A CHRISTMAS FEELING IN THE APACHE PASS

SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS  (to-day's photos were taken through a dirty motorhome windshield driving through the Apache Pass in the Sierra Blanca mountains in New Mexico...sorry about the splooches & bug splotches)

We were happy campers last night when the heavy wind gusts finally subsided around 7.  However, they were back again in the middle of the night & it was the  same old routine......... get up, get the slides in, & try to get back to sleep!!

THE ORGAN MOUNTAINS EAST OF LAS CRUCES...SAN AUGUSTIN PASS IS THE LOW POINT OVER TOP THE SILVER CAR AT LEFT

Well, we sure knew we weren't in the warm southern air of the Phoenix area anymore when we stepped out into the 40 something Fahrenheit temperatures this morning.  Throw in a wind chill factor & it was darn well cold!!   

 

ENTERING THE SIERRA BLANCA MOUNTAINS EAST OF TULAROSA

We had the wheels back on I-10 by 6:15 New Mexico time heading for Las Cruces.  Traffic was light & the early morning sun sat right on my eyeballs.  Last year we made the mistake of thinking it would be better to go through Las Cruces rather than around it.  We were much smarter this year & stayed on I-10 until it connected with I-25.  Picked up highway 70, climbed up Organ mountain & cleared the San Augustin Pass without any problems.

WINTER SCENES IN THE APACHE PASS (click to enlarge)

As soon as we cleared the long grade down into the Tularosa Valley, strong cross winds hassled us all the way across the White Sands Missile Range.  Picked up the Alamogordo by-pass & swung up into the Sierra Blanca mountains at Tularosa.  The morning sunshine we had enjoyed was lost to a heavy cloud cover in the mountains & the temperatures dropped.  Every car coming the other way had snow on it so we knew for sure we would be into some kind of weather.

 

We like this route because the Apache Pass is a reasonably easy way over the mountains & is not unduly hard on the motorhome for long periods of time.  Two years ago we saw snow in the pass on our way home & today we saw even more.  Roads were wet but bare, so no problem.  The landscape reminded me so much of Christmas with pine trees layered in coats of white.  Just east of Ruidoso it began to lightly snow & I had all kinds of Christmas Carols going through my head.  Same thing happened two years ago.

 

Coming down the eastern side of the mountains we could see patches of blue sky ahead in the direction of Roswell.  Didn't last long though & by the time we reached the renowned space alien city on the edge of the great plains country the skies were totally overcast.  Fueled up in Roswell & off we headed for the looooooong journey across the treeless flat tundra.

     

Our goal was Brownfield, Texas because we like to use a free little fairground park there that has a Wifi hotspot.  Sometimes we are the only one's here but not today.  We got the second last spot so there's about a dozen rigs in here.  Sun is back out but it's really cold so I'll be spending my time inside until we roll out early in the morning.

 

EXITING THE EAST SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINS ONTO THE OPEN PLAINS

Had a comment about, 'will I continue to blog once we get home' & the answer to that questions is.....yes!!  Last year when we arrived home I didn't blog for a few days but my blabbering fingers couldn't stay away from the keyboard & I was right back at it again & continued posting every day since then.  Started doing this blogging stuff about September of 07 I think.  If you look back in our archives to last spring, summer, & fall, you will find a blog every single day.  And photos each day as well.  I always manage to come up with things to write & photograph so if the interest is there I will keep the blog going again all summer.  And if it isn't there, I will keep it going anyway.  As mentioned in a previous post, I enjoy doing this blog & it gives me a focus & purpose for myself each day.

 

ROSWELL ALIEN ON A WALL NEAR THE MAIN INTERSECTION AND THE MILES & MILES & MILES OF FLAT COUNTRY WE HAVE TO CROSS

Welcome to our latest blog follower, Rick.  The southwest travel part of the blog may be temporarily coming to an end but hang in there Rick, there's more to come:))

COLEMAN PARK IN BROWNFIELD, TEXAS IS FREE FOR OVERNIGHTER'S.....FREE WIFI TOO:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A man went to his dentist because he feels something wrong in his mouth. The dentist examines him and says, "that new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is eroding. What have you been eating?"
The man replies, "all I can think of is that about four months ago my wife made some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was delicious...Hollandaise sauce. I loved it so much I now put it on everything --- meat, toast, fish, vegetables, everything."
"Well," says the dentist, "that's probably the problem. Hollandaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is highly corrosive. It's eaten away your upper plate. I'll make you a new plate, and this time use chrome." "Why chrome?" asks the patient.
To which the dentist replies, "It's simple. Everyone knows that there's no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!"

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.