Home › Uncategorized › Alamogordo, NM to Pinetop, AZ – 09/30/2016

Alamogordo, NM to Pinetop, AZ – 09/30/2016

Posted on Posted in Uncategorized

September 30, 2016 (Friday)

After spending the last several days in Alamogordo with our sister-in-law, it was time to leave and head to Pinetop, Arizona. It was sad to say goodbye to Stacey as she’s pretty much on her own there since my brother died. We’re hoping she makes friends and will get out and do more things soon.

The drive today was about 350 miles, a long day for us. The landscape was so varied as we went from rocky high desert (cactus scrub type environment), through lava fields, climbed up in elevation to the truly high desert of ponderosa pines, white birch, and lovely trees and water. We even saw some antelope, which prompted Michael and I to start singing “Home, home on the range.” The weather continued to be very bizarre – blue skies and rain, or grey skies and thunder clouds. We did luck out in that there was no thunder or lightening.

Some of the cacti of Alamogordo.
Some of the cacti of Alamogordo.
Leaving Alamogordo, low clouds on the White Sands.
Leaving Alamogordo, low clouds on the White Sands.
Lots of ugly sky threatening rain, but for the most part it was dry pavement the whole way.
Lots of ugly sky threatening rain, but for the most part it was dry pavement the whole way.
Lava flow.
Lava flow.
The Very Large Array. 27 giant antennas in a Y shape.
The Very Large Array. 27 giant antennas in a Y shape.
These are very large antenna's at the Very Large Array.
These are very large antennas at the Very Large Array.
Strip mining.
Strip mining.
These catch Edie's eye.
These catch Edie’s eye.
The golden leafed white birches were beautiful.
The golden leafed white birches were beautiful.
The colors are just starting to turn.
The colors are just starting to turn.
A random windmill farm along the way.
A random windmill farm along the way.

We stopped in a little town called Pie Town for lunch. As we were walking up the steps to the restaurant, called “Pie-O-Neer,” we saw an article that Bill Geist of “CBS Sunday Morning” fame had eaten there and did a segment on it. We also realized, once we got inside, that they don’t serve up lunch, just pies. That was okay with me as they had a rather large selection and I can always eat pie (or cake, or candy, or pretty much anything sweet). Michael chose a chocolate cream and I got a peach with green chilies. I loved my pie as it had a little zip to it that was quite good and just enough. We didn’t eat again until we made it later that evening in our room (salad, chicken and vegetables).

No joke, in Pie Town, New Mexico.
No joke, in Pie Town, New Mexico.
Don't think I saw this episode.
Don’t think I saw this episode.
Edie had a peach with green jalapenos. She liked it. It had a little bite in the sweetness. I had chocolate creme.
Edie had a peach with green jalapenos. She liked it. It had a little bite in the sweetness. I had chocolate creme.
This place is all about pie.
This place is all about pie.
The border.
The border.

We stopped and got groceries at a Safeway about 50 miles from Pinetop as we weren’t sure how large the town would be. Once we did get into Pinetop, we realized it would have conveniences close. Between Pinetop and Show Low, it’s a pretty large population and has many large box stores (Walmart, Kmart, Ross Dress for Less, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Safeway, Starbucks, etc.).

About 45 miles out we stopped for groceries. Hadn't shopped at a Safeway in a long time.
About 45 miles out we stopped for groceries. Hadn’t shopped at a Safeway in a long time.

We drove down the street to our new “home,” and there is a huge bicycle race going on this weekend called the White Mountain Tour. People are camping out and it looks like fun if you’re into that sort of activity. The resort itself is really cute. We were told there are two resorts that share the property. We are in the lodge part of the resort and it’s different but nice. The unit is unusual in that you walk into the kitchen and the living room is off to the side. Our “windows” face out into the lodge area which is inside and has a fireplace and lots of chairs, couches, etc. For that reason, it feels like a cave in our home because we don’t want people looking in while they’re out there visiting or eating. Other than that it feels very homey with nice touches.

A lovely little town.
A lovely little town.
Checkin.
Check-in.
Interior open space we pass through to get to our interior front door.
Interior open space we pass through to get to our interior front door.
Huge fireplace for winter use.
Huge fireplace for winter use.
Just in the front door. Nice kitchen dinning area.
Just in the front door. Nice kitchen dining area.
It had all the needed implements.
It had all the needed implements.
Had a separate living room.
Had a separate living room.
Master. We think a regular full sized bed. The second bedroom had an identical bed.
Master. We think a regular full sized bed. The second bedroom had an identical bed.
Master bath.
Master bath.
Master had a bathtub which pleased Edie.
Master had a bathtub which pleased Edie.
Second bath vanity and toilet.
Second bath vanity and toilet.
Second bathroom shower. Door leads to the kitchen.
Second bathroom shower. Door leads to the kitchen.

Michael went exploring.

Well kept.
Well kept.
Grounds were nice.
Grounds were nice.
Nice workout equipment.
Nice workout equipment.
Two pool tables and a ping pong.
Two pool tables and a ping pong.
Nice looking pool.
Nice looking pool.
Even enclosed pools have to be vacated in a thunderstorm.
Even enclosed pools have to be vacated in a thunderstorm.
Lobby of Rec building.
Lobby of rec building.
Racquetball court.
Racquetball court.
A half basketball court.
A half basketball court.

Like I mentioned above, we got settled in and then made dinner. That was our day. Hope yours was great!