2008 New Mexico Trip
Created by Eric
I visited my parents in New Mexico. Left homeThursday, September 11, 2008 and returned Monday, September 22, 2008. Below is a day-by-day log of the trip. Traveled by car.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Left home in Wisconsin and proceeded through Illinois and Missouri. The highlights of the day included traveling on old Route 66 (I am somewhat nostalgic) and driving through St. Louis, MO. It rained most of the trip - remnants from Hurricane Ike. Stopped for the night in Joplin, MO.
St. Louis, MO
Took pictures of the Arch and of Busch Stadium while passing through St. Louis
Friday, September 12, 2008
Continued the journey along old Route 66, passing through Oklahoma, Texas, and arriving in New Mexico. The highlights for the day were visiting the memorial of the Oklahoma City bombing in Oklahoma City, OK, and the Route 66 museum in Clinton, OK. Stopped for the night in Santa Rosa, NM. That's were I would turn off of the highway and head south, towards my parents.
Oklahoma City memorial
Arrived at the memorial at approximately 1:00 pm. The memorial includes a museum and an outdoor memorial to the victims. Walked through the outdoor memorial; an impressive and moving sight. It is probably more impressive at night. Some pictures are posted below.
The pictures on the top row: 1). A chain link fence that lines the memorial. 2). Field of empty chairs - each represent a victim. 3). Gates of time - 9:01 one minute before destruction.
The pictures on the bottom row: 1 & 2). Monument at church across the street. 3). One of the two Gates of Time that frame the moment of destruction - 9:02 a.m.
Route 66 Museum, Clinton, OK
Stopped at the museum while driving along the old highway.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Left Santa Rosa, NM, and made the final 3-hours of the trek to my parents. What I remember most about that day, besides arriving at my parents, was the scenery along the way. Finally arrived at around noon. I cannot remember what I did for the rest of the day. Undoubtedly took it easy.
The scenery
The way the clouds were hanging over the mountains that Saturday morning made for an awesome sight. Two of the pictures are posted below.
Mom & Dad's house
A very nice house. Not only is the house nice, but you can see mountains if you go out either the back door or front door.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
We went to Church in the morning and to White Sands in the late afternoon/early evening.
White Sands
White Sands National Monument. The scenery made me feel like I was back in Wisconsin in the middle of January, after a snowstorm. The five pictures below were taken at White Sands
Monday, September 15, 2008
Trip to Roswell. Visited UFO museum while mom & dad stayed outside with Oscar. The museum was OK but not what I expected.
After Roswell, we went to Bottomless Lake State Park.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
We went to Mexico. After we left Mexico, we went to Columbus, NM.
Stacks of rocks (Cairns)
While on our way to Mexico, we noticed stacks of rocks along the highway. Mom & Dad told us that they are known as cairns. Illegal aliens put them there and are used to mark paths. Dad pulled over to the side of the road to take the pictures below.
Mexico
After we crossed the border, I posed in front of a statue of Pancho Villa (more about him later). Then we went to The Pink Store, which is a restaurant and store. One of mom & dad's friends met us there and joined us for lunch. After we ate, we shopped.
Columbus, NM
We visited the Visitor/Education Center at Pancho Villa State Park. Columbus is where Mexican troops, led by Pancho Villa, attacked in 1916. This is the last time the continental U.S. was attacked (until September 11). Took the picture below (left) in the Visitor/Education Center. The picture on the right is Pancho Villa himself.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
We went to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a several-hour trip and took all day, but it was well worth it.
Carlsbad Caverns
I scanned the post cards that I bought and posted them below. The one picture that is posted below is called "The Boob"
Thursday, September 18, 2008
We went to Lincoln, NM, which is where Billy the Kid (pictured below) pulled some of his shenanigans (killing people).
Friday, September 19, 2008
We visited the Three Rivers petroglyphs
Three Rivers petroglyph.
Between A.D. 900 and A.D. 1400 over 5000 petroglyphs were carved into the basalt rock of the Upper Tularosa Valley by the people of the ancient Mongollon culture.
The trail that we hiked through was 1 mile long, round trip. The path was pretty rugged in spots - I'm glad nobody got hurt. Also, rattlesnakes are known to be in the area, but we didn't see any. Took several pictures of the petroglyphs. Three of them are posted below.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Today is the day to start the journey back home. But first we would go back to White Sands to watch the hot air balloon launch.
Hot air balloon launch at White Sands
Approximately 15 - 20 balloons launched from White Sands.
Took many pictures. I posted some of them below.
Journey back home
Decided to take a different route back home. This time would go from NM and pass through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and, finally, Wisconsin.
Wanted to call it a day after making it through Denver, CO, but couldn't find a motel. It was almost midnight when one was found, in Morgantown, CO. Was getting a little tired by then. Had traveled 650 miles, and that was after getting started in late morning/early afternoon.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
I wanted to get started early and find a hotel by 5:00, in order to get a bite to eat and get settled by 7:00. That was when that Packer game started. Made a stop in Gothenburg, Nebraska, at the original Pony Express station. Otherwise, spent the day in the car - all of it on Interstate 80 in Colorado, Nebraska, and, finally, Iowa. Traveled just over 500 miles.
Pony Express Station, Gothenburg, Nebraska
The station was, I would guess, 500 sq. ft. It was full of mementos and pictures. I purchased a post card, which I scanned and posted below. Also snapped a couple of pictures.
Wind Farms
On the trip - both there and back - saw several wind farms. I can remember seeing them in Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Came upon the wind farm pictured below on Sunday. It was right next to the highway (I-80). I think it was in Nebraska (Nebraska and Iowa looked the same).
Monday, September 22, 2008
Finally made it home. Did stop and see the freedom rock in Adair, Iowa, and also visited daughter Amy at her house in Waukesha, Wisconsin, before getting home.
Freedom Rock
I had found out about this 12-ft tall, 55-ton rock from an email that someone had sent me a few years ago. The artist honors veterans by painting the boulder before Memorial Day. He has done that every year since 1999. As you can see by the pictures, his work is quite impressive. For more pictures, check out his website: bubbazartwork.com
