flying snow angel

El Paso was planed as our next leg. Instead we opted for Las Cruces. We drove through some high mountains up to over 8.500 feet high. The wind had picked up, if that was possible (up to 60 mi./hr locals told us) Going over 50 mph was mostly impossible. Sometimes it was so bad that we slowed up going downhill. At the steeper mountains (6%) "Moorly" was struggling really bad and we rather crawled than drove with often not going more than 25 mph. But, we've made it. Very nice scenery, but I have to say, it was a rather intense drive. We crossed the continental divide and we totally missed, that we have crossed another time zone.

Coming down the last mountains, from far away we could already see the White Sands Monument. At the entrance it said it's a approx. 16 mile "round-trip". We decided to gas up before doing that. So, we headed back. Our trusty TomTom (GPS) piloted us to the next gas station. Which was inside an Air force base. Yup, that's right. By the time we've noticed it, we were already in front of the gate. It was an "oh-shit-moment". Well, one guy, full uniform, guns at the ready, came running towards us and cleared the cones in order to make room on another drive in lane for our "big rig" and the apparent "big wig" trying to get on base.  Tell you what; with Rupert's credentials.....we got in. Honestly. But guess what, no diesel was to be had on that base.

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And the German flag was flying to honor...well...me. Duh?

Further back into town we finally gassed up and off we went to the White Sands Monument. At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain-ringed valley. Rising from the heart of the basin is one of the world's great natural wonders. The white glistening sands of New Mexico. What a sight.

Great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of desert and created the largest gypsum dune field in the world.

So no, not a snow, but a sand angel

Roughly 50 more miles to Tucson, AZ. Arriving at the RV-Park - another mishap. We have lost the access cover for the fridge (outside). The fridge was (is) giving us some headaches. Rupert was constantly checking if it was working. At the last control check he must have closed only one latch. The wind must have ripped it out of it's hinges. Oh, well...


Ta-ta