2006 RV Trip Diaries - White Sands, Deming, NM

                                                                                                                                                                           

October 23 - Monday  
Karen wanted to go to see the White Sands area on the east side of the Organ Mountains and J. & K. agreed though they had been there before.  We stopped first at the White Sand Missile Range Museum at a military base. The museum included the history of the Tularosa Basin from prehistoric times, Mogollon finds, Spanish exploration, Apache tribes, the Buffalo Soldiers, etc., to 1945 when the missile range was established and they tested their first missile.  Many missiles were on display in a park outside.

On to the White Sands National Monument which has over 275 square miles of naturally produced gypsum dunes creating one of the most unique sites in the world.  Karen and Kay standing by a drift of white sand.  Below, a yucca palm and trees buried in the sand and entering the monument.  It reminded us more of snow which we can relate to.

The valley is filled with military operations with jets flying over and scaring us by breaking the sound barrier.  On to Alamogordo for lunch.  The Space Hall of Fame is there chronicling man's exploration of space.  A few miles more you come to where the first test atomic bomb was dropped but we didn't go there as it's only open two days a year to the public.

Karen says a big thanks to Jerry and Kay for taking her but they enjoyed it, too, as they hadn't gone to the museum before.

October 24 - Tuesday  This was our day of rest and getting ready to move again tomorrow.  Garrey and Karen did some grocery shopping.

October 25 - Wednesday

We had decided that both of our rigs need cleaning so we went to a park in Deming, NM that allows rig washing.  Jerry very kindly volunteered to clean the roofs of both rigs.  We were all ready for a rest afterwards and sat in our outdoor chairs and let the cooling breeze blow on us. 

Kay & Jerry made us a nice dinner that evening.  They had small chocolate covered cream puffs for dessert--yummy.

October 26 - Thursday

We went to Silver City up in the mountains.  It was a gentle climb through pasture land to the one mile elevation level and we saw many antelope in the pastures.  There were two operating copper mines close to Silver City.

We visited a campground of western motif that Jerry and Kay are using as one of their stops in the tour they are leading in March.  We also went to old town Silver City. They were sprucing up some of the old buildings which were beautiful old time architecture and two story.  We went into a few arts and crafts shops and galleries.  

We had lunch, and then stopped at the Silver City Museum which was in an old two story home with a cupola on top.  Karen loved the house.  We stopped at a quilting store Kay had been to before.  It was full of hanging quilts along the walls and overhead--beautiful.  Beside quilts, fabric, threads, etc. they had a smattering of things as second hand items, Indian jewelry, stuffed animals, and small dolls to name a few.  Fun place to browse.

October 27 - Friday  

It's Kay's 60th birthday.  Garrey invited them over for omelets, toast, and fruits and we gave Kay her gift.  Later we took the road south to Mexico.  

Along the way we stopped in Columbus. NM to see the local Museum.  Then across the street to see the Poncho Villa State Park Museum where we learned a lot about the Mexican Revolution in 1916.  Pancho Villa's attack on the town of Columbus got General Pershing and his U.S. troops involved.  It also had a Jenny 1 aircraft and the General traveled in a touring car through the desert.  The troops never did capture Pancho even though they chased him deep into Mexico.  The state park includes a very nice campground with a lot of cactus plants and different buildings and remembrances of the war. 

The Columbus jail at right was there at the time of the 1916 raid.

We then walked into Mexico at the border crossing to Palomas and stopped to eat a late lunch for Kay's birthday at The Pink Store.  First we went through the gift shop which is separate from the colorful restaurant.  The food was great and they served us a free margarita.  For desert Jerry ordered a surprise flan which was delicious.  There was music all the while we sat there, first a man playing the piano and singing and later a marachi band that came to the table to play Happy Birthday and other songs for Kay.  It was a fun day.

Garrey and Karen washed the truck when we got back from Mexico.

October 28 - Saturday  

We drove to Willcox, AZ where we stayed in an RV park with a pool and hot tub.  

Jerry treated us to a special apple pie from the famous Apple Annie's bakery and we also enjoyed the spa.

October 29 - Sunday

On to Benson, AZ and another park with a spa we enjoyed.  Karen and Kay did laundry and Garrey's brother Jay called to say he's driving through the area and we might see him yet tonight.