Catching up...

I wasn’t able to post an update last night due to our location so tonight’s post will cover two long, eventful, somewhat strange days.


Sunday, September 20:

Takin' the bus to get our bus

 
We boarded the bus about 7am; of the 15 passengers, Dave & I were the only non-Mexicans. Border Patrol guards borded the bus and checked everyone’s ID to make sure all were legal. Our route took us from El Paso, TX thru Las Cruces, NM, past the White Sands Missile Range and then past the White Sands National Monument where all traffic must go through a Border Patrol checkpoint. Our bus stopped and was boarded again by agents (which is standard procedure). The agents checked everyone’s ID again and searched every possible hiding spot on and under the bus then boarded again and instructed us all to get off the bus, leave all of our belongings on the bus, and line up outside (we got the impression that this is not part of the aforementioned standard procedure). Two agents and a K-9 searched the bus again while two more agents kept an eye on our group standing outside. Finally we were all thanked for our time and allowed to continue on our way, the bus driver checked his pocket watch and muttered as were re-boarding the bus, “Now we’re late.” He was not happy.
 
On the bright side, it was a lovely sunny day and we were directly across the road from White Sands National Monument.

Doesn’t look like much from the road, we have been there before, it is a very cool (well, hot actually) place to see.

Finally our bus journey ended in Ruidoso, NM where we met Steve, Tina and Westy! Tina generously loaded us up with lots of supplies that we hadn’t been able to bring with us: a second blanket (very much appreciated last night!), pillows, dishes, cups, utensils, hand towels, etc. After a 2-hour crash course with Steve & Tina, Dave & I headed off on our own.

Hellooo Westy

We camped outside of Roswell, NM at Bottomless Lakes State Park (which could honestly be renamed Stinky Lakes SP). The night sky was loaded with stars – we could even see the Milky Way! Fantastic!

Monday, September 21:

Today was a long, 433 mile, windy drive; hundreds of miles of high desert with almost nothing to look at as far as the eye can see.

Long highway

From Roswell, we headed through Clovis, NM into Texas, past cattle ranches with literally 10’s of thousands of cattle; numerous grain mills; and lots of trains.

For you Dad :)

Drove through Amarillo, TX and on into Oklahoma. We are in Weatherford, OK for the night. We had hoped to camp at Red Rock Canyon State Park but it was getting late and we were running out of daylight so we are in a hotel and Westy has to sleep alone tonight.

We’ll try to stop at the Red Rock Canyon SP in the morning to at least see the place. That is the one draw-back to this trip, we are on a tight schedule and really aren’t able to spend any time seeing things except what can be seen from the highway at about 65 mph, hence the blurry photos.

Until the next time I am able to post...