YAY! We got our computer back and I was able to write about out trip to New Mexico. So…this has nothing to do with books (although I did read 6 while we were away đ )…
Once upon a time…
There was a kid named Erik who had never been on a plane. He was glad when his family told him he was going on a big adventure! They took off from Philadelphia and landed in this strange land called El Paso, Texas. They borrowed a brave, gallant, and (95% of the time) trustful steed named Chevy Equinox and set off to the land of U.F.O.s – Roswell, New Mexico. They liked it here, but fled because they were scared of being abducted by U.W.B. (Unidentified Weird Beings).
They went to see the Very Large Array radio telescope and got messages from high out-of-reach places.
The family learned of worlds and galaxies far, far away but ran away because there were rattle snakes crossing the walking path (no, really, we saw a HUGE rattle snake **shiver**).
They escaped to the underground world called âThe Caverns of Carlsbadâ.
They went downâŠdeep downâŠreally deep down to almost the center of the Earth (OK maybe not that far down, but it felt like it).
The family saw wondrous sights and then were whisked to the surface by an elevator (that they were happy to see so they didnât have to walk all the way back up). At dusk the family watched in awe as 200,000 Mexican Freetail Bats flew out of the cave, over their heads to feast on bugs!  What an awesome thing to see! As they headed north, the family ran into all sorts of dangers like the land of free range cattle (be careful driving around corners – you donât know if cows are standing in the road) and the notorious royal âCATTLE GUARDâ!
**My mom took this picture and we were all laughing. I thought this would be a great picture for Catherine Johnsonâs Metaphor Monday  blog post!**
The family bounced around New Mexico where they saw volcanoes and ancient lava flows at El Malpais, and the homes of the famous Smokey Bear in the Capitan Mountains, and the infamous Billy the Kid in Lincoln. The town of Lincoln remains pretty much the same as it was in the “Old West” times. There, the family learned of Lincoln’s history. They saw the courthouse where Billy the Kid escaped from in 1881 and the room where he was held. They learned of the brave lawman Pat Garrett who finally brought him to justice and the Lincoln County War and the Regulators.
*Just a quick shout out to National Park Ranger Bennie Long of the Lincoln State Monument who took a lot of time and explained the history of Lincoln and the Lincoln County War to our family. She also gave Josie and I a cool book about all the New Mexico state and national Monuments and a bunch of cool information about Lincoln County. Thanks  Ranger Long! *.
The adventurous family next visited the Bandelier National Monument in the Frijoles Canyon of New Mexico, and saw where the Ancestral Pueblo People lived 10,000 years ago! The family dared to climb  14o feet up, up, UP on rickety ladders (seriously rickety with no guard rails) and steps! When at the top, they were
amazed at the view and to see where some of these ancient people made their home. Here at Bandelier, the children were knighted as Junior Park Rangers, sworn to uphold and take care of the landâs treasures and natural wonders.
Once they badges were bestowed upon them, the family quickly made way to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in SantĂ© Fe, but alas it was closed for the day (**sigh**). The family did see the beautiful country that inspired Georgia OâKeeffe to paint and understood why she wanted to paint the skies she saw so BIG!
One the next part of the trip, the family drove through ghost towns, but didn’t see any ghosts (thank goodness).
Finally in Albuquerque (I got to learn how to spell Albuquerque, by the way). They wandered through a field of over 500 hot air balloons lifting up in the air. There were balloons from 16 different countries and it took about 2 hours for them all to float away! Creatures of all shapes and sizes drifted up silently, except for the cheers from the crowds.
Some, sadly, didnât make it, like this little penguin. He inflated but couldnât fly, the winds were too strong for him.
A flightless penguin (pretty ironic if you think about it)âŠ
The family rode in their trusty (95% of the time, yes, we did have car trouble at one point) steed back to Texas  and headed for home (on a plane). Erik, Junior Ranger, Inter-state traveler, had a great time and couldnât wait to tell you all the tale! đ
The End
Tomorrow I’ll be back to reviewing books but today, I liked “reliving” my vacation with you!
Categories: Other Stuff Related to Books and Reading
Your journey sounds like one that would make for a great series of picture books or a wonderful chapter book. I love the pictures and so glad you had a great time, Junior Deputy Ranger đ
Thank you Ms. Brown! I am glad you like the pictures! đ
Wow Erik it sounds like an an amazing trip. Can’t wait to hear more about it đ
Thanks Aunt India! đ
Wow! What an adventure you had!! I’m sorry that you missed the Georgia O’Keefe museum. I’m thinking that you were looking forward to that. I agree with Ms Brown above — you could turn this into a great book! Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
Thank you Readingwithrhythm! I am glad you like my post! đ I am sad we missed the Georgia O’Keeffe museum.
I’ve been to some of the places you described here, Erik, and I enjoyed reading about your experiences. (Your writing just keeps getting better and better.) I’m glad you and your family had such a wonderful vacation.
Thanks Ms. Brisson! I am glad you like my post (and my writing)! đ
Wow, Erik what an amazing trip! You did everything! And thanks for the shout out, that bull pic will be great đ
You can use the Cattle Guard of the Cows picture if you want! After my Mom took the picture and I saw it, I thought of you! đ
Awh, thanks Erik đ
Erik, what a fabulous journey! Your pictures reminded me of some of the adventures my brother, sister and I had when we lived in Arizona. My parents took us to some of those same places. Thanks to you for letting me relive those fun times.
Thank you Ms. Larson! I am glad I reminded you of your childhood memories! Josie and I had fun there! đ
What a fun and exciting trip, Erik. Thanks so much for sharing your adventure in story and photos. I love the cattle guard. He certainly does justice to his job. I love spelunking, and Carlsbad Caverns is a great one. If you ever get to Ruby Falls out in Chattanooga, let us know.
It was a really fun trip! I am glad you like my post Ms. Dinsmore! I would love to go to Ruby Falls someday! đ
What a wonderful adventure! And congratulations on your “knighting”.
HAHAHA! Thank you Ms. Robinson! đ
This has to be the best trip-report I’ve ever read — enjoyed it thoroughly, and I love the way you wrote it. I, too, am sorry you didn’t get to see the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, but it sounds as though you had plenty of fabulous experiences to fill your days, and you’ll see the museum next time! Thanks, Erik!
I am sad that we couldn’t see the museum, but at least we tried! I am happy I got to see the land she painted. đ Thanks Ms. Stilborn!
So much fun! I have never been on a plane either, because Mom is afraid I will be scared or get lost in the underbelly of the plane. I would have been hiding under a rock at the hot air balloon show. ever since a blimp flew over my house I have sky-phobia!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I wouldn’t want to be in the luggage compartment of a plane either, Cupcake! I saw them tossing the luggage on! >:-(
Excellent report, Junior Ranger. M-man loved the swearing in pic; my kids did the same in the Smokeys this spring. What a wonderful family vacation!!!!!!
Thanks Mrs. Isenhoff! We did the Junior Ranger program at a bunch of parks! It was fun! I am glad you like my report! Over ‘n’ Out! đ
Erik, this is excellent! I love how you tell a story. This could be the first of many series books for kids.
I’m glad you and your family had such a great time. đ And I’m glad you’re back.
Real life stories make the best books! Good idea! đ Thanks Ms. Davidson!
Erik,
Thanks for sharing your fun-filled family vacation out west. It sounds like you really enjoyed all the sights. We traveled with our family to New Mexico, Texas and Arizona a few years ago–BIG open SKY and unsettled land for miles and miles really amazed us. And, I enjoyed seeing Bison-reminded me of the song, Home on The Range. đ
Thanks Ms. Zavitsanos! I’m glad you liked my post đ Maybe you could write a story about a ranch dog! đ
So glad you had a great vacation! I’m totally jealous: I’ve never seen any of those places, and I especially want to go to Roswell someday. Albuquerque would be lovely too (and yes, that is a hard word to spell!). I laughed at the name of your trusty steed. You have a future as a travel writer, my man.
Thank you Ms. Fritz! I really liked Roswell and Albuquerque! I am glad you liked Chevy’s name! đ
You wrote a great story, now what about your trip, how did it really go out there? Erik your writing is on such a high level for your age. You must have a wonderfully gifted teacher (who has a wonderfully gifted student). Glad you had a great time. What did you think of your first airplane ride? Any turbulence? Great job, welcome back, what’s next?
Oh, my trip? – It was OK đ I loved the plane rides! We did get a little turbulence, but not much more than it feels like in a car ride. Thank you Ms. Morris! đ
Wow! that was a really cool trip! you saw a Rattle snake Yikes! I am so glad we don’t have them here. I loved the Big blue sky pic and also the ones of the Balloons. We have a balloon festival every April. It’s really neat watching them go up. Never been in one yet….lol. Fantastic write up Erik, glad you and your family had a great trip away.
It was a really nice trip! I liked seeing all of the balloons inflate and go up! đ We didn’t go up in one either – too expensive. đ Maybe some day…
Excellent narration of your trip Erik – sounds like you had a blast. I love your alien picture too. I have one just like it in my book that is on your list to review. Well done!
Thanks Ms. David! I am glad you like my post! đ
Lovely, well-written post, You really do write so well. It sounds like you had a great and significant adventure visiting all those wonderful and inspiring places.
Thank you Dr. Clune! It was a really fun trip! đ
Wow, you guys covered a lot of ground on your trip — all places I’ve never been! Fabulous report, and as others have said, so well written. (Are you sure you aren’t a 24-year-old man disguised as a kid?) Love the big skies and balloons — and sorry you missed the Georgia museum.
Thanks Ms. Rattigan! I am 99.999999999999998% sure that I am not a 24-year-old man disguised as a kid (the other .000000000000002%… I don’t know… đ )! I am glad you like my post! đ
Ah,Looks like good times!
Thanks Uncle Question-mark! It was a good time! đ
Wow, it sounds like you all had a wonderful vacation. I love all the pictures of you and Josie (and Mom and Dad too!) and the places that you visited, and I loved your narration of the trip. I’ve never been out west but I’ve got a friend in Arizona and she came to Virginia to visit me this year so I’m hoping to make it out to visit her next year. Glad ya’ll had a good trip and made it back home safe and sound!
Thanks Cindy! It was a great vacation! I am glad you like the pictures! I hope you go to Arizona and company! I think we made it back home safe, and there definitely was sound! heeheehee đ
I loved hearing about your adventures. I think Amanda would ahve enjoyed visiting New mexico and seeing all those marvellous sights! So glad you ahd a great time. And you read 6 books. Amazing!!
Something must be wrong with my computer. It refuses to spell have and had correctly.
Thanks Ms. Foster! đ HAHAHA! Those darn computers can’t spell anything right! đ
Thanks for sharing some of the highlights of your trip! Sounds like a great time. Those balloons are incredible. That really would have been something to see. I remember being about your age travelling through North and South Dakota exploring ghost towns – those are really neat. Welcome back! đ
I liked seeing the ghost towns too! I liked the balloons too (especially Darth Vader!)! Our trip was really fun! đ
What a wonderful trip, Erik! So many amazing sights and places. You know, I think I’ve been to Carlsbad Caverns… I’ll have to ask my mom đ Love the photos of the hot air balloons, and Georgia O’Keefe’s sky, and the snake warning sign, and the ghost town… Glad you had fun!!!
Thanks Ms. Hill! I am glad you like the pictures! đ
What a fantastic tale, Erik, and the great thing about it is that it’s all true! So many wonderful photos, I’m sure you had a blast. And you read six books during your trip!!! Wow! Exactly how long have you been gone??? Haha. Thanks for sharing this lovely experience with us, dear Erik.
Thanks Ms. Bascal! I am glad you like my post! I think I was gone for a week, although I wish it was more! đ