New Mexico to Texas

Today we traveled from Deming, New Mexico to Van Horn, Texas-a total of 220 miles compared to 290 the day before passing through some mountains, wind and road construction that slowed us down a bit.  Perhaps we were feeling a little tired also from the past several days as both Jim and I were ready to stop at a KOA campgrounds in Van Horn when the opportunity presented itself.  

After leaving Deming the drive to Las Cruces, New Mexico was relatively short through high desert and flat countryside until we descended into the very green valley where Las Cruces sits below some very tall and jagged mountains.  One of the interesting businesses we passed here was  called AKS - Alaska Structures with the billing of being the “world’s largest manufacturer of fabric military shelters, tents and commercial applications" with stockpile depots strategically located for 24 Hr. response worldwide!  Here we passed over the Rio Grande River which was really more like a meandering stream.  I wonder if it has more water when the snow melts in the nearby San Andres Mountains or mountains further north?  We passed southerly of White Sands National Monument which will be an interesting return visit when we are not working and on a time schedule.

Pecan tree orchards along Interstate 10.

We also saw rows of pecan trees which were planted the opposite of cotton in the bottom of furrows rather than along the top of ridges plowed into the soil.  They were actually flooding these furrows to water the trees.   Las Cruces has feed lot after feed lot of black and white dairy cows along Interstate 10.  I actually saw a live camel at one of the dairy farm stores here.  Maybe he is an attraction to get people to stop in but I could not see much of the place passing by at 65 mph to report more to you.

One of multiple feedlots we passed in Las Cruces.

Before lunch we traveled through El Paso, TX billed as the “All American City.”  The Hoover Company is situated here along with a huge building labeled “Helen of Troy.”  I looked the latter up on the web curious about what it is and it turns out to be the manufacturer and purveyor of hair and beauty products.  We also passed a manufacturer called American Talc which is North America's largest supplier of ceramic talc used in making ceramics, plastics, paint, roofing and composite wood products.  

Jim tried a new feature on the RV today dealing with the wind that actually makes holding onto the steering wheel to keep the coach within the lane easier.  Today he said he felt more at ease driving it also.  I suppose that it is like riding a bicycle-you just don’t forget once you learn.  Today we have owned the coach for one week, but it seems much longer than that for some reason!  

We passed into the Central Time zone just before arriving at Van Horn, TX.  Jim fixed the kitchen sink tonight.  Yippee!  We ended the night with a thunderstorm and hail the size of small marbles.  How exciting as we rarely saw rain in Arizona.

Thunder, rain and hail ended our day in Van Horn, Texas.

Snoopy's corner:  I am always finding something to explore in the coach and make Mom and Dad laugh a lot.