January 26, 2015. Good-bye, Texas! Hello, New Mexico!

CAMPGROUND:  Leasburg Dam State Park. Electricity and water, although all sites were filled.  We had to dry camp. On ridge, with beautiful views. Regular sites have individual adobe picnic shelters. 5 stars. $8/night. Regular sites are $14.

LOCATION:  Near Las Cruces, New Mexico, in south central part of state.

WEATHER:  Pleasant. High around 60

Once the water pipes thawed, we left Hueco Tanks park in west Texas and headed north.  We drove through the outskirts of El Paso.  It's hard to believe it is the USA, and not Mexico.  All the signs are in Spanish.  Lors of Mexican restaurants like this one...

.  We dove about 75 miles to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.   It was really interesting.  We took the 8-mile "scenic drive" into the dunes.  After about a mile, the dreaded "Pavement Ends" sign appeared.  The road turned into a matted sand path, like driving on the beach.  Guess who was driving!!

It really is beautiful.  It had snowed a few days ago, and the white snow mixed with the off-white sand.

People can rent sleds here to play in the sand.  George threw a sand/snowball.

The White Sands Missile Range/Proving Grounds is here, too, and we could hear and see jets around us.  The area outside the monument is desolate....making for a good place to shoot missiles, I guess.

We drove on through Las Cruces, stopping at a brewpub for a beer.

Then to this state park.  We took a 2-mile hike to the Rio Grande that runs through here.  Unfortunately all the sites with amenities were full, so we dry-camped, meaning no electricity or water.  Not a big problem, as our water tank was full, and we can use propane for cooking and heating.

DINNER:  I made a recipe that Rachael Ray did on a show featuring healthy eating.  It was a pretty good stew made with potatoes, onions, green beans, and tomatoes.  I jazzed it up with herbs and jalapeños.