Muddy Arizona

Ever since I started blogging again, I am still perpetually behind. There is always more to write about with our little family, especially since I'm not very good at simplifying our lives. My triathlon training has consumed any free time I've had. Plus soccer 5 days a week and swimming twice a week. And we are still trying to cram all that New Mexico has to offer into this year in Albuquerque. And evenings have been spent working on licensing and credentialing for Paul. So hardly any free time these days.

But today, we finished school early, giving me a few minutes to try to find housing in Richmond, coordinate details with movers, organize pictures, and finally blog. So, without further ado, I write about our long weekend in Arizona.

Months ago, when we first moved to NM, I emailed my family saying that Paul, Mark C., and I would be doing the Tough Mudder in Arizona in March. I invited any who wanted to do it with us to come to Sharee's for a fun weekend. I was so happy when Laura signed up! As March approached, she told us she would also be bringing her youngest 4 kids along. When I told my kids, it was like Christmas morning all over again. So needless to say, this trip was much anticipated. 

The kids and I drove over on Wednesday afternoon. Paul was in LA, and flew into Phoenix the following morning. We spent Thursday doing a desert hike and simply being with the Castletons and my parents. That evening Laura and company arrived. Friday we mostly just enjoyed the day together, letting the kid cousins just play and party. Sharee's house has flood irrigation so they loved playing in the 'lake.'

Saturday morning, the four tough mudders, along with my parents, Paul C., and Sharee went to the race. It was fun to share the silly craziness with my sister. Paul got an awesome battle wound on electroshock therapy, and my knees gratefully gave me no trouble, despite not having run more than 4 miles in training. I think we all enjoyed it...Paul, Mark, and I already signed up for next year, and Laura is considering it ;)

That afternoon was more just talking and relaxing. It was a perfect family reunion vacation. It was so nice to get together with some of my family, allowing for more intimidate interactions and conversations without all 34 grandkids and 15 adults running about. Paul and I thought that in the future, we might lean more toward smaller family get togethers, requiring less planning and stress. It really was just so pleasant and fun. 

Saturday Adventures South of Albuquerque

When we first arrived in Albuquerque, I would ask everyone I met what were some of their favorite New Mexican things to do. Someone told me about Bosque del Apache. Sadly, everyone here says 'boss-key,' which drives my Spanish-speaking ears crazy...but when I say 'bohs-kay,' everyone stares at me like I don't know what I am talking about. Oh well. But I digress.

Bosque del Apache - an animal refuge where they plant fields that remain unharvested to provide food for animals year round. And there are numerous flocks which migrate here in the winter. So Saturday morning we left at 5:15 to drive 90 minutes south to San Antonio, NM, in order to arrive before sunrise. Because around sunrise, the flocks will take of en mass. We were told it was pretty cool, so we dressed warmly, and arrived just about 10 minutes before sunrise. We saw a large flock in the air near a pond, only to notice that even more birds were still on the ground. The birds in the air were mostly just flying laps around the birds in the pond. After we were sufficiently cold and had been there probably 10 minutes, they suddenly started to take off. For the next 30 seconds the air above us was filled with the sight and sound of thousands of birds. Happily, I caught it on camera.

Then we drove through the rest of the refuge, which was beautiful and full of loads of birds. But nothing was quite as breath-taking as the lift off.

After that we drove to truly the middle of nowhere. The Very Large Array is built where there is almost perfect radio silence, no light, and very water vapor in the air. All these things can disrupt the radio waves that these 27 giant antennae receive from space. I was surprised how cool it was...I thought the kids would be terribly bored, and I assumed that the self-guided tour would be lame. But we were thrilled with how much we all learned.

They actually reposition the 27 antennae every 4 months, after collecting data from all the targets on the agenda. It takes 3 weeks to move them to one of 4 arrangements, ranging from .7 miles to 22 miles across. They then collect data from those same targets again, from the new position. Then, again from the last 2 positions. Once they have collected data from all four positions, they are able to compile the data into a complete picture of the star, galaxy, or nebula they were targeting.

Then a trip to Pie Town, NM, which was not at all worth the drive. Oh well. At least I know not to recommend it to anyone else!