Mar 21, 2012 - "Mining" Our Own Business in Bisbee

Hello from New Mexico, Land of Enchantment. Our stay this time in New Mexico will be short as we have a deadline to get to the Houston, Texas area of April 3rd and we want to enjoy the Gulf Coast of Texas on this trip. When we left Phoenix it was under cloudy skies that eventually turned into rain, sleet, high winds and then snow! It was a beautiful drive through the Saguaro Mountains and into Tucson. We took Highway 80 into Bisbee and stayed at the Queen Mine RV Park adjacent to the Queen Mine, a closed down copper mine. Bisbee is only 8...

Jan 29, 2011 - WSMR RV - WSMR: The Post

Before we leave White Sands Missile Range, I thought it appropriate to show some of the post we’ve been calling home this past month. I’ve taken several pictures of various spots around the post as well as looking down towards the post from the Agustin Pass (5714’ in elevation) on Hwy 70 heading east. Hopefully I have provided a good representation of the post along with some of the history we learned about at the museum by the front gate. One thing that has been fun for us to experience staying at the various military bases/posts...

Jan 3, 2011 - White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) RV Park

Poor Zookie this morning. She definitely did not reap the benefits of us gaining an hour yesterday as we passed into Mountain Time. I had forgotten to change the clock next to my side of the bed, so when I checked it this morning and saw it was 0635, I immediately swooped her up off the bed and carried her right out to the living room and put her in her carrier for safe keeping as I do on every travel day. Well, I hear Jerry asking me what I’m doing as he’s up turning on lights for me – and I turn and give him one of “those looks” we gals...

Oct 19, 2010 - White Sand Missile Range

Established in 1945, White Sands Missile Range is America’s largest overland military test range. At White Sands the world entered the Atomic Age when the first atomic bomb was tested at Trinity Site on July 16, 1945. Less than a year later, America entered the Space Age at White Sands when V-2 rockets roared into space from America’s first launch complex carrying test instruments and biological experiments. It is all shown here. There is a museum and a yard full of their missiles.

Oct 19, 2010 - White Sands National Monument

Today we went to visit "White Sands" National Monument. What a place. We were in total awe. It is incredible. It is sort of like if I blind folded you and took the blind fold off and asked you "Where are You" you may answer "In Alaska" but it is to warm. Sand look just like feet and feet of beautiful snow. White Sands rises from the heart of the Tularosa Basin and is one of the world's greatest natural wonders - the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here, great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and...

Sep 21, 2010 - White Sands Area & Rock Hound State Park New Mexico

On Tuesday, September 21st we drove about 300 miles and crossed over the Sacramento Mountains in New Mexico. We hit a high elevation of 8600 ft. in Cloudcroft. This was the first time the truck had been in low gear and full throttle to keep the trailer moving at 30 MPH. Descending the mountain we could see the White Sands in the valley below. We stopped in Alamogordo at McDonalds and had free WiFi. Holloman Air Force Base and the White Sands Missile Range are near Alamogordo as is the White Sand National Monument. We drove through the...

Sep 1, 2010 - White Sands, NM

Who would have thought that New Mexico would be such a rugged, beautiful state? I guess I just never thought about it, so I have really been surprised. We traveled through at least 2 mountain ranges to get to White Sands desert; The Raymond Mountains and The Organ Mountains. We took the car to White Sands and left the RV to be tended by the puppies in Las Cruces, NM. at the KOA. Boy, this KOA was a piece of work...there were codes to enter the bathrooms, codes to enter the swimming pool, codes to enter the laundry room, codes to access the...

Feb 17, 2010 - Rock Hound Rocks

On our way again, something mabe a little softer than rocks this time. Sand, White Sands to be more precise. As we were packing up to leave, it started like thunder rolling through camp and then the ground began to shake. Great an earth quake to send us on our way. Stopped in at ST. Claire Winery for some tasting. They make wine from chiles as well as grapes. They make an excellent Port. New Mexico is a starkly beautiful place. I noticed the economy is very depressed; in fact 90% of the people can’t afford roofs for their homes. Just round...

Apr 25, 2009 - White Sands NM

We started the day with a visit to nearby White Sands National Monument. After a stop at the Visitor Center, we took the road deeper into the Monument and into the White Sands area. To learn more: http://www.nps.gov/whsa The White Sands are unique to this area and the road took us right into the dune area. We found a sand dune that was mostly packed down (easier to walk up) and got some photos and a videos of both of us coming down the sand dune. Later in the day we also visited the Toy Train Depot in Alamogordo, NM.

Nov 13, 2008 - White Sands, NM

We stopped in the White Sands area because we used to come here when I was wee little. My Dad worked at the White Sands Missile Range which surrounds the park, and yea, it was still quite active! We had quite a few window rattling 'BOOMS'! So the white sand dunes are really huge gypsum deposits (like sheetrock) that form in an old lake bed. The crystals form clear and as the wind breaks them down and blows them around they get scratched up and defract the light which causes them to look white. It really looks like snow, so it was kinda...

Apr 17, 2008 - White Sands National Monument

We headed out towards the White Sands National Monument by midmorning. On the way we stopped at the Heart of the Desert Pistachio Grove in Alamogordo. Once again we attempted to have a picnic but it was too windy. We finally had our picnic in the car. It was not looking like a good day to tour sand dunes so we opted for a tour of the pistachio grove. This was the girls’ first tour of a manufacturing facility. Our tour guide was a woman that was originally from Mexico but that spent many years in Europe so she could speak Spanish,...

Mar 11, 2008 - White Sands National Monument

Beautiful sunny day perfect for taking a day trip up to New Mexico and see the White Sands National Monument. It is located in the White Sands Missile Range. We called ahead to make sure there wouldn't be any testing going on and the roads would be open. The dunes are actually gypsum and we watched an interesting film in the visitors center explaining the unusual circumstances that make the dunes. It starts with rain coming off the mountains into a valley that has no rivers draining it. The water pools in playas and when it evaporates it...