Attractions and other places we visit.
While staying in Las Cruces, we experienced some interesting scenery and weather.
Some nice mountain peaks on the way back from White Sands National Park:
Going out that evening, we saw a partial double rainbow (what does it mean?!):
Sun rays through clouds:
In the desert, it doesn’t rain like we’re used to; when it rains, it pours:
A wash across a road:
More nice mountains:
While in Las Cruces, we visited the nearby White Sands National Park.
This park features the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. Until December 2019 it was a National Monument, and many of the signs have yet to be updated:
White Sands visitor center:
In addition to the park service visitor center shop, there is a commercial gift shop onsite:
We do enjoy the cactus candy:
They have disc-shaped sand sleds for sale (and can buy back); we thought about it, but decided not to bother:
Jenn does enjoy her pressed pennies:
A flowering shrub out front was covered in butterflies, moths, and bees:
The entrance station:
The road between sand dunes:
About halfway the pavement ends, so one is driving on compressed sand:
They have several picnic areas, with lots of shelters:
We parked at one, for a picnic lunch; the shelter didn’t do much to block the strong wind, though:
A selfie:
We climbed the dune behind the shelter:
Shiny gypsum sand; a nice property of it is that it doesn’t get hot:
Sand dunes in all directions:
Other people sledding by the picnic area:
Shadows:
We then went to a boardwalk in an area with more foliage:
An interesting park, somewhat different than the sand dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park, but fascinating in its own way.
We visited the town of Truth or Consequences in New Mexico. A town mostly notable for having renamed itself after a radio show in 1950.
Downtown:
We had lunch at A & B Drive In:
Pigeons nesting in the roof:
An interesting mountain:
Castle-like structure:
We headed up the hill to take a look at Elephant Butte Dam on the Rio Grande river:
The reservoir is rather low at present; here’s a picture of it near capacity for comparison:
We had some chores to do, so went to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and explored a little of the area.
The route from Taos took us along the Rio Grande River gorge:
A hot air balloonist, no doubt on their way to Albuquerque:
We really enjoyed how the adobe buildings blend into the landscaping:
Santa Fe sign:
After our chores, we went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch (with a red hue due to an outdoor canopy):
Cute bill folio:
We went to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, though had neglected to make a reservation, so couldn’t get in:
We then headed to the Chuck Jones gallery:
But they were closed, probably because they were at the Albuquerque balloon fiesta:
Some interesting buildings:
Santa Fe Plaza:
An interesting overpass:
We took a scenic drive back to Taos:
We visited Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado:
Mountains and sand dunes:
The picnic area parking was full of people who had inconsiderately parked there then gone to the dunes, but we found an empty amphitheater as an alternative place to have our picnic lunch:
With a better view of the dunes, anyway:
The visitor center was being renovated:
So they had a temporary visitor center building set up:
Jenn enjoys collecting cancelation stamps:
And smashed pennies (with a couple of fascinated little girls watching her):
The temporary gift shop:
Then we headed out to the sand dunes:
A selfie:
We rented a couple of sand sleds from the KOA RV park:
Sand dunes:
Jenn:
Sand dunes:
Jenn preparing to slide:
Me with a sand sled:
Jenn waxing her sand sled:
Selfie:
A video of Jenn sliding down a sand dune, and wiping out at the end:
Sandy Jenn:
Kite:
Beard in the wind:
Grasses and rainy mountains:
Log and dunes:
The dunes with the stream in the foreground:
Impressive sand dunes, and a fun experience.
We visited Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, a natural landmark with interesting rock formations.
It rained a bit while we were in the visitor center, but stopped soon after we got back to our car:
An interesting tour vehicle:
Rocks:
Tradong post:
We visited Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs. It has some interesting twisty roads, a cog railway, and a view that apparently inspired the “America the Beautiful” anthem.
The Pikes Peak Highway entrance:
Entrance station, which has a timed entry window:
Viewpoint:
Big Foot Crossing:
Crossing an empty dam, that is being updated:
Gift shop:
Big Foot:
“America’s Mountain”:
Historic Glen-Cove Inn:
Which contains a gift shop:
And café:
We got lunch from the café, eating outside:
View:
Continuing up the mountain:
A stop for a walk up a peak:
Further up, a view of some lakes:
At the summit, a cog railway car arriving:
Cog rails and a nice view:
The view inspired the “America the Beautiful” anthem:
The summit visitor center:
Café:
We tried the famous high-altitude doughnuts:
Of course, another gift shop:
Info displays:
Outside again:
The remains of the first summit house:
The visitor center:
A selfie by a cog rail car:
Another cog railway car arriving:
View:
Heading down the mountain, using manual gear to avoid using the brakes other than on corners (and not even then for several):
The winding road and views:
Fun switchbacks:
Timberline:
A mandatory brake check, where they used a heat sensor to tell people to let their brakes cool down if they were riding them down the hill, as these people in front of us were. Our brakes were 111°, which is within the normal range for flat driving, excellent for mountain driving:
We visited Rocky Mountain National Park again, checking out different areas.
Starting with the Fall River Visitor Center:
Entrance sign:
Rocky Mountains:
Again we stopped at a picturesque picnic area for lunch:
Onward:
Holzwarth Historic Site:
A ranger memorial at the Kawuneeche Visitor Center:
Cancelation stamp:
A relief map:
We visited Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado:
In the Beaver Meadows visitor center, a relief map:
A line to get into the park, which was using a two-hour window timed entry system:
We headed along Bear Lake Road, and stopped for a picnic by a creek:
Rocky Mountains:
Another stop at Sprague Lake:
Fish in the stream:
Sprague Lake:
An accessible campsite:
We enjoy winding dirt roads… so headed up the one-way Old Fall River Road:
The dirt road ends at the Alpine Visitor Center:
Alpine Visitor Center:
Elk:
Outside the park, more elk on the side of the road:
We also saw a moose:
We took a day trip drive though Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming.
We started by going to Sheridan to get our second COVID boosters, then went west along US-14 though the forest (zoom in on the map; some fun twisties there). Then looped anticlockwise around to US-20, -31, and -16, passing through the forest again. Here’s an interactive route map:
Bighorn National Forest sign:
Viewpoint:
There were geologic signs for the rock formations:
Nice views:
We stopped at the Cabin Creek Picnic Area to use the vault toilet there; there is a nice rest area a little further on, but I suspected (based on research) that it would be closed, and it was, so good thing we stopped here:
More views:
Greybull:
We got a real Utah vibe from this area west of the forest:
Ten Sleep, population 246:
Brake check turnout:
Sharp curves ahead:
7% downgrade:
Did we mention sharp curives?
We wanted to travel this route in part because we may be driving our coach this way next year, heading from Yellowstone to Devils Tower. It’s rather steep, with about 5,000 feet of elevation gain then loss, but I think we can handle it; we’ve driven much worse.
An interesting runaway truck ramp:
Back in Buffalo, some sculptures:
We went to Southside Grill for dinner:
Buffalo mural:
Buffalo museum:
