Well, our time in Albuquerque has already come and gone but the folks we met there didn’t need long to make an awesome impression on the Tour 40 Team. We know that it should come as no surprise that volunteers from Southwest show up to an event enthusiastic about serving their community and prepared to work hard, but our team is blown away each time. If the Dallas and Albuquerque events are any indication of things to come then the Tour 40 should result in an incredible amount of great conservation work.
Volunteers arrived bright and early at the beautiful Albuquerque Open Space Visitors Center where they met the Tour 40 Team, marveled at our awesome RV, and prepared for the day with sunscreen application and ample hydration. These folks were on top of group safety! Before getting down to business the group heard from some of our excellent hosts at Albuquerque Open Space, Jim and Steve. They gave us a brief introduction to Open Space, some history from the area and prepared the group with project specifics. The volunteers were charged with improving a wetland area by removing non-native plants that steal vital nutrients and growing space from local flora and then planting saplings that will grow into a natural wind break for the area, a challenge they were all willing to accept.
Now came the moment everyone was waiting for, time to grab tools and get to work. Becca’s crew made it a bad day to be a weed at Albuquerque Open Space. With hawk like vigilance her crew removed five truck-loads of non-native plants. The banks along the wetland looked totally different after this dream team rolled through. At the same time this was happening Andrew and his crew were digging holes and prepping saplings for planting. Sounds like a simple task doesn’t it? Well the hard Albuquerque ground had other ideas. Despite adversity the volunteers powered through with smiles on their faces and at the end of the day there were sixteen new trees in the ground.
We can’t thank those who came out enough. The Tour 40 Team had a blast meeting you and serving alongside of each and every one of you. We hope that we will see you all again at a stop down the road.
Thanks for everything Albuquerque! For now, on to Phoenix!
Andrew and the Tour 40 Team
