Day 1, July 5th: E-ville to Albuquerque

Day 1, July 5th: Fly from Oakland to Albuquerque

Weather: Clear and perfect in E-ville, raining just before we arrive and warm (high 70s) in Albuquerque.

QOTD1: Captain…Captain?....Captain!

QOTD2: Sorry, due to someone on board with a severe peanut allergy, during this flight we will not be serving peanuts and we ask that you refrain from eating any of your own peanuts, power bars with nuts, and anything else that might contain peanuts

Fitness Center and breakfast: well, since we’re still in E-ville, THB rides the new AMT machine to Day 2 of the TdF (Tour de France) and then has his usual (Grape Nuts and fruit).

 

DB preps THB's in-season breakfast for him every day

THB's breakfast spot

THB's workout clothes hanging up to dry

Flying on Sunday of the July 4^th weekend: a breeze except the long-term off-airport parking is pretty much filled to capacity. They squeeze us into a spot in the back forty.

Southwest hijinks start before we even take-off: The “sorry, no peanuts” message which THB has heard before (can't even eat your own peanuts; at least they didn’t ask us to not use the gluten free toaster during the flight). And, as we pull back from the gate a woman and 8 year old get up and rush to the restroom: the kid is having an emergency! That forced the fly attendant to try and get the captain’s attention over the intercom…unsuccessfully, as that little tractor kept on pulling the large airplane back out from the gate.

Rent the car and find out a) Alamo and National must have merged and b) that in Albuquerque they have honored the two seasons: winter and road repair. Lots of work being done on the two main highways and interchanges.

Dinner at the Artichoke Café (don’t think Castroville has one of these): green salad and scallops for DB, Caesar salad and fried kale on top of cheese on top of a pork chop on top of a flat pepper on top of polenta for THB. Considering it was stacked, never a good sign, it was pretty good once THB took it apart. Caesar overdressed (THB ordered it lightly dressed) and very average; with a glass of Gruner Veltliner and local draft lager (good!), $125.

Staying at a Hampton Inn just for the night. We’re hoping for lightning to strike tomorrow!

Book Review: The Last Kings of Sark, Rosa Rankin-Gee (novel): light summer fare, done well with the usual Hollywood ending except that they don’t have bright endings for threesomes, somebody had to be left with only memories