Albuquerque All Day (and all types of weather)

Astro D and I decided to spend Friday in Albuquerque and do nothing but letterbox. The day started out as a usual day. The mountains in Santa Fe were gorgeous. But, there was a little moisture in the air and we feared our day might be a bust! Trying to be optimistic we ventured forth. As we entered Albuquerque we had to change the order of finding our boxes because the first box we were going to look for was in the foothills and there was a tremendous amount of cloud cover - so we headed west away from the Sandias and toward Mariposa Ranch. This box was at the entrance to the subdivision of the same name. The box is hidden very near the sculpture that graces the entrance. After a quick find and stamp in we rehid the box. We noticed that the monutain area had cleared and the sun was out - so we headed to Sandia Man Cave off of Hwy 165. A short drive past the town of Placitas we found the parking area and the trail. After a short 1/2 mile hike we were at the base of a spiral staircase. The clues for the box were to return the way you came and from the spiral staircase but before the first set of concrete steps you would encounter a lone pine in a stone grotto. We found the pine and followed the rest of the clues to find Sandia Man. We found all kinds of little fossils in the rocks while searching for the letterbox. After stamping in and rehiding the box we decided to climb the spiral stairs and look at the cave. It wasn't very big and in some places you couldn't even stand upright. We went in a little ways and used a flashlight to see past a small window sized opening - but that is where we stopped. The clouds were returning to the foothills so we made our way back to the car and headed to our next destination - lunch. Thanks to Twinville_Trekkers5 for planting boxes in the Albuquerque area.

After a quick lunch and a quick errand we headed for the Albuquerque Sunport Aircraft Viewing Area. After a short walk from the parking area we found the box - did the usual stamping in and rehiding and then we were off again. Our next destination was to a neighborhood park so that Astro D could find one of my boxes - Urban Forest. This was going to be her 200th find and I was very happy she chose it to be one of my boxes. As she read the clues and hunted for the box I snapped pictures. Of course she found the box without problems, stamped in and celebrated her 200th find.

CONGRATS ASTRO D!!!!!

The only bad thing about this - we found geocache junk in the box - but thankfully the stamp and logbook were intact. As we headed for the car we saw two roadrunners - I think they must live in this park because one of the finders of the box made a comment in the journal about roadrunners they saw.

Now off to the Veterans' Memorial on Louisiana Avenue near the military base. This is a place that neither Astro D nor I had visited. Very interesting and we enjoyed walking around (the sun was out again and it was a perfect spring day). We found the box, went to a picnic table and stamped in and enjoyed the sunshine and the peacefulness of the Memorial. After rehiding the box we wanted to see the periscope but it was past 3pm and the museum was closed - maybe another time. Thanks to 6jumpingbeans for adding letterboxes to the Albuquerque area.

Okay, one last box - for Astro D - it was my Los Vaqueros box. Now you have to realize that we had rain, sun, a little wind, cold and warmth throught out the day. At this point the sun is shining and it is relatively warm. So we head for Elena Gallegos Picnic Area off of Tramway. We find a parking spot and get our things ready for the short hike to the box. Well, the weather changed again! On went the coats. As we started down the trail the clouds rolled in over the mountains and the wind picked up. We just wanted a few more minutes before the rain to get this box. We made it - Astro D found the box and began stamping in. And the clouds got worse. I took some pictures and then raindrops! Only a few ones but they were big. Astro D hurried along and we got the box back in its hiding spot and headed back to the car. About halfway there the hail started - it was small but when it hit you in the face - OUCH!!!!! As we got in the car the downpour came. We finished our letterbox search just in time.

It was an interesting day (letterboxing and weather) and I had a great time - I hope Astro D did as well and I hope she had a good time celebrating her 200th find.