Travelog for: Mara-Joy

Ballet Cindy and I went back to the hotel at lunchtime.  Crabs swim in the pool at night and take a long time to get out.  I wanted to swim with them.

Ballet Cindy, some women, and I took a last walk on the beach and pier. I examined a jellyfish and a horseshoe crabshell.  The crabshell was fascinating. 
Seeing these fascinating creatures made think of Rangler. He has much more substance than these beachbums.

We made one last trek down the pier.  I fished, using squid for bait.  I didn't catch anything.
Then we drove home.

I babysat this afternoon to earn money for my lessons.  I have great respect for babysitters.  It was rough. Ballet Cindy, Bonnie Voyage, and Brian had it easy.

I'm glad I was buckled in.

This morning we (Ballet Cindy, Bonnie Voyage, and that wild boy Brian) travelled to the US Army Transportation Museum.  I kissed a mule (I pretended it was Rangler), watched a sailor, checked out a Bed & Breakfast, and rode a train.

Brian and I played Foosball while Ballet Cindy practiced ballet.  Bonnie Voyage watched Cindy.
This foosball table is for left-handers.

Ballet Cindy is flying to Australia today.
She told me sisters are special and she loves me.  I blushed.
Good bye, Cindy, I love you.

Today was payday.  All that babysitting paid off and now I can register for lessons.  Wourpet, will you help me register when I get to your house?

We all went to the Chesapeake Bay and Western (CB&W) Train Club this afternoon.  It is huge! This HO scale train layout is on two floors with six levels and two helices! Neat!!  It's the largest fixed train layout in Virginia.

Bonnie Voyage, Brian, and I worked in the dispatcher's office, moved scenery and laid track, worked the yard, and just had a great time.

I'm writing postcards to Wendy and Rangler and updating my journal before I leave for New Mexico.
Bye, Bonnie Voyage and Brian.  Please remember to mail the postcards!

Well, I'm here.  Sunny (and quite hot today) New Mexico.  I was a bit disappointed there wasn't anyone helping me unpack or to greet me when I arrived but my host has assured me that everyone else has gone on ahead to get ready to welcome me in Colorado next week.  She said Rosa was here waiting and left just minutes before I arrived -- she has gone to France quite unexpectedly apparently.

But I am here and feel quite rested (I napped on my first class trip)and am looking forward to seeing New Mexico and Colorado.  Maybe I can even get my pop star lessons started.

I wandered out into the garden early this morning and knew right away I was in the desert.  I was careful not to get any cactus thorns and I did discover some roses that are still blooming.  Then wourpet took me for a drive.  We went down to the Animas River where things didn't look so deserty at all. 

The San Juan Valley is rich in oil and gas and we saw some antique displays of steam engines and then I saw a Pumpjack.


The pumpjack is quite interesting.  They are named after a donkey -- can you believe it.  And the big part at the top is called the head. They are used to pump the oil and gas up to the surface and send it down a pipeline.  In oil rich areas like this they can be seen everywhere like dots on the hillsides. Sometimes they are called nodding donkeys instead of pumpjacks but I think they look like big sewing machines.