It was time for Charlotte’s engine to get some TLC so we started the day taking our wonderful vehicle to Rich Ford in Albuquerque for an oil change and an inspection. Our powerful and durable truck has been a trouble-free worker throughout this trip and some preventative maintenance seems to be a good thing. After getting assurances that Charlotte was in tip-top shape and had new oil in her crankcase, we parted with $110 and left the Ford dealership and immediately set course for a local discount liquor store. Running out of either Irish Cream or porter is a cardinal sin for us so we felt compelled to keep our supplies at an ample state for fear we would be condemned to hell or be thirsty. Very bad.
We departed Total Wine and More, a veritable Toys-R-Us for drunks and all-around wonderful place, only $60 poorer and well-stocked for the next few days. We decided to drive to Sandia Crest which is the vividly colorful mountain east of Albuquerque. The road passes through Tijeras on I-40 and then turns north up NM-14 until you reach the turnoff up to Sandia Crest. It is a very steep climb ascending 5000 feet in 14 miles but the views from the top are extraordinary. It was pretty clear today and views from the crest extend to about 100 miles in all directions.
I seem to be a bit wimpier than I used to be because I started to encounter some of the classic signs of altitude sickness once I got out of Charlotte in the parking lot for the itty-bitty hike up the last 100 feet of altitude to the best vantage point on top of this mountain. Peggy said I looked a bit gray or grayer than usual and I noted a distinct lightheadedness and a bit of nausea. I am becoming quite a weakling in my old age. It is disgusting.
In any event, Peggy and Mr. Fifty Shades of Gray wandered up the walkway to the ridge and we were rewarded with absolutely magnificent views across New Mexico. The views are great in all directions. Rocky Mountain National Park, Mount Acadia and lots of other places have spectacular views but only Mount Washington in Mount Acadia NP has unobstructed 360 degree views like this place and it is 8500 feet lower so the horizon is a lot closer. This place is another candidate for possible inclusion in the bucket list.
We put Charlotte in Jake-brake mode and descended back down to our camp site in Tijeras where we soon were treated again to the luxury of naps. This retirement stuff is rugged.