Welcome Race Fans

In about a month the winter weather should be starting to clear to the north. For now we'll leave this lovely spot around Safford, Arizona and move on to New Mexico. The White Sands of New Mexico and Roswell have our curiosity. Our friends from 2008 Albuquerque balloon fiesta have a RV lot in eastern New Mexico, we make plans to see them also. Our first night from Safford is spent in Las Cruces, our host, Wal Mart. Jerry and Mary Ann are traveling with us, we made good time today, tomorrow we'll be stopping to sight see.

For us a good start in the morning is by 9am, the day is clear and cool and travel is easy, scenery through San Agustin Pass is great. We top the pass at 5720ft and the whole White Sands valley is spread out before us. A Highway Patrol officer pulls past and just ahead stops and blocks the road. All traffic both directions are roadblocked. We are stopped at the west edge of the White Sands Missile Range for MISSILE TESTING! They assured us the delay wouldn't be to long, we were unloading with cameras, binoculars, snacks and didn't care anyhow. We couldn't believe our timing, the tractor trailer driver ahead of us said it happens all the time. This would upset his schedule.

We asked the officer if there was anything to see and he showed us an arc with his arm in the downrange area of the landscape. 30 minutes later a group was gathering toward the front of the roadblock with every ones eyes looking downrange, waiting. Our hearts (and feet) leaped with the blast and roar of surface to air missiles right BEHIND us. In shocking rapid succession about eight missiles were fired directly opposite of where we were looking. I had just put down the camera, once I picked it up again they stopped. I think I saw a little grin on the officers face as he started letting traffic through when the all clear came. It was interesting and fun, with a great view of the valley for miles.

At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a valley ringed with mountains. Rising from the heart of this basin are the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Brilliant, white and covering almost 300 square miles, this is the highest concentration of gypsum dune field in the world. The area is so brilliant we've put on our sun glasses just to enjoy it. The geological wonders that formed this valley are still at work. It's own Eco system has produced adaptations in plant and wildlife on the dunes. The entrance station to the White Sands National Monument and visitors center offers insight about the environment, but the wonder of the park is just outside on the loop driving tour. The White sands National Monument and the City of Alamogordo offer field seminars to explore the history and archaeology of the white ands. A snack in the R/Vs at the parking lot and were on the road again. Cloudcroft is ahead and has earned it name.

We'll leave the Alamogordo area and turn east on to US82. At this point we slowly climb 5000 feet in 16 miles to almost 9000 feet total. One of New Mexico's scenic highways to the town of Cloudcroft. Two hours ago we were in shirtsleeves at the White Sands National Monument and now we put on our coats and walk in SNOW to a restaurant for a late lunch. A typical small town, one paved main street, one traffic light. School is just letting out and almost no traffic. We still have a ways to go before we reach the Escapees Co-Op park where Roy and Cathy are. The drive down from the Sacramento Mountains is beautiful, snow in the forest and woods blends into ranches and farms as we approach Artesia, New Mexico. "The Ranch" RV park is just below Artesia and we don't arrive until 6 pm. this is the latest we've driven in a long time but is was a great day. It's good to see old friends again.

After a couple of days rest and we catch up on housekeeping. Then there's time to check out the local attractions. We go back to Artesia to see the fabulous sculptures we caught a glimpse of coming in. There's a car show in town this weekend, its time for a day trip and lunch in town. The sculptures are sensational. Monumental bronze castings with detail and authenticity unequaled anywhere. The bronzes represent Artesia's cattle and petroleum industry and the development of the area.

The quality of the antiques, street rods, and custom cars are great. More than you would expect for a small town show. Entries from Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, fill the field. One of the organisers is local resident and businessman Mike Deans. We meet Mike when I inquire about the price of a Phoenix Nascar race weekend package he has for sale. Linda and I take advantage of the tickets and will go back to Phoenix, Arizona in 10 days. Trips to Roswell and Carlsbad Caverns are planed soon.

The city of Roswell, New Mexico is a great day trip from The Ranch. The locals have embraced the notoriety of a perceived cover up by the government. Main street is littered with souvenir shops, museums and alien encounters. The real economy is petroleum, farming and ranching with a little tourism overflowing on to down town and main street. We enjoyed the UFO museum and research center, and even more the Roswell Museum and Art Center, with fabulous exhibits.

"The Roswell Incident" occurred back in the late 1940's, now in 2010 interest is strong as ever. It was ignored and almost forgotten until the middle 70's when UFO interest and Star Trek popularity was sweeping the country. In the beginning, reports of crash debris were found on a ranch near Roswell. Statements from the Air Force claimed weather balloon pieces were found not a flying disc. For 30 years it was forgotten until an interview, by physicist and ufologist in 1978, of a retired Major involved in the recovery of the debris. His belief that the military had "covered up" the recovery of an alien flying saucer sparked intense media interest. Additional reports and witnesses accounts emerged including the stories of the Roswell Army Air Field seeking information on youth sized caskets and handling of bodies exposed to the elements. These witness accounts have sense produced books and gained international attention.

When our group started making plans to go to Carlsbad Caverns I didn't have my heart set on it. Linda and I took our boys there 35 years ago, I thought I remembered. Only an hour south of our camp, and a pretty day, I went along, to breakfast, and then over to the caverns, and was overwhelmed. The beauty of the caves is like nothing I remembered. With improvements in paths, railings, theater lighting, and opening of new areas of the caverns was wonderful. Every turn to a new chamber or room was beautiful. Jerry, Mary Ann, Linda and I had a fabulous time and stayed underground almost three hours. 35 years ago it seemed damp, dark and trickling noises everywhere, now with better ventilation and changes in moisture seeping into to caverns, it was very enjoyable. We strolled along till well after lunch, then went to the surface for a snack in the restaurant. Soon it's time to leave our friends in New Mexico. We say goodbye to Jerry and Mary Ann, they're returning to Grand Rapids. Roy and Cathy travel in Europe this summer and it's time for Linda and I to head to Phoenix.

Leaving New Mexico, we drop down into west Texas over the Guadalupe Mountains, and head west to El Paso to pick up I-10. We start mid morning and have an easy drive over Guadalupe pass at 5,288 feet. This afternoon is beautiful and it's time for lunch at a roadside rest stop. We notice the wind is picking up a little. By mid afternoon high wind condition warnings have been posted, and it's uncomfortable driving with a crosswind. When we reach El Paso and are on I-10, even the tractor trailers have slowed down to our speed (45-50) and we are trying to stay out of each others lanes. Then it gets worse, the dust picks up. We're in a full blown (no pun intended) DUST STORM on I-10. Visibility drops to a quarter mile and we need a place to stop for the night and get out of the dust. I'm wondering if this little detour to the races in Phoenix was such a good idea? Were low on fuel and finally spot a Flying J truck stop, even at this low speed we barely have time to make the off ramp. Linda goes inside to pay while I fuel up. I'm sheltered by the RV while it takes a forever to pump 90 plus gallons of diesel. Dust is still blowing under the coach and everything I touch has static electricity flying. The wind is gusting to 60mph plus. We dash back inside the coach looking for a place to ride out the dust and wind, just across the street is a gravel vacant lot on a bluff overlooking I-10. There is no dust in this lot and the bluff shapes the gusts over the roof, we settle in for a long night. Sleep finally comes and when we wake in the morning were surrounded by other coaches, 5th wheels, and travel trailers also seeking a port in the storm. Leaving New Mexico a few days early will give us time on the way to Phoenix to stop in Casa Grande and clean house, dust is everywhere. It takes hours to vacuum the cracks and crevasses and clean up the mess. Next were off to Phoenix for the Nascar race.

We've found our RV spot at the Phoenix International Raceway, which is really 25 miles west of Phoenix. An easy drive from the Casa Grande RV park where we've stayed before. Next to us are Mike and Judy Deans from Artesia, New Mexico. Long time fans of Nascar, they come with all their favorite race gear, life size cutouts, pennants, and flags. We're all set up to enjoy the next four days. Thursday, practice, qualifying and a night race of the Nascar West drivers. This was a good show, 35 cars, a lot of action and only about half finished. Friday is Nationwide practice, Sprint Cup practice, qualifying for both, and the Nationwide race on Friday night. A busy day, lots of action on and off track, around the haulers and souvenir trailers.

We spend most of our time in the infield checking out the nonstop action in the garage area. Cars are moving on and off track during practice, drivers are moving between garages with autograph seekers in tow. On Friday, Linda has her 1984 Rick Mears Indy winner jacket autographed by his nephew Casey Mears. Friday and Saturday races are great. The ceremony, flyovers, network TV, the Speed channel, and race day excitement make the experience worthwhile. We take our time Sunday pulling up stakes and working our way back to Tucson.

For the next few weeks things slow down a little bit (finally). Don and Jill Jacques from Jacksonville, Fl. make their way to Tucson for a RV owners rally. We've traveled with them the last two summers, on and off. It's great to see them again. Some things still left to do in the area are the Sonora Desert Museum and Kitt Peak Observatory. On a beautiful Sunday morning the four of us take a trip to the summit of Kitt Peak. One of those fabulous days, the sun is warm, almost no wind, even our tour guide is impressed with the day at 7000 feet. The view is great, we can see for miles. We are spellbound in a 1 1/2 hour talk with a basic introduction about observatory's for public use and a tour to one of the 25 history making telescopes at this site. This has been a premier location for astronomers from all over the world. As May approaches the weather is warming. It's hot in Tucson (low 80s) and cool to the north. Don and Jill need warranty repairs and have doctors visits, Linda and I will go on ahead to explore Prescott and Sedona, more soon....Skip and Linda