CDT 2024 - Day 13, Travel to Albuquerque

To get a new cell phone, a Zero Day.

Rest Area south of Albuquerque, NM.

Another day of getting up early. Peggy was moving a bit stiff and slow this morning. Understandably. We had pretty much prepped the T@B for departure last night. We had instant coffee and then it was just a disconnect of the power cord then hook-up and on our way. It was going to be a six hour drive to Albuquerque but the most time was just getting out of the mountains and to an Interstate. The first several hours were mostly at 25-35 MPH and constant curves but beautiful. The road sections (clean-up) were were mostly sponsored by local families, individuals (i.e., Manuel Ortiz - "A Good Cowboy"), and "in Memory of ..." and the like. One particular section was by "Kingston Spit and Whittle Club" which for some reason seemed entertaining to me. We saw a lot of ranches along the road and relatively few cars. It was a great glimpse of New Mexico for me and totally changed the impression I had of New Mexico as all desert land prior to this.

When we finally got out of the mountains and onto flat land and the Interstate it was much easier going. The speed limit went to 75 MPH but we cruised with the trailer at a fairly constant 60. We stopped for a potty break at a rest area a bit south of Albuquerque; I believe the nearest town was Socorro. This rest area was a bit different for me. It was at the base of some sand dunes and the majority of the rest rooms and picnic tables were on raised platforms (see photos above). It was curious to me until Peggy told me to go read the signs. Then it was quite clear. We didn't rest there long.

Raised "Rest Area" along Interstate 25, NM.

Before departing the stop Peggy called a "Cricket Cellular" store she found in the area on Google with me cell phone. The young man who answered was great and apologized but they did not service AT&T phones. He gave us great directions to an AT&T store in a town along our route in San Lucas. It was well before the bustle and confusion of trying to find a store in Albuquerque. We made our way to the store and the young ladies there helped Peggy to get a new phone, and the same at she did have. They helped get her data and everything else set back up and she was good to go within an hour. What a relief!

The rest of the drive was fairly quiet as I let her work with her phone to get her apps reloaded, monitor as her phone populated her contacts, and all the other stuff there is to do in this situation. We found our way to the KOA in Albuquerque and got settled. We were both tired (of driving and the stress from the phone and ordeal) and hungry. We were doing a bit of bickering and the talked it out. Peggy walked to a store several blocks away and came back with salads, rolls, and bottle of wine. After Beau had a walk and we and had our food and beverage, all three of us fell fast asleep on the bunk, Peggy with her clothes still on. The day done.