Las Cruces, White Sands and AlamogordoMay 19, 2012
|
|
White Sands Missle Range
| Despite 95 degrees during the day, the evening was very cool and sleeping was very comfortable with the back doors open. The morning was somewhat overcast which limited the sun heat. We took a short bike ride around the camp ground to get a better look at the lake. Elephant Butte Lake is a tremendous water recreation area although there were few people boating because it is so early in the season. Lot’s of beach launching spots. The night before we had a long chat with the State Park Manager, Metta, who had worked at two State Parks near San Diego. She told us about a nice lake walk. Drive on Hwy 195 and look for Earl’s where you turn towards the lake. We saw Victor’s, Pat’s, Sam’s, Dollies but no Earl’s! We toured most of Elephant Butte which is mostly trailer homes and gave up on the hike. We did go to the Elephant Butte Dam, finished in 1916 to control the Rio Grande, was the world’s largest irrigation reservoir at the time. That area too is a big water recreation area. Off to what the locals call “T n C” (Truth or Consequences). There were some funky shops, saloons and restaurants. Bob bought some clamps to finish his “post op” work. Headed for Las Cruces. Unlike the trip to EB that was very arid, the drive to Las Cruces was lush with lots of farms backing into the mesas. Las Cruces is a sprawling town with lots of fast food and “box “ stores. It is the second largest city in NM and the home to the University of New Mexico. We headed for the historic Old Mesilla area of town. We had hoped to find the farmer’s market but again, too early for much of anything. The plaza is quite small but charming with adobe shops, bandstand and small church. It was one of the stops on the Butterfield Overland Trail which was the mail stage line between St. Louis and San Francisco (1858-1861) and the forerunner to the Pony Express. We ate at La Posta de Mesilla, the only station to remain standing on the Butterfield Trail. Very good, and what seemed authentic Mexican food. Bob had a combination of taco roll, chile con carne, tamale, good beans. I had a salad in a crispy flour tortilla with green chile chicken. The place was packed with locals and folks from UNM. All of the camps in Las Cruces looked like parking lots so we headed off to White Sands and Alamogordo. From Las Cruces it was a very steep climb to 5,200 feet. Once we crested we could see White Sands, the Tularosa Valley and Fort Bliss Military Reserve all of which is vast expanse. Stopped at the White Sands National Monument declared by Hubert Hoover in 1933. The white sands are 275 square miles of talcum powder fine gypsum created by nearby mountain erosion, water and wind. This is one of the few deserts in the world to retain water and is significant to biologists because the habitat has so rapidly evolved to blend into the environment for survival. We drove out into the sands and it looked like we were driving in snow. On to Alamogordo where we found a camp with a number of amenities including a pool which is important because it is 95 degrees. The town is sprawling against the Lincoln National Forest and is home to the Holloman Air Force Base. Needed a lemon and orange for dinner and learned the closest market was Walmart, a few hundred yards away. It seemed so ridiculous but we again went to this store larger than any Costco we have seen. Walmart in most of the areas we have been is designed to have you do every bit of your shopping there…..clothes, pharmacy, fast food (McDonalds et al) automotive, banking etc. Hooked up and went to the pull which was FREEZING. Bob talked to his buddy, Darryl, about trailer hitch minutia while I prepared dinner and did laundry. There is a nice breeze and it is comfortable. Dinner is Brazilian Salmon ( which we have really liked on our trip) and cole slaw which after 41 years I have found a recipe that we like on the back of a bag of shredded cabbage. Was so hot earlier we could not think of having another side dish. Seeing America as we are doing is really eye opening. It is interesting to understand how other people live without having to “live it” for a long period of time. Talking to people from all walks of life is fun. Pepper and the rig have been magnets for meeting people. Life is simple without distraction but very fulfilling. Days go by so rapidly that I have barely read a book since we left. Hard to believe we have been on the road for six weeks! |
Advertisement 
|
