Alamogordo

This is how I started my day, at the KOA Carlsbad camping:

Tried visiting the Carslbad caves but the rangers stopped visitors at the gate - the elevator is broken, was broken yesterday and heaven knows when they will be fixed. There's a difficult hike down and a difficult hike back up for the hardy souls who would want to try it anyhow. I decided to pass, there simply was not enough time to do this. I would have had to stay another day.

By the way, at the entrance of the park I saw this fascinating building near the top of the hill. I really wonder what it is and what it's story is.

So, I drove out of Carlsbad towards White Sands. First flat, then lightly undulating, increasingly bendy roads and higher trees till I arrived at a rather hokey mountain pass (I don't believe those buildings were really this old - I think this might be a popular holiday destination in winter (?)

Arrived in Alamogordo, checked in and went to visit the White Sands.
Magic.

I drove through West Texas today

All along the back roads. Almost ran out of gas, I was in such a hurry to escape Midland that I forgot to tank. So, at a quarter tank I thought well, I should be passing a gas station soon.... but hell no. Miles and miles of scrub with only those nodding texas flowers with the thick sulphurous odour: no people, no houses, no cars, no animals. It was all rather post apocalyptic and would have been cool in a Mad Max kinda way if the needle had not been sinking further and further...

In the end I programmed Seminole into the TomTom and got to a gas station some 20 miles later with the last gasoline fumes. That was a close call!

I'm in New Mexico tonight. At first I thought I'd go see the bats fly out at the caverns and had even driven over there, but then I realised I would have to drive back in the dark (duh). With my current night vision that is not such a smart idea, so I went back to the campsite only to find it has been invaded by very cute bunnies (pictures will follow). Much too cute to toss in a pot and cook em, so I'm eating bbq steaks tonight. Yes, and root beer. Ahhhhh.

I'll be sorting the pictures and posting them later. The various road stories are all jotted down but I hardly ever have the time to work things out - that will have to wait for later too. All is well with me, I'm having the time of my life and the only minus point is that i only took nine weeks leave. I need at least six months of this to scratch the surface ;)