Las Cruces, New Mexico

February 16-23, 2014

 

Hacienda RV Resort

 

On the way....a blimp....in the middle of nowhere.  Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arriving in Hacienda.....nice park; long enough sites.  Upon arrival, some mix-up, were we staying one night?  No, we have a one WEEK reservation.  Yet, we are sited in the part of the park, which seems to be the majority of the park, that is overnight stops.  I can't tell you how many rigs we have seen come and go this week; certainly not enough time to get to know anyone, but certainly enough time to meet those who change our sights for future sites!!!!!



Spent a day traveling another endless road, yet now in New Mexico, to White Sands National Monument (why it's called "monument" rather than national "park" is beyond our understanding....but the fact that our national park pass "passes" is all we care about!!  White Sands is located in the Tularosa Basin...it is one of the world's great natural wonders...the glistening white sands of New Mexico.

 

 

 

 



The sun was blinding on the sand.

 

Felt like riding the dunes of Cape Cod

 

Felt a lot like the dunes of the National Seashore on Cape Cod, but a bit more white! However, these dunes are ever changing...the prevailing winds slowly, but relentlessly, cover everything in their path.  We saw how they plow the roadways to keep them accessible to public traffic.  And traveling back home on Route 70, saw fences to stop the "sand" from intruding onto the roadway!

How did these sands develop in the middle of the desert?  Hey, not going into that 'cause it boggles my mind....just know that the fact that these sand dunes are found here, in the middle of a desert, is a phenomenon of itself....pretty amazing!!!



 The best:

Not to be missed!!

 

We spent another day exploring Historic Old Mesilla ("Little Tableland"), the most visited historical community in Southern New Mexico.   First stop was the Basilica of San Albino, which was graciously opened by "the man with the key" when a few of us descended on the locale.  What a quaint, welcoming and beautiful chapel. 

 

Followed by a walk-thru of the shops around Old Mesilla Square which produced shopowners from Maine and Cape Cod and fellow-tourists from South Dakota.  Spent many hours trading "travel-talk" with these fellow homelanders and travelers!!!

 

We also spent a wonderful, tiring day at Red Hawk Golf Course....mostly wonderful!  We haven't spent as much time golfing as we would like; sometimes because of weather; sometimes because of stiff backs or whatever....but the was a truly enjoyable course that would bring us back in a heartbeat...thanks to starter Roger, you made our day!

 

 

 

We enjoyed a couple of dinners out this week. We went to La Posta, a Mexican restaurant in Mesilla.  A lot of atmosphere, but I think I'm done with Mexican restaurants for awhile.  That's almost all you can find through Texas.

 

 

 

And, the best...St. Clair Winery and Bistro also in Mesilla.  I had a chicken marsala that melted in my mouth and their 2012 Zinfindal is out of this world.  Thanks Jean Fry for the recommendation and Roberta Menicucci for the endorsement. 

 

Note the way-too-short haircut!
 

We leave New Mexico tomorrow to travel to a favorite from the past....Tucson.  Looking forward to meeting up again with Jean and Jim Fry who we met here on our first journey to Arizona!