We left a little bit later than planned but all went well. It was a cool and overcast day most of the time. The up-side of that was no sun in our eyes, the downside was we both realized we have packed for an Arizona summer! We are both hoping that we have cold weather gear in Germany. Like idiots we assumed that we would remember what we had left there last year.
The route was busy but the traffic moved well. Lots of large trucks and enormous trains paralleling our route. The rest stop in LasCruces was exceptional and has been awarded “winning rest stop”. I have no idea what they one but the site is graced with a very large metal roadrunner made from salvaged metal and tools. It sits on a ridge and looks over the Las Cruces valley.
El Paso was something else. CONSTRUCTION everywhere! How people live there I don’t know. There was clearly lots of irrigation supporting orchards (pecans and stone fruits) no wonder the Rio Grande is dry when it gets to Mexico.
Once we left El Paso behind us the countryside became monumental. The overcast light added to the drama of the place. There were mountain ranges to the north and south. The landscape appeared a little greener than our local desert in green Valley. I did see a lot of Ocotillo and yucca plants.
Life on my Own Terms 