Driving to New Mexico

(Photo by Elizabeth)

(Karen) We got back to Austin from North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon and had a great time visiting with friends who were staying in our house. We packed up and left on our trip around noon on Thursday. Our first day of driving was West through Texas and then North to New Mexico ending at Carlsbad Cavern; the 9 hour trip flew by. We saw a huge change in the scenery and vegetation. Trees went from 30 feet down to 2 feet as we drove further into the desert.

Elizabeth, who is 4, was particularly excited to see the “aminals” along the way. We decided to keep a running log of wildlife (in order of appearance)

• Horse
• Goat
• Cow
• Javalina (small, black, bristly pig)
• Deer

We have been so excited about our camper, it looks so cool and retro and we’ve had fun showing it to people… now the rubber hits the road, and as we drove things kept falling off of it! First a taillight cover was missing, then the rubber weather stripping that runs down the sides kept coming off. We had to keep stopping to re-attach it. Duct tape truly is exceptionally useful.

There really are very few people out here. We would drive for miles without seeing another car. And a hundred miles without seeing a house. So in Austin I drive my car with the fuel light on all the time… not such a good idea out here. Scott’s car give you an estimate of how many miles you can go on the gas you have in the tank and when it gets too low it just says “low”. We were on “low” for quite a while until we thankfully found a gas station.

It was great to get to our campsite and set up for the night. Elizabeth says the stars and “fantastic” and I can see why people in the past were so captivated by them.

Mr. Davis, you are in our prayers.