Alamogordo & White Sands NM

It's a glorious cloud free day as we wake up in the morning. After a quick breakfast we leave the RV park for a day of exploring.  Our first stop is across the street to McGinn's Pistachio Tree Ranch & Arena Blanca Winery. I love their giant pistachio statue and simply MUST have some shots of it.

We then drive a short way over to New Mexico Museum of Space History. This museum covers the early work of scientists which helped pave the way for launching humans into space.

Giant pistachio

NM Museum of Space History

Flags marking entrance

Before we go in we check out the large exhibits outside.

Missile

NASA space capsule

We get a kick out of talking to each using the Whisper Dish which uses a parabolic dish to capture our voices even though we are far apart. We marvel at the Sonic Wind No. 1 rocket sled ridden by John Paul Stapp to test the effects of rapid acceleration/deceleration of over 30 g (30 x the weight of Earth gravity) on the human body (as in blasting into space or returning to Earth).

Whisper Dish

Peering into a jet engine

Sonic Wind rocket sled

Once inside, we get a laugh out of the humorous signage used in the museum.

Uh... can I get a copy of this one for our RV?

Cute former space man

The exhibits contain materials from very early space explorations.

Replica of Sputnik 1

Apollo Lunar Sample kit for collecting moon rocks

Cira 1950's drone

John Paul Stapp fastest man alive

V2 Rocket gyroscope used for navigation

Space toilet How does it work?

After the museum we leave for White Sands National Monument. Along the road, we pass the entrance to the White Sands Missile Range. Seeing how they stop traffic for an hour during tests, we are happy no missile launches are currently in process. We've been to this area before as the dazzling white sands are mesmerizing. On our first trip over 20 years ago, we arrived just in time for a spectacular sunset complete with brilliant shades of oranges and flamingo pinks all reflected on the sand dunes. Just as the sun was setting, a large bus pulled up next to us in the parking lot. Out filed a long line of Japanese tourists with fancy cameras. Everyone was so awestruck that the only sound heard was of clicking cameras. Sigh - I didn't even have one with me on that trip. The photo that got way haunts me to this day.

Entrance to White Sands Missile Range

WS National Monument

WS Visitors Center

The fine white sand easily drifts over the park roadways. So much so, the staff are constantly "sand plowing" the roads creating a a surrealist scene. Then sure enough, a Magic Bus (psychedelic bus from the '60's)  appears on cue. For some strange reason we were both expecting it.
To top this visit off, we arrive on Monday April 20 or 420, a major counterculture holiday. We spot several groups of college students in the dunes, probably skipping classes from New Mexico State University in Alamogordo and having a high time. Our celebration turns out to be more down-to-earth as we stop for lunch at one of the covered picnic tables.

College students in high spirits

Our van at White Sands

Me celebrating lunch

After a late lunch we drive west on Hwy 70 and then I-10 until we turn off at Lordsburg to Faywood Hot Springs.

Hwy 70 westward

Peacocks at a gas stop

Turn off to Faywood

This hot springs is a favorite stop for us and we're interested in seeing how it's changed since the last time we were at Faywood three years ago. First off, we notice their prices have increased, but then again just about everything gets more expensive as time goes by. Then we start noticing several major improvements including the updated Community Center.

Campsite

Community Center

Cheers!

After a nice hot soak in the pools, we wander around the grounds as the sun is setting.

Barrel cactus

Now that's a spiky plant

Moon rise

Sun setting by the hot water towers at Faywood Hot Springs