Eric's 2014 New Mexico Trip
I visited my parents on September 13. I flew to El Paso, TX, where my parents picked me up from the airport. I would start my journey back home, with a rental car, on September 22. Each day of my trip is listed below.
Saturday, September 13
After picking me up from the El Paso, TX, airport, we went to Wyler Tramway State Park, which is near the El Paso airport. The tramway is a 940 vertical climb to the top of Ranger Peak. The view includes over 7,000 square miles range spanning three states and two nations.
Afterwards, we headed to my parents' home, in La Luz, and called it a day.
Afterwards, we headed to my parents' home, in La Luz, and called it a day.
Sunday, September 14
Other than going to church, we didn't do much. I did snap some photos of some of the changes that they made outside their house since our last visit in 2011. A copper horse and road runner were among the additions.
Monday, September 15
We went to White Sands National Monument, which is 275 square miles of white gypsum sand. Located in the Tularosa Basin.
Tuesday, September 16
A visit to the Pink Store, located in Polomas, Mexico. It's about a three hour trip. We shopped and ate there.
Wednesday, September 17
We headed back to the El Paso, TX area to Hueco Tanks, which is an area of low mountains in El Paso County, Texas. A ranger gave us a tour of the area. I had to do some minor mountain climbing on this tour; mom and dad stayed behind for that part of the trek.
After Hueco Tanks, we went to Magoffin Home in El Paso. Built in 1875 by pioneer Joesph Magoffin. He became a successful businessman and politician and was involved in promoting and organizing street railways and public utilities. He was elected mayor of El Paso four times.
Thursday, September 18
Travel day. Today is the day we take the RV from mom & dad's to Albuquerque. It was about a 4-hour trip. We stayed at a mobile home / RV park.
After getting situated at the RV park, we went to Old Town Albuquerque. Not much there but an old church and shops.
Friday, September 19
We went to "The Sky City" in Acoma Pueblo, which is just off of I-40 (old 66) between Grants and Albuquerque. The city is built atop a 400 foot high rock. The oldest continuously-inhabited city in North America.
Old Route 66 bridge: On our way back to Albuquerque we stopped at the Rio Puerco Bridge. It may be hard to tell in the photos but it is hard to believe that two lanes of traffic could fit on that bridge.
We went to the balloon museum in Albuquerque when we got back. The museum was within a couple of miles of the RV park.
Saturday, September 20
Traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico's state capital. Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in the United States.
Sunday, September 21
Packed up the RV and headed back to mom & dad's in La Luz.
Monday, September 22
Today was the day that I would begin my trek back to Wisconsin. Dad took me to the Alomogordo airport to get the rental car. After having lunch, I was on my way. I did get off the main highway (I-40) to travel on Route 66 through Tucumcari, NM. I did snap a few photos of relics from the old highway from the car. I stopped for the evening at the Cactus Inn, in McLean, TX, after traveling 400 miles.
Tuesday, September 23
This was Liberty Bell 7 Day. After getting situated in the motel the previous evening, I came up with the idea that this would be my chance to see the Liberty Bell 7 space capsule, which was in a museum somewhere in Kansas. I called mom & dad and they gave me the info as to its location, Hutchinson, Kansas. So I made the six-hour trek. To my dismay, the space capsule was out on loan to Berlin. I toured the museum anyway.
Astronaut Gus Grissom, on July 21, 1961, was the second man to orbit the earth. Liberty Bell 7 was his spacecraft. The mission went as planned until the the capsule's escape hatch accidently discharged after the capsule landed in the ocean, allowing it to fill with water and sink to the bottom of the Atlantic. The capsule was recovered from the ocean floor 38 years later in 1999.
After leaving the museum, I got onto I-70, heading toward St Louis. I stopped for the evening in Topeka, KS.
Astronaut Gus Grissom, on July 21, 1961, was the second man to orbit the earth. Liberty Bell 7 was his spacecraft. The mission went as planned until the the capsule's escape hatch accidently discharged after the capsule landed in the ocean, allowing it to fill with water and sink to the bottom of the Atlantic. The capsule was recovered from the ocean floor 38 years later in 1999.
After leaving the museum, I got onto I-70, heading toward St Louis. I stopped for the evening in Topeka, KS.
Wednesday, September 24
Today I would head to St Louis, MO, to visit the Gateway Arch. I toured the underground museum (below the arch) and also rode the trolley inside the arch to the top of the arch.
Thursday, September 25
After stopping outside Springfield, IL, on I-55 the previous night, I would complete my journey home today. But first I would make a couple of stops. One was at the Dixie Cafe in McLean, IL, which is considered to be the first truck stop. The second was in DeKalb, IL. We lived in DeKalb for a couple of years in the early-mid 1970s. I took pictures of where dad's hardware store was located and of the house we lived in.
