Merry Christmas Everyone

It doesn't quite seem like Christmas to us without any of our family and friends around us but we hope that you all have a fantastic time with your family and friends.We're certainly with you all in spirit over in Australia today (it is only the 24th here today). Thanks again to those who have been sending us messages.We really do appreciate them.

21/12/10

Today is officially the first day of winter here (apparently) and the shortest day of the year.We went out to the Carlsbad Caverns and went down into what is called the "Big Room".It was a lovely walk around the largest of the caverns.We chose this one as it is a self guided tour so you can go at your own pace and best of all there is a lift that takes you to and from the cave so NO STEPS.Can you believe it!We really enjoyed walking around.Most of the Big Room is accessible by wheelchair so you can imagine that it's an easy walk although some of it (the areas that wheelchairs can't go) is quite steep to walk but because you haven't got to keep up with a guide or anyone else you can walk it at your own pace so it was great.No matter how many caves I go into, I can't help but marvel at the beautiful formations.We got back to the RV Park and had dinner then went back out again as tonight we did the 'Christmas on the Pecos' boat tour and it was FANTASTIC.The Pecos River runs through the middle of Carlsbad and in one section of the river the houses that back on to the river do up their back yards in lights and there is about 6 boats that go up and down each night so that people can see the lights.It's kind of like the trip around Ipswich in the Mini Bus but way better!!Trust me it is also the area of town that the people with money live.The houses are huge and beautiful and most have their own boat house (or two) with the odd Malibu and other boats here and there (the ones that we could see)A lot of the houses spare no expense in doing up the lights and displays and it really felt like Christmas to us.One of the houses had a display of lights that was computerized and set to music just like the film clip that has done the rounds of the internet over the years.That was amazing to watch.We sat there through two different lots of music/lights.I'll have to check to see if I have a copy of that film clip in my archives just to see if it was the same house. It was really cold out on the river as our boat didn't leave until 9.30pm and it is a large pontoon type boat so no sides on it just the railings.We were prepared though and had lots of layers of clothes on so we were lovely and warm except for the cool breeze on the face which was nice really.The boat trip went for just over an hour and it was amazing.It is definitely worth driving all of the way here to see.The weather is still really cold at night but the days have been amazing.

22/12/10

Today is our 26th Wedding Anniversary.When you think about it, it doesn't seem that long ago since we were married but then again!!!!!!!!

We left Carlsbad around 9am and spent the day driving north to Albuquerque.The change in the scenery is amazing from flat flat land to flat flat land and then as you get further north there are a few hills in the distance of the flat flat land.I guess you can imagine that there wasn't very much to see along the way and that is why we just kept driving.Noel was comfortable driving and I was comfortable dozing here and there along the way and we stopped for breaks along the way which we can do whenever we feel like it in the motor home.Although it seems like flat land we were actually climbing the entire time.We saw snow on the mountains as we got further north.We arrived in Albuquerque around 4pm and went straight to the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway .It is a cable car that takes you up the mountain.It is the world's longest tramway and one section of cable is 2.7 miles long in between support towers.The view was so spectacular.When you get off the tramway you are 10,378 feet above sea level and it literally takes your breath away.There are ski trails from the top although there weren't too many skiers left up there by the time we got to the top as the sun was going down.We watched a spectacular sun set as there is some snow clouds around so the sun reflected off of these and made the sun set amazing.We then watched the lights of Albuquerque come on before we headed back down the cable car again.It was really windy at the top of the mountain but when we walked around the corner we were able to get out of the wind and just enjoy the scenery.By the time we got back into Albuquerque we didn't feel like driving to the other side of town to find an RV park so we booked into a motel for the night and enjoyed some space for the night.

23/12/10

We left Albuquerque around 8.30am and had a chilly start to the day.They have been having snow falls through this area the last couple of days so we have decided to keep going straight through to Camp Verde today (where we are heading for Christmas). This means that Noel has another long day of driving.The scenery varied throughout the day but the one thing that was the same was that it was cold all day and we constantly saw snow on the mountains and often on the ground around us.Some areas had sleet falling as we drove although this would have just been rain if we had been further south.We reached Flagstaff around 2pm and it is covered in snow.This reinforced our decision to keep driving.It looked absolutely beautiful though and we might still go up there on a day trip for Noel to go skiing as the ski resort just out of Flagstaff is now open.We'll check out buses etc. to see if we can do it without having to drive up there ourselves.We arrived in Camp Verde around 3.30pm so Noel did really well on the roads again today.There is snow on the higher mountains around us and it is chilly but bearable and we settled into the RV park and caught up with some of our friends here then had an early night!

24/12/10

Well we have woken to blue skies and sunshine today so looks like a lovely Christmas Eve for us here in Camp Verde, Arizona.

Of course as I write this it is the wee hours of Christmas Day over there so our thoughts are with you all even more today.We hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends.Liz and Danielle both have to work at Sizzlers for the special Christmas lunch on there so we hope that everyone eating there today are lovely people so that your day isn't too hard for you both (just think of the money!)

Merry Christmas to all of our Family and Friends.We will be thinking of you all as you celebrate today.Please don't celebrate too much and if you do, please don't drive!!!!

We love you all and are missing you, especially today!

Take care of each other and until next time - bye for now!

Lot of Love

Noel & Pam