 'Cat Walk', NM

We discovered the true meaning of 'snow birds.'  We've always enjoyed traveling along the Platte River in late winter and early spring to see the thousands of Sandhill Cranes that gather there.  It is quite a site.  I knew they went South for the winter but I really didn't pay much attention where.  We found out.  They are nearly in every refuge in the Southwest.  The one below looked like he wanted to save the flight and hitch-hike back with us.  Sorry!

We were in the neighborhood of Carlsbad Cavern, a site we visited on our honeymoon nearly 40 years earlier.  Linda insisted we make the stop and we're glad we did.  It was just as beautiful and awesome as before.  There are few things more beautiful than nature. 

We also stopped in the little town of San Antonio, NM where we ate lunch at the Buckhorn Saloon.  It's green chili burger was ranked 7# in the US.  It was early afternoon and we still had to wait about 30 minutes but it was worth every minute.  About a 1/2 fresh hamburger patty; grilled onions and green chili, topped with American Cheese and served on a HOME MADE toasted bund!  YUM!

Buckhorn Saloon, San Antonio, NM

We spent two days in Corpus Christi.  The first day we sent at the State Aquarium, beach and at the USS Lexington.  Gordon got to sit in the Captains seat on the bridge and said it gave him "goosebumps" reflecting on the action seen through these windows during WWII.  Locals directed us to their favorite restaurant for seafood.   We arrived at "Snoopy's" just before sunset and were treated to a wonderful meal and outstanding view.  

Gordon Mueller on the Bridge on the Aircraft Carrier; USS Lexington.  "FULL STEAM AHEAD MATES!".. 

From our table at Snoopy's

We had a great time and picked up some tips along the way.  All in all, we think we're doing pretty good at our new business venture.  We live in a beautiful county! 

Back to business.