4-10-08 You’re Late!!!

This morning was a normal morning. But right after I ate breakfast I had to immediately get on the phone and get directions to the events that were supposed to be taking place today. We had one event in Capitan, New Mexico at the city hall with the mayor and then another event in Alamogordo, New Mexico where we were scheduled to have a ceremonial tree planting, and a meet and greet with the city commissioners at the Airborne Memorial Park. (The location was changed to the zoo.) We were scheduled to be in Capitan at 11 but this morning, but Thomsen was working on the journals and so we were late. We also took a longer route to the location because two of our riders missed a turn and rode thirty miles the wrong way.  We eventually met up with them and Thomsen pulled them off the road due to the very strong winds. We drove from Sante Fe to Capitan, New Mexico within two hours. It was snowing a tiny bit while we were driving and the wind was blowing almost 60 mph. Man, have we been through some crazy weather. We have been through hot, rainy, cold, snowing, breezy, very windy days and even crazier thundering, lighting, tornado alerts. Crazy weather, period. But it has been a very interesting experience. We were an hour and thirty minutes late to our event in Capitan but when we got there some very lovely people that work with the commissioners, the mayor and Smokey Bear greeted us!! The mayor was even out in front of City Hall barbecuing hamburgers.  It was very interesting to hear the story about Smokey Bear.  The bear was actually found after the big forest fire in the mountains and the rangers saved him.  He was later raised in Washington D.C When he died he was about fifty years old and they brought him back to Capitan and buried him there. After we left Capitan we went to Lincoln, New Mexico where Billy the Kid used to rob people. I bought my grandma this beautiful handmade necklace from this little store out there. We left Lincoln and went straight to Alamogordo. We were scheduled to get there at 4 but due to the terrible winds we had to face, we were late to this event also. We got lost getting there because of my incorrect directions and everyone was mad at me, including me. I was actually very ticked off to be honest. When we got there we met this guy named Chris.  He was there on behalf of the Mayor. We spoke with him for awhile then met some other people from the community and city. We had an interview with the local newspaper and they asked some questions.  Out of the four, I got two wrong and I was so embarrassed, but all is well and I just need some more practice. The event that took place in Alamogordo was at Alameda Park. While we were there we had a ceremonial tree planting and Motel 6 brought a tree for us to plant. While we there, Mr. Thomsen talked to them and got them to give us some hotel rooms for a lower rate.  So today was just the day to be late because we were late to just about everything.