There is Snow in the Mountains

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Monday, April 1, 2019 (How did April come so fast?)

This Walmart is open 24 hours but surprisingly we hardly heard any noise throughout the night. Or maybe we were just to tired to be bothered by noise. Though we did hear rain on the roof at one point. Today's ride was only going to take us a couple of hours so there was no rush to be on the road so we took our time enjoying our morning coffee. Plus, there was not a lot to pack up and once the lights and roll were checked we were on the road about 10:00AM.

Parked at the Walmart in Alamogordo, NM
The restaurant out the front window is where we ate dinner last night.
The food was okay and our waitress was very nice.
What they did not have was real Margaritas just an Agave wine one.
Interesting but a little sweeter then I care for. 

My research tells me this is Sierra Blanca Peak

Checking out last years post when we connected to US-70 on our way to Roswell  there was hardly any snow on this peak.  Since, I did not include any information last year I thought I would this time. Below is what I found out on the internet with several links for more information.

The Sierra Blanca (Spanish: White Mountains) is a range of volcanic mountains in Lincoln and Otero counties in the south-central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico. The majority of the Sierra Blanca range is within the Lincoln National Forest, and part of this is protected as the White Mountain Wilderness Area. The range is about 40 miles (64 km) from north to south and 20 miles (32 km) wide.To the south, across the valley of the Rio Tularosa, lie the Sacramento Mountains. To the north is Carrizozo Mountain, and to the northeast lie the Capitan Mountains. On the west side, the range rises high above the Tularosa Basin.

The range serves as the headwaters for the Rio Ruidoso, Rio Tularosa, and Rio Bonito, as well as numerous arroyos draining into the Tularosa Basin, including Nogal Arroyo at the north end of the range.

Sierra Blanca Peak (White Peak) is the highest mountain in the range at 11,981 feet (3,652 m).^[1] It is southern New Mexico's highest peak, as well as the most prominent (5,533 feet) and the 40th highest in the entire state and can be seen for many miles, particularly within the Tularosa Basin. It is visible from as far away as Sandia Crest near Albuquerque. It is also the most southerly peak and land area to exceed 11,000 feet in the continental United States (Only 19 feet shy of being the most southerly area above 12,000 feet). Plus, it is one of the southern most points at which alpine ecosystems occur in the United States.The peak is located on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west-northwest of Ruidoso and 30 miles (48 km) north-northeast of Alamogordo.The peak is sacred to the Mescalero Apache, and requires a permit from the tribe for access

Having read the information above I now know why it was visible
so many times on today's ride.

The scenery along here is beautiful.
We are driving on US-70

I checked and, yes, I did include this same picture last year.
I love seeing crosses on top of peaks. Sometimes, in New Mexico
especially,we will see three crosses high up on a hill.

As we went by here I thought, that would be a  beautiful spot to live.
I saw a sign on the entrance near the road that said, The Mission.

We could see snow in the mountains ahead.

Then we could see it on the side of the road.
When we drove this way last year we did not see any snow.

We were pretty high up in the Sierra Blanca Mountains.
When we passed over the Apache Summit between Mescalero and Ruidoso
the elevation was 7591 feet.

Driving this part of the highway

we are going down hill

and the views

of the Sierra Blanca Peak are wonderful.

I could not pick just one so I hope you enjoyed the ones
I did narrow it down too.

There are not many times I see the "wiggle worm" sign

and get a full view of the "wiggle" around the corner.

I just think this little town has a cute name. I probably took this same
picture last year. I tried to research how it got its name with no luck.

Nothing says spring

like seeing trees starting to bud.

Going down hill, we are getting close to Roswell at this point,
and the land goes on forever. until it touches the horizon.

Living where we are surrounded by forest we do not see
this type of vastness looking out as we drive.
Though, standing on the shore of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior
the beauty of the water touches the horizon.

We can see Roswell in the distance.
Though we have come down a few thousand feet,
Roswell is at 3,573 feet.

Yesterday and today's drive were definitely the type of days when it is easy to realize how lucky we are to be able to spend our days traveling down the roads of this beautiful country we call home. Reflecting on the last couple of months, we have spent time in the desert of Arizona in the shadow of several mountain ranges and watched the sun rise and set above and behind their beauty. Our patio has looked over the vastness of the desert and we have had Saguaros, Ocotillos, Wonderful Wildflowers, plus, Palo Verde and Mesquite Trees in our yard. Just to name some of what is the beauty of the desert. We have spent time with old friends and new friends making our time even more special. Now as we slowly travel east the scenery before us changes. The grasslands near Sierra Vista are beautiful and as we move across New Mexico the mountains are breathtaking. (Yes, even the ones with snow.) Next we will experience the beauty of Texas our exact route is yet to be determined but no matter were the road leads we will enjoy what is in front of us. When we finally arrive back in Michigan and once again ride along our wonderful lakes through green forest we will once again realize just how lucky we are to have spent so many years living there. We truly are lucky at this point in our lives to be able to live our dream.

For now we will be parked here at the Spring River RV Park in Roswell, NM until at least next Monday morning. We are hoping to take in some of the sights in the surrounding area but tomorrow morning will decided some of what will be happening with our plans the next few days. As is the case sometime things have to be taken care of and as we went over the mountains the last two days we heard our check engine warning ding several times and so tomorrow the Stinger "B" will visit the diesel garage here in Roswell. Fingers crossed it is nothing serious or expensive but no matter what it will have to be dealt with before we move on. Just part, as many of you know, of living in a home on wheels.

So glad you stopped by. It was a good day here in this place hope you can say the same.

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Arizona in the Rear View Mirror and Looking Out the Window at New Mexico

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Sunday, March 31, 2019

We pulled out of our spot around 8:15AM and drove over to the road in front of the office to hook up the Jeep. It is just easier doing it on a flatter surface. After hooking up we walked over to a 5th wheel back around the corner to drop off some information. When Tom was talking to the guy next to us he asked where we were from and he said they played cards with a couple from Escanaba. The couple stopped by but I was gone at the time and every time we went by their car was gone. So we took a chance this morning and their shades were up so we knocked. We chatted for a few minutes it seems they go by our house at least once a week on their way to church and see our rig parked in the driveway. They actually belong to our former parish and we only each had to travel about 1,900 miles to meet. Hopefully, next time we will get a chance to sit down and visit.

Hooked up and ready to pull out.
A couple of wild flowers in the area outside the office.
Saying goodbye to the Whetstone Mountains.

On the road by 8:50AM
our first stop, the Border Patrol Checkpoint and he waved us through.

We are on I-10 and crossing the San Pedro River once again.
Plus, we now know the "Thing" is ahead.

Ocotillos, not sure if I will see them again this adventure.

The road ahead and there is a lot of traffic going east and west.

It was not long and we were approaching the Texas Canyon.

This is one of my favorite parts of the ride on I-10 in Arizona.

It is amazing how so many rocks are balanced just right.

Not the best picture out the side window.
I could see wildflowers  for what seemed like forever into the distance

on both sides of the road.

We hope to never see these lights flashing..

Though we could see what looked like dust near the mountains
through out our travels today.

Along with the wildflowers we saw a lot of these guys today.

We pulled off 

at the San Simon Rest Stop for lunch.

Our views out our dining room window, which is tinted, as we ate
lunch. We even saw a train go bye off in the  distance.
The top right is out the front when we were leaving.

We can see the Peloncillo Mountains North of us, our last view of Arizona,

and we crossed into New Mexico.

It had been three months since we crossed into Arizona on December 31, 2018 just across the Interstate going west. Not planned just one of those quirky things that happens along the way.

One thing for sure New Mexico does have an interesting way of patching the

  road. One long stretch of blacktop on one lane deteriorating along the edges.

The utility poles just caught my eye going off in a straight line into the
distance. No other reason.

Crossing the Continental Divide.

Coming into Las Cruces

we could see the Roadrunner

looking down over his kingdom.

We turned North onto I-25 and then headed east on US-70.

On US-70 we are now making our way 

slowly up and over

San Augustin Pass
Elevation 5719 feet

You know what they say

what goes up  must come down

and down we went.

The views on the way down were fantastic.

It does not look bad here but

take my word for it we were moving.

Those views off in the distance were so beautiful.

Of course, I was not driving just enjoying the scenery and holding on.

.

Nothing like seeing a deer crossing sign as you are quickly going down hill.

The views never stopped

and neither did we.

Just about all the way to flat ground.

Going by the White Sands National Monument.
We hope to take a day trip back to go through the monument.

One last view of today's ride.

I had to add this. We hardly ever pass another vehicle.
 After all we are retired and are in no hurry.
Today Tom passed three vehicles.

Walking across the Walmart parking lot in Alamogordo
this was the last of tonight's sunset.

It was a long day, 324 miles, and the wind was hitting us on the driver's side all day. Our goal was to reach the Walmart in Alamogordo, I had called the day before to make sure we could park there, and we did.  Tomorrow we will only have about 120 miles to our destination were we will stop for at least three days.

"One way to get the most 

out of life is to look upon

it as an adventure."

             ~William Feather

So glad you took the time to visit. Hope you enjoyed the pictures.

If you have a moment to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.