After leaving Las Cruces, New Mexico, we headed northeast, stopping in Alamagordo for a day of sightseeing. First on the list was the White Sands Missle Base. We had to park in a lot outside the base and walk inside, went through the check-in process, and spent a couple of hours looking at displays outside, as well as the museum inside. It brought back memories of disaster drills when we were kids in school during the 1950’s.
Outside display of missles, small planes and other assorted military items.
You can see the haze in the air from the White Sands dunes.
Then we headed for the White Sands National Monument. We stopped at the Visitor Center first, to ask if it would be safe to drive through with our motorhome and tow behind, and they said we shouldn’t have a problem making the loop. Couldn’t believe how white the sand was; it looked just like snow.
Road into the Dunes the sand was piled so high by the wind in places that it looked like gigantic snow drifts.
We headed for the Space Museum in Alamagordo next, spending several hours there and at the IMAX theatre next door. The theater was showing a documentary about the Hubbel Satellite which we found very interesting. By the time we got finished we were ready to call it a day. Both of us were very tired from all the walking we had done. We stopped for one night only at a very small RV park attached to the Sands Hotel, in Carrizozo, NM. We didn’t even take the time to unhook the Jeep, as neither one of us had the energy by that time.
The next morning, we headed east, and were able to drive over parts of Route 66 through several small towns. We stopped at Tucumcari, which has quite a few of the old buildings left. Sadly, many are abandoned or in very poor condition. We did see several which are being restored, or have been altered for new businesses. We stayed in Tucumcari for several days at an RV park with a Route 66 motel in the process of being restored. Joan saw an eye doctor there as she was still having occasional irritation and dryness in her left eye; the doctor prescribed a steroid eye drop and an ointment for night-time. By the time we left, her eye was doing much better.
On the way out of New Mexico, we stopped at a truck stop for a break; Russel’s Travel Center at Endee, New Mexico right before crossing into Texas. This is this best truck stop we have ever seen; not only do they have the usual truck stop services, but there is a free Route 66 Museum that rivals many of the museums charging fees. There is also a Diner, a chapel, and a fully stocked convenience store and gift shop. While in the museum we met the owner’s son, and he told us about his father and his collection of Route 66 items and vintage automobiles.
Entrance from inside the truck stop to the Museum
Many vintage cars, most from the 50’s and 60’s.
Western and Wild West memorabilia
Many Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and other stars were represented.
Living in a Motorhome 