Westward Ho!

In a decision that was classified only as "insane"by numerous friends (including the one we were visiting!), NLBG loaded down the car with clothes, food, CDs, and bikes in order to do an 80 mph waltz across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico all the way to Albuquerque. Shouldn't everyone drive across Texas at least once? Shouldn't we?Austin-RoswellLeaving early on a Thursday morning, driving through Fredericksburg and catching I-10 near Junction, we began our westward trek. The land and sky opened up and traffic grew more sparse as we passed a wind farm and mesas and dusty, dried-up little towns. Through Pecos and into Eastern New Mexico, Carlsbad and Artesia. Dry lake beds,draws, scrubby, open land. Deer. Fewer birds. Check out the view from the car in Eastern New Mexico:

Roswell, Home of the International UFO Museum and Research Center.
There she was, five years later, our old neighbor from Baton Rouge, working in the UFO Museum! At first we couldn't believe. "There's no way," Ricky said, but I was nearly convinced that that was Kat who had passed us by in the entrance. We enjoyed the exhibits in the museum and the reunion with Kat! We would have loved to have lingered a while longer -- dinner with her and Rocky would've been really fun, but we still had another 3+ hours to Albuquerque and my head was beginning to pound after already having spent 8 hours on the road.

L'Arrivee: Albuquerque
Oh the joy, pulling into Ann's driveway, more than 12 hours after leaving ours, gaining at least 5,300 feet in elevation and losing about 20% humidity. The Sandias in view at the end of the street, the xeriscaped gardens, adobe-style houses, the swamp coolers, green chile on everything. Best of all, seeing Ann after all this time. And meeting her fiance. And finding out that he's cool and laidback and funny.

Camping in the Jemez

Fry bread with honey from a Jemez Reservation roadside stand.

 Through narrow, single lane tunnels in a gorge, onto a gravel road when the pavement ends, we found the best car camping site ever: in a bend in the stream, gorgeous trees, a beautiful tree-lined ridge in the background, black and yellow butterflies fluttering by the water, a super-happy camp dog, and lots of good food!

 Relaxation in a different form. It was sooo quiet, so tranquil, listening to the running water. 

The boys got in some fly-fishing practice while Ann and I chatted fireside, eating Tofudogs and Tings. 

Re-emerging on a paved road the next day, we had a delightful lunch at the Laughing Lizard Cafe in Jemez Springs before heading back to Albuquerque. All in all, a wonderful excursion!

Sunday Pedal

Well, as tired as we were, the need to move our legs led us to a great bike path alongside Tramway, near the foothills of the Sandias. Spectacular views of the mountains and the city and beyond. Ricky and I hung in there, even at altitude! It felt really good to pedal a bit before consuming even more of that gorgeous caramel doberge cake Ann had bought for my birthday!

Au revoir, Albuquerque

Suddenly, it was Monday morning, and suddenly we were saying good-bye, and suddenly, there we were cruising south on I-25 heading toward Hatch. I just had to see where all those peppers grow! Detour to White Sands well worth it.

White Sands

Small strips of white on the horizon, the approach to White Sands from Las Cruces gives little away. In fact, it takes driving in a short way to appreciate. Even more fun is getting out of the car and spending time on the dunes themselves.

Balmorhea Bathing
What a reward following hours of hot, dusty driving through West Texas! A true desert oasis, as they describe it, and fortunately for us, our Monday night layover, as I was not looking forward to 50 more miles of driving at dusk to Fort Stockton.