New Mexico

We experienced the heaviest winds so far traveling to Carlsbad Cavern area in New Mexico. Gusts up to 65 mph. Not fun driving, that's for sure. After we parked the trailer in an RV park, we drove through lots of dust to get to the Caverns. No wind in the caverns, though. They were absolutely awesome. It was sacred space, for sure. With the low lights and magnificent "decorations" (as the stalagtites and stalagmites and other formations are called), I kept feeling I was truly in a sanctuary. The photos I've added don't begin to do justice to the caverns.

The wind died down during the night. But rather than stop at the caverns again the next day, our original plan, we ended up discovering we had a broken spring under our trailer axle. The wheels had shifted and it was touch and go whether we could drive the 120 miles to El Paso, or whether we would break down and do severe damage to the trailer on the way. Luckily we made it, with John driving 50 mph through the desert. We were directed to a place that made and installed two new springs under the trailer, and they got us right in. We were afraid that since it was a Friday afternoon, we would be stuck for the weekend. Boy did it feel good to get back on the road, feeling safe once again.

Although John was too focused to enjoy it, the Guadalupe Mountains and old stage coach road along the way through the desert were quite interesting. We've lost the mountains and sea, certainly, as we now enter the Desert Southwest where we'll be for the next month or so.

We're now on our way to Tucson to spend time with Larry and George, who moved from Santa Rosa last January.