Today we went to Bandelier to hike up the Frijolito and down the Long Trail. I had suggested that we go to Cañada Bonita and thought about suggesting Apache Springs but spouse really, really wanted to go to Bandelier. It didn't even enter my mind to protest that it would be too crowded because of Memorial Day weekend!! We got to the entrance gate around noon and there wasn't a long line yet. Spouse asked if there was a wait for parking and the ranger said the parking lot was full so we went to Juniper Campground to hike the Frey Trail down into the canyon rather than wait in line to park.
When we got to the bottom, spouse had an emergency bathroom run so we walked to the stone bathroom in the picnic area. The hike down hadn't been hugely crowded ,although we saw more people than usual on the trail, but the canyon bottom was overflowing with cars and people. Rangers were stationed in the picnic area and backcountry parking directing cars to empty spots as they opened up. I walked to the backcountry lot while spouse used the bathroom and asked a ranger about the best time to go to Bandelier on a weekend and he said before lunch and they open at 8am.
I need to get up early for our weekend hikes - 7am at least. An earlier start will work out better when it's thunderstorm season! I slept in until 9am this morning because I didn't go to bed until after midnight. I didn't get back from my evening constitutional until around 9:30pm and then had to put my week's worth of supplements in containers and try to make the Solumbra mask fit better by sewing on velcro extender tabs because it fits too tightly otherwise. Then, of course, I had to do my stretching regimen.
Anyway, after spouse's bathroom stop - turned out the stone one was flooded so he had to go to the Visitor Center bathroom - and his streamside snack, we started back up the Frey Trail. I saw a skinny guy with a T shirt and cowboy hat coming down fast and when he was passing me, he stopped short and stood on the trail laughing at my mask. I asked him if he often stood on the trail and laughed at people. It almost sounded like he started speaking French but then he spoke English and said he was laughing because I looked like an alien. This made me mad so I asked him if he had looked in a mirror lately. He said he looked good compared to me!! As he finally started on his way, still laughing like the jackass he is, I called out to his departing back that he looked asinine. Don't know if he heard me since it was windy at that point. When I told spouse about the incident, I kiddingly said I should have told him he looked like the Brokeback Cowboy and insulted his manhood!! He was wearing one of those ridiculous, skinny cowboy hats that has the brim curled up on the sides. He didn't see it but he looked ridiculous too. He was the only one that insulted me to my face. I don't worry about the ones who may look quizzically but politely pass on by. It's OK if they laugh behind my back but the ones who stop and laugh in my face are irritating. I also commented to spouse as we continued up that I guess in France it's OK to pick on women and old ladies!! : )
After the hike we went to the library and Smith's. I needed some frozen green veggies and we bought red grapes, strawberries, mushrooms, corn, and a watermelon as well. Spouse bought himself a bottle of wine and a bottle of port as well as picked up his prescription for hydrochlorthiazide. His pvcs were still present on this hike but maybe were milder because he only drank tea not coffee for breakfast. He went out to see the 4pm Indiana Jones show. I liked the original but had no desire to see the plethora of special effects in the new one.
Yesterday was only an ordinary Santa Fe shopping trip with stops at Walmart, the Mall, where spouse ordered reading glasses from Pearle Vision and ate lunch, and Vitamin Cottage.
No comments:
Post a Comment