Time Zones and Texas

Two days, two states and another time zone. Just when I was just getting used to the first time change we drove right into another one. Alas, this will be the story of the whole trip. Moving from place to place and waiting for my body to catch up.

As we left Arizona it finally felt like the big adventure was really beginning. It’s been great having plenty of time to visit and sight-see in Oregon, California, Arizona & Mexico but we’ve been to all those places several times before and now we’re off to new places. Or, places one or both of us hasn’t been to in enough years that it will seem new and different.

Boot Hill RV Resort

Our first planned destination was White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The topography didn’t change a lot between New Mexico and Arizona but New Mexico seemed a bit less inhabited. When we arrived it was almost closing time at White Sands so we decided it would be best to get settled into the RV Park and go back in the morning. 

Nice, wide, level spaces here!

We stayed at the Boot Hill RV Resort which was reasonably priced, very well laid out and with excellent facilities. The spaces are gravel but very flat and very wide so easy to get into & out of and we only had to put the “feet” down to stabilize the coach a bit.  Our space faced west so once we got situated I was able to sit in the front seat and watch a beautiful desert sunset with a glass of red before beginning dinner. Wish I had a picture of it but I was too busy just enjoying. Oh…and McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch was right across the street. Chris & I got a kick out of their giant pistachio nut. We probably should have stopped for some samples but…maybe next time.

Giant Pistachio Nut

White Sands opened at 9am and by 9:20 we were in the parking lot. The RV took up about 1/3 of the space (well, it seemed that way) so it was good that not many tourists are there during the winter. We wandered through the Visitor’s Center and then took the 8 mile drive through the dunes. White Sands is not actually “sand” but Gypsum that has been ground down by the elements until it is sand-like. It is very powdery to the feel but doesn’t seem to blow around much (although, the dunes supposedly move about 38’ per year). It was quite windy but the only thing blowing around much was us. And it was cold! 

Chilly Sandy!

Chris trying to blend in.

Driving through the dunes, the sand encroached farther and farther on the road until everything was white. I was getting nervous. As an old skier, it was reminiscent of those drives up slick mountain roads. 

Looking like snow covered roads!

Once we stopped to walk around I realized it wasn’t slick at all. Still…being completely surrounded by white would make it pretty easy to get lost. We passed several cars parked along the side of the road where people had gone wandering off into the dunes. I wonder if the park staff goes driving around at the end of the day to gather up all the “adventurers”? I guess that people are allowed to go sledding down the dunes but it would have to be a lot warmer for me to do that.  

White everywhere!

  

After visiting White Sands, we were back on the road again. This time to Ft. Stockton, Texas. We had anticipated about a 6 hour drive but El Paso turned out to be the fly in that ointment. A traffic accident closed the entire highway and traffic was detoured through narrow roads with lots of traffic lights. Since we were obviously going to arrive late we called the RV park to reserve a spot. Liz (manager), with a typical Texas twang, assured me that they had a nice spot for us and she'd be there until 8:00. "You'all drive careful now, Honey, and don't you worry we'll be waiting for you." It was dark by the time we arrived but the space was easy to get into and the hospitality was very nice. The park has a small "restaurant" in the back room of the office which was perfect for a couple of worn out travelers. Chris an excellent dinner of Texas BBQ Ribs & my Chicken Fried Steak was perfect comfort food. The waitress & cook treated us like family and it was a delightful evening. Then we were off to bed so we could get an early start for San Antonio. 

The next day's drive was long but we managed to arrive before dark and the RV park we are in is lovely. Everything is nicely set up and there are plenty of amenities. Besides the pool/hot tub (which it is a bit too chilly to use right now) there is a golf course next door and a bike path along the San Antonio River that goes all the way into town. We also have some pretty wildlife in our little "backyard". 

We will be here for two weeks so should have lots of time for exploring, and there is plenty to see.