Lightfocus: Travel Log: 2003, the Second Year
We came down out of the Sandia Mountains today. Grocery shopping plus other chores took most of the day.
We purchased new stabilizing jacks for Dancer to hold her better against the wind. The satellite dish will need less rocking motion than we often have. Plus we bought about 2 weeks groceries so we can head toward Santa Rosa when the dish is installed.
Tonight we are perched on a hill overlooking Albuquerque in a Flying J parking lot. The view of the city lights is lovely. Will is downloading his mail via cellphone. Knock wood, we won't have to use the cellphone for a modem after this week.
I think we are about ready to spend the summer boondocking. Interesting juxtaposition... the technology of two way transfer of data via satellite and living self contained on a mountain or next to a lake.
Installation day!
This is the day we have been coveting for a year now. Good access to the internet, where ever we travel.
I sat in the rig most of the day, watching Gary (the technician) install the controls, modems, etc. that run the satellite dish. He is meticulous and by the time he was done, the whole thing looked like it was intended to be there. I am impressed!
I also climbed up on top of the rig (me and heights! whew!) to see the dish itself. What a beauty. Can't wait to see it at night as I am told that it glows blue. So Star Wars, I can't believe it :)
These folks have been so great... answering every question I can think of, letting us use their office satellite connection while we are here. We even will park our rig overnight in their parking lot since the installation process takes 2 days. Actually, I think they would be finished in a day, but they will take another day to teach us how to run the thing.
We are sitting in the Walmart parking lot in Albuquerque, surfing the 'net with our high speed connection via the new dish. Is that cool or what?
By the time we finished getting the rundown on how to work the new system and then did the prosaic chore of the weeks laundry, I was too tired to travel to Santa Rosa. So in the morning we will travel over there. We are hoping the state park will be a pleasant stopping place for a couple weeks. I need a rest and time to recoup from the excitement of the past few days.
I nearly had to tie Will down the past couple days... he is higher than the moon about the installation! I don't think I have ever seen him so wired. (No pun intended)
We are sitting on a hill in Santa Rosa State Park (NM). I think we may be the only people in the park. The view is spectacular and the wind is something else (gusting to 55 mph!) And I am sending email via satellite. It will take me awhile to become accustomed to this technology. I am still in awe.
The state park near Santa Rosa has done the deed. I am now officially enamored with New Mexico. Other parts of the state are beautiful, too, and there is more yet to see. Sitting on top of this rise with a vista for miles... pinon trees, cactus, pine all around with a lake in the distance... it all goes to soothes my claustrophobic soul.
Well, all the chores I have been putting off doing because I "didn't have a decent connection" are now looming for attention. Guess I shall need to settle down and do some web work!
© 2003 Mari Bontrager