I departed Las Cruces around 8:30 a.m.
Headed east on Highway 70.
San Agustin Pass
Stopped at San Augustin Pass, with its turnout, where I'd turned in so often in past crossings.
Irony observed:
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| San Agustin Pass, New Mexico. Mattresses abandoned. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
The missile and the so-lovely Organ Mountains:
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| San Agustin Pass, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
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| San Agustin Pass, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
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| San Agustin Pass, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
White Sands National Monument
Stopped at White Sands National Monument. I had a mission: To buy a piece of jewelry in the gift store.
Mission accomplished:
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| Lapiz pendant from White Sands National Monument, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
Tularosa
Upon arriving at Alamogordo, I hung a left, where Highways 70 and 54 run together for awhile. I stopped in Tularosa at Del Sol Tularosa Southwest. Mission: Buy a pendant there. I bought two:
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| Pendants bought in Tularosa, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
I had bought a spectacular piece there some years ago. At least I'm pretty confident it was there.
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| Comet moon pueblo pendant by "RV". New Mexico. |
Not long after Tularosa, I hung a right onto where Highway 70 splits from 54 and moves into the mountains. Ruidoso was next on my list.
Before Ruidoso, I swung by the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero. Just for some beauty.The grand entrance art installation of the Ga'an Crown Dancers is magnificent.
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| Ga'an Crown Dancers art installation, Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
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| Ga'an Crown Dancers art installation, Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
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| Ga'an Crown Dancers art installation, Inn of the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, New Mexico. August 2021. Credit: Mzuriana. |
Ruidoso
Traffic congestion. Creeping along roadway.
Oh right, this is why I don't position myself in a tourist town.
Mission 1: See about buying another pendant. FAIL. Too difficult to find parking.
Mission 2: See if Ruidoso might be a future temporary residence. SUCCESS. Struck Ruidoso off my list. Not only because of the seasonal congestion, but because rents are probably high, as property owners more likely to earn more from tourists than long-term renters. So long-term rent likely to be higher than I could afford.
Where I landed for the night
I powered through the rest of New Mexico (with a quick dip into Allison Canyon), through Plains, Texas, and slid into a Budget Inn around 11:30 p.m. in Brownfield, Texas.
A long day.
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