Las Cruces, N.M. 10-2-10

We left Carlsbad drove north to Artesia then west over the mountains to White Sands National Monument and then to Las Cruces. All that white sand is amazing, mysterious and peaceful. After our visit we continued on to Las Cruces. We wanted to spend at least one night in Las Cruces and look around. We have heard and read that this is a great retirement community. I liked it, Carol was still undecided. Our RV park was set up on the bluffs west of town and had a gorgeous view over the town the Rio Grande River and the rugged San Andres Mountains. At the RV park Carol got to see her first real live Roadrunner, a cute and interesting bird, symbolic to the state of New Mexico.
We left early the next morning for Albuquerque and just a few miles north of Las Cruces we got to experience our first border patrol vehicle search.....interesting. The agent was very polite and after a short stop we were on our way north on I25.

Pecan tree orchards are scattered all over the Pecos and Rio Grande river valleys in southern New Mexico.

Driving over the Sacamento Mountains, White Sands National Monument in the distance.

 The white sand at White Sands NM.

The border patrol check station on I 25.