Left El Paso, TX 8:00AM Mountain Time. With stops in White Sands, NM and Las Cruces, NM. Final destination Elephant Butte, NM approx. 5:00PM Mountain Time. Approx. 260 miles.
The day began in El Paso - a depressing slum city (sorry if any followers think otherwise). Naturally, our first move was to head as close to the El Paso (USA) / Juarez (Mexico) boarder.
Be sure to pay special attention to a shirtless Mr. Franklin with an American flag knit belt. True American.
After the border we drove to the rumored mythical white sand. We, however, were diverted by spectacular 9,000 ft. peaks. The Organ Mountains outside Las Cruces. They presented our first glimpse of the epic mountains of the West.
We piled back and headed east to White Sands, NM. Again, we were diverted. This time by a force neither awe inspiring or particularly effective: the US government. As we approached as border patrol check-point we got nervous because of Davis' lack of ID. He doesn't look too much like a Mexican, but Bureaucracy can be a pain in the ass so you never know. Fortunately, the agents just asked us if we were American citizens, we replied in the affirmative and were quickly on our way.
White Sands New Mexico was one of the most epic places any of us have ever been. The ground was covered in Gypsum powder, whiter than snow, for thousands of acres. Words can't describe it and these pictures barely do it justice. Basically if you are reading this blog White Sands New Mexico should be on your bucket list.
It was nearly impossible to find a non-fast food place to eat in the sub-urban sprawl of Las Cruces. What exactly it is sprawling from...I don't know. Fortunately we found a a decent Italian Restaurant where we landed some free non-McDonald's ice coffee for the road.
After driving through the town of Truth or Consequences, NM we reached our destination for the night, Elephant Butte State Park located next to a pretty big reservoir created by a dam on the Rio Grande. The lady at the check in station gave us two rules to follow, build your fire close to the water, and don't get stuck in the sand. Within five minutes of entering Davis, of course, got his beloved Honda stuck. Fortunately for us rural New Mexico is full of some of the friendliest people you will ever meet and a guy came along instantly in a pick-up and pull us out.
Camping by the lake was a blast. We cooked some bratwursts over an open fire, watched a thunderstorm over the lake from our tent, and chilled by the fire after the storm passed.
Over the night however our tent was put to the test by a some pretty severe winds and it was hard to sleep with the coyotes howling immediately outside our tent, eating the remains of one of the bratwursts and sniffing for empty beer bottles.
Day 6
Left Elephant Butte, NM 8:00AM Mountain Time. With stop in Albuquerque, NM. Final destination Santa Fe, NM approx. 2:00PM Mountain Time. Approx. 250 miles
The next morning we packed up our things, took a brief dip in the Rio Grand and headed out for Santa Fe by way of Old Town Albuquerque, where we had our best meal since we picked up Davis in Houston at a joint that specialized in quesadillas, fresh chips and french fries. Doobin got some raspberry chipotle sauce that we all would have gone back through the Texas windstorm for.
Davis had heard a lot about Santa Fe from his parents and had high expectations, so far they have been fulfilled. The weather seems ideal, it's at about 7000 feet elevation (perfect for running), it's one of the hippiest/ crunchiest places we've ever been, and they sell green tea soda for 55 cents a can. We've decided as a group that the overall chill vibe, passion for the arts, and enthusiasm for the outdoors makes this place the ideal living environment for one Michael Shiplet.
And of course we can't forget about our hot tub interactions with two beautiful ladies studying medicine at Texas Tech, Marie and Candace. During our stirring conversation they determined that Rob does in fact have traces of a southern accent, Doobin reminds them of someone famous from TV, and that Davis not only looks Jewish, but apparently also looks like half the male med students at Texas Tech. They also managed to have him admit his affinity for communism.
We will be out in the sticks for the next couple days, staying in Rob's aunt Kaaren's cabin outside of Taos, NM and then camping out in Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado.
peace and love
The Three Dudes
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