Beh at the Brink of the Falls

Deer at Brink of the Falls

Deer at the Brink of the Falls

 

8/6/99

Wanted to make Santa Fe by noon.  Took a wrong turn off US 84 at Chama.  Before we knew it, we were climbing along a tourist steam train track to a 10,250 foot pass.  It was the closest we got to Rocky Mountain National Park--beautiful.  On open range, we came upon an Angus steer in the road and had to drive around him.  At Antonio, three huge round mountains rose from the high desert like greenbacked turtles.  It  gives reason to call this the land of enchantment.  After being caught in a mile of very slow road construction and heavy traffic, Beh didn't want to stop in Santa Fe.  She didn't like the adobe buildings.  We stopped on I 40 to buy gifts and I began driving.  I started out well, but on grades the van would slow, even with me pushing full throttle.  I would pick up speed on a downgrade, only to lose it  on the next upgrade.  It ended with me going 40 in the shoulder with the flashers on, 18 wheelers roaring by.  I could stop and start out okay, only to slow when I tried to hold speed.  Beh started driving again.  We couldn't shut the flashers off with the engine running.  At Clovis, New Mexico, we stopped at an empty Motel 6, but were only able to get a regular room because the two disabled rooms were reserved.  We drove about three miles to a Chinese buffet to get good eating that night.

Resting Buffalo Herd

 

Park Avenue

Left Window Arch

Out of the Rain at the Aches National Park

 

8/7/99

I took a look at the map.  We could make it home.  Beh wanted to honor the anniversary of her mother's death with her family on the 8th.  Flashers going and people flashing us back, we headed home on great roads through small towns like Brownwood.  I told her about Shawn Heckel and wondered if he was still there.  We saw three dead deer in the hill country and ran into hellish Saturday afternoon traffic going into Austin.  We stopped in Hempstead and bought the biggest, sweetest water melon I've had in years.  The bypass has ruined the business.  They were selling out.  Hoa had cleaned the house.  Shabbir had moved out.  Left a note that he had to go back to Pakistan--we doubt that.

Postscript

Took the van to Mobility Plus Monday morning.  The gas brake problem was a badly  frayed steel cable.  It was replaced Thursday, and it is much easier to accelerate.  The gas filler vent tube had to be disconnected and drained because overfilling had filled it with gasoline, making it hard to fill the tank.  The electric gremlins disappeared just like they appeared.  Beh caught up quickly with her work at the shop, and I returned to work  as usual.  The memories will last a lifetime.

 
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