Round Rio Rancho

I’ve been paddling a kayak around many of the New Mexico lakes surrounding the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho area for several years. I’ve also experienced white water rafting in the Taos Box area of the Rio Grande, but I have to say that the experience of a five hour float through the Class One waters of the river between Bernalillo and Albuquerque is a totally different experience. You are not fighting to stay afloat or to not get dumped into boiling waters. Compared to lake paddling, you don’t have to work nearly as hard to get somewhere. Instead, you are experiencing the sky, the flora and fauna along the banks, and the “flow” of the river with relative ease.

Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures is unique in that they not only provide the shuttle service from beginning to end, the boats (kayaks or canoes), paddles and safety equipment, they also provide a guide to get you down the river in style. (Self guided tours are also available for more experienced paddlers.)

Sunset Magazine recently described Quiet Waters Paddling as the #1 outdoor day trip in Albuquerque.  High praise, when compared to say, the Sandia Peak Tram, the Bio Park, and some of the available hot air balloon adventures. New Mexico Magazine called them their favorite trip available on the Rio Grande.

The tours are suitable for paddlers of all ages and skill levels. Temperatures and water flow conditions are suitable from spring through most of the fall. The company has sufficient equipment to handle large groups, making it a great activity for convention attendees, business organizations and others. You can visit Quiet Waters Paddling Adventures at 105 D Pleasant View Drive, Bernalillo, New Mexico. Call them at 505 771-1234 or toll free: 877 45-FLOAT (877-453-5628).

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Approximately 1,732 Sq Ft

Beautiful River’s Edge III home with lots of space inside and out. This large lot has 2 beautiful patios, and a dog run for your furry friends. Inside, you’ll find newer carpet (2011), skylights and multiple living areas. The large kitchen has ceramic tile floors, lots of counter space and great storage, plus the garage is oversized with space for a workbench and more. This terrific home is ready and waiting for you to enjoy.

Sometimes you find good things where you least expect to… Most weekends at the Idalia Road Marketplace in Rio Rancho you will see a small, mint-green trailer on the South side of the grounds. This is Geo’s Mobile Bistro – a small business run by George and Jan Menza. Visit early in the morning and you might see a line of hungry patrons lined up waiting to order or pick up one of their freshly made breakfast burritos. I seem to be addicted to the one made with turkey sausage, 2 eggs, green chili and cheddar cheese. Note that I did not say shredded potatoes. You won’t find cheap filler in these burritos.

George and Jan’s menu extends well beyond breakfast burritos. They draw on their years of experience running Geo’s Restaurant on Southern Blvd. to decide what their customers might enjoy.  They sold the restaurant some time ago, and now with their fully equipped trailer they can provide food service almost anywhere in the state.

Consider a visit to the Idalia Road Marketplace to check out their great food. It’s open weekends through Oct. 30. Saturdays 9-2, Sundays 10-2. Located at 1320 Idalia Rd, just north of Northern Blvd. in Rio Rancho.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Approximately 1,453 Sq Ft

The 3.4 mile extension of Paseo Del Vocan (now NM Road 347) between Hwy 550 and Iris Road in Rio Rancho opened Thursday. The two lane road is really a joy to drive on. (I drove the length of it 15 minutes before its official opening at noon.)  Paseo Del Volcan is projected to eventually span the distance from Hwy 550 to Hwy 40, adding a much needed North- South route to the Albuquerque/Rio Rancho Metro area.

There was a public ceremony and ribbon cutting at 11:00 am in a tent to shelter the participants from the day’s cold and wind. Debbie Moore, CEO of the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce was Mistress of Ceremonies, with additional words from Rio Rancho Mayor Tom Swisstack, Darryl Madalena, Chairman of the Sandoval County Commission, and Dewey Cave, Executive Director of of Mid Region Council of Governments.  The word for the day was “cooperation”.  Without the cooperation of numerous government agencies and private organizations, the funding and construction of this piece of road would never have seen the light of day. Total funding for the project was $14 Million (which wouldn’t buy you a goat path in some parts of the country, but they did a lot with it here in New Mexico). The cost would have been much higher if the right of way had not been set aside many years ago.

NM House Bill 110 was introduced in the Round House on January 20, 2011. The bill proposes to amend the Metropolitan Redevelopment Act to allow the City of Rio Rancho to have limited powers of eminent domain condemnation. When Amrep Corporation first developed Rio Rancho, the entire city was platted (divided) into thousands of oddly shaped lots, including many which spanned arroyos and were nowhere close to utilities or amenities. These lots were most often sold to individual buyers from across the country.

In order to install streets, curbs, sewer and water lines to an area, it usually take development of a significant number of lots into a neighborhood. Trying to purchase even a hundred different lots from a hundred different owners can become a nightmare. Just a couple of holdouts can keep a project from moving ahead, and without a project, there is no planning. Without planning you can get chaos.

The video is of a presentation given by Mike Skolnick from Excalibur Realty at a recent meeting of the Executive Association of Greater Rio Rancho. Mike is an expert in land assemblage for development in the Rio Rancho, NM area. He gives an extensive history of the beginnings of Rio Rancho, a description of the bill now before the Legislature, and some of the difficulties the bill might solve and/or create.

The Friends and Lovers Balloon Rally has been held every year since the mid 1970’s on Valentine’s Day weekend. The event is put on by the Albuquerque Aerostat Ascension Association (“Aerostat” is much cooler word for “balloon”.), and showcases over 100 local hot air balloon crews and their craft. For many years the event was held at the Rio Rancho Balloon Park near Northern and Unser Blvds. The video above was filmed at the 2010 event. This year the rally will be held at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, February 12 and 13.

3 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Approximately 2017 Sq Ft, 2 Car Garage

3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, Approximately 1445 Sq Ft, 2 Car Garage

This soft and cuddly kitty is available for adoption at the Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter on Northern Blvd. He is about 1 year old, playful and pretty. His ID number is C 10 002191. If you’re looking for new best friend, call the shelter at 505 891-5075 to confirm his availability, If he’s already found a new home, they have lots of other wonderful pets there ready for adoption. (Note: The “C” in his ID # does not stand for “Cat”. It stands for “Canine”. Cats are supposed to be “F” for “Feline”. Somebody goofed… So it you really want the cat, don’t take no for an answer if they tell you it couldn’t be a cat with a C code.)

The Rio Rancho Animal Control Shelter is located at 3441 Northern Blvd, Rio Rancho, NM 87124. They are open Monday through Saturday from 9-5. They close from 12-1 for lunch.

The producers of the annual Albuquerque River of Lights display at the Albuquerque Bio Park really outdid themselves this year. We visited the display a couple years ago, and it was good for about an hour’s walk through then, but this year, with a combination of a half dozen new light sculptures, excellent organization and presentation, we probably doubled the time we spent there.

The display consists of millions of lights in over 140 light displays and animated sculptures, often set to holiday music and sound effects. Proceeds of ticket sales benefit the Albuquerque Bio Park, which consists of the Zoo, Botanical Garden, Tingley Beach and the Aquarium.    

The weather cooperated on the evening we visited. It was cold, but there was no wind, which helped keep the focus on the displays, not on how cold we were.  If they pull off the same quality of presentation next year, we will be back again to enjoy it.

People who do not live in New Mexico often have expectations of an environment replete with cacti, sand dunes, camels and extreme heat. The fact is, although there is a wide variety of terrain and conditions in the state, Rio Rancho is located at around a mile in altitude, and the weather is pretty moderate. We do get snow, usually a couple to three times a year, but it most often disappears within hours to a day or so.

The storm that we filmed just a week before Christmas left about 8 inches of the white stuff on the ground. Because schools do not always have plows and other snow removal equipment, this little bit shut down schools for the day. Since there was no school, local kids did what kids do in snow – made snowmen, forts, and threw snowballs at each other. The next day the sun was out, the roads were dry, and there was still snow in the shadows, but very little elsewhere.

Right after the Rio Rancho Christmas Parade the Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a Luminaria Tour at Haynes Park. Over 12,000 real luminarias (a candle burning inside a paper bag with sand at the bottom) formed pathways throughout the darkened park, leading from one park shelter or band stand to the other. Snacks, drinks and music were everywhere, as were lighted holiday characters of all kinds. Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a short visit to the event, and chatted with a number of small children. At 7:00 pm, there was a wonderful fireworks display. I’ve visited Haynes park several times in past years for this event, and never get tired of the sight of the thousands of glowing luminarias lining the pathways and the curving hills of the park. Kudos to the city staff for continuing this great tradition.

Another successful Rio Rancho Christmas Parade (officially the Winterfest Parade) has come and gone… The weather was great – not too cold and very little wind. Thousands of children and adults lined Southern Blvd. to watch bands, floats, and miscellaneous decorated vehicles go by. It was tough to decide who made more noise – the parade participants or the onlookers lining the streets. “Merry Christmas!” was the phrase of the night.

Bringing up the rear of the parade was a Rio Rancho Fire Department ladder truck, with Santa and Mrs. Claus waiving to the crowds from the top of the truck 

5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Approximately 2976 Sq Ft, 3 Car Garage