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Tag: VV New Mexico

Another Visit to White Sands National Park

Though I visiting White Sands National Monument a few years back, today’s weather would create a very different experience. The desert storms darken the sands and sky, creating dramatic landscapes.  Also because of the weather, I was isolated.  The usual park goer’s with their sand sleds and disks were far Read more…


White Sands Missile Range in the New Mexico Desert 

When I saw that this active military base in New Mexico’s desert welcomes visitors to their museum, I knew I would be checking out the “Birthplace of America’s Missile and Space Activity.” Conducting more than 3,000 missile tests annually, the facility often closes roads to the nearby White Sands National Monument. On Read more…


City of Rocks State Park, Faywood, New Mexico in the Evening

Once I settled in at the City of Rocks State Park campground, an unsettled sky darkened the distance.  Thunderstorms with bolts that illuminated and crackled beautifully but worried me.  I sat them out in the tent wondering if the tent was a careless place to hang out in a thunderstorm.  Read more…


City of Rocks State Park, Faywood, New Mexico

Wanting solitude and wanting stars, I took a couple of flights to reach the City of Rocks State Park campground in New Mexico, not to be mistaken with the City of Rocks in Idaho–which I plan to visit later in the month.  In one of my most favorite states, this Read more…


Travel, Miscellaneous
New Mexico & Texas

Cowboy boots on means it’s time to go to Texas… Just wanted to share my excitement about this Farmer’s Fridge in JFK Airport. The Pineapple Coconut Chia Pudding was what caught my eye. It was a great price for a fresh vegan breakfast. I’m sorry I don’t remember the exact Read more…


Scenes From Roswell, New Mexico

I was happy to get to stay in Roswell again! So much that I bought a shirt. My Motel 6… I went to all the city’s welcome signs Some souvenirs… Ready to hit the International UFO Museum and Research Center It was really well done. A lot of documents. Who Read more…


Hello Stars in New Mexico

With a really big moon shining like the sun blotting out the Milky Way’s galactic core, I was only able to catch some stars briefly before the moon past the horizon. It was a bummer, but the Milky Way season is a long one… and at this early point in Read more…


Back at the Very Large Array

I first visited Very Large Array, a National Radio Astronomy Observatory, in February of 2018. My goal in 2022 was to get better shots of the many radio telescopes at the observatory and appreciate it a bit more since my first visit I kind of went in blind. I also Read more…


Some Albuquerque Vegan Eats

I really didn’t eat a good meal until I got to Albuquerque… Such is the road sometimes. To follow, some good vegan eats, finally. First, The Acre–an eatery I hit years ago while in Albuquerque and I happened to get the same sandwich! I guess I like what I like. Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Sandia’s Crest ⛰️

I don’t mind climbing to the top of a mountain… in a car. And that is where Sandia National Scenic Byway takes you… the Sandia Crest at an altitude of over 10,000. Just a short drive from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the drive offers a view of the entire area. Fun Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Santa Rosa’s Blue Hole

Momentary pause in the exploration of ruins off historic Route 66, this stop–Santa Rosa’s Blue Hole–has offered roadtrippers a retreat from the desert heat for decades. Santa Rosa’s blue hole is exactly how it sounds… it’s blue; it’s a swimming hole. A really deep hole of over 80 feet whose Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 12
Meet Me in Santa Rosa


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 11
Sun ‘N Sand Motel

Santa Rosa’s Sun ‘N Sand Motel is partially collapsed and the remaining rooms are scrapped and their doors remain wide open. Parts of the roof are caved in and at least one wall is wide open to the street. Locals are disturbed about its sad state as it has become Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 10
Ghost Town of Cuervo, New Mexico

Part 10 of abandoned ruins along Route 66 is the almost-ghost town of Cuervo, New Mexico. I learned after I returned to New York that this place had a strange lure. 😬


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 9
Ghost Town of Montoya, New Mexico


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 8
Old Man Wilkerson’s & Trailer
in Newkirk, New Mexico

Every exit of Route 66 brought new ruins to explore. A few were on my radar, but others were exciting discoveries… like this structure I am calling Old Man Wilkerson’s in the near-ghost town Newkirk. Just one of many towns that began when a rails came, but ended when the Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 7
Church on Easter Sunday 🐰

As fate would have it, I just happened upon an abandoned church on Easter Sunday after pulling off Route 66 for some snacks at the gas station. So I went to church…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 6
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Shell Truck Plaza

I could have stayed at this site for hours.. with a gas station, food mart, truck repair shop and large restaurant (named “Restaurant”) to peruse, it had a little something for everyone–and, though stripped and ransacked, not a ton of vandalism. It used to be Shell Truck Plaza along Route Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 5
Tucumcari, New Mexico
Paradise Motel & Cafe


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 4
Tucumcari, New Mexico

The Heart of the Mother Road, I very much enjoyed my stay in Tucumcari, New Mexico. The whole town embraces roadtrip culture as bygone ruins stand next to thriving road establishments in a sort of living museum. Seemingly frozen in time, I was able to book my stay at a Read more…


Spring Break Decay-tion
Off Route 66, Part 3
Tucumcari, New Mexico


Albuquerque: The Really Good Stuff

There’s something about the last day of a trip that lights a fire under your butt.  So with the sunrise, I sought to make the most of my last day in Albuquerque. And that means I start with a good breakfast. Ok, a really good breakfast!  I headed to hotspot Read more…


Santa Fe: The Really Good Stuff

It was a short walk from my hotel to breakfast at Cafe Pascal’s, right on Santa Fe Plaza–the heart of downtown. This is a popular place so centrally located, dressed to the nines in New Mexican flair, and with awesome service.  I had to doorbust so as to not be Read more…


Road Americana (quick pictorial)

I love everything about being on the road. I get to eat everything up, using all my senses.  And things are old and rundown yet ooze life. And there is weirdness, an endless supply of weirdness. Style and colors Textures Color Function Oh and this is just a motel tip Read more…


Cowboys, Donuts, Petroglyphs, Fajitas in New Mexico

Today I heading back north from Roswell, New Mexico towards Albuquerque, I came upon these two cowboys having a squabble across Highway 285.  Now, if I pulled over for everything that piqued my interest on the road, I would never get anywhere!  Colors, textures, abandoned and decaying buildings, old neon Read more…


Roswell, New Mexico

That is me hanging on to the matriarch of this family during a UFO encounter.  Yes, I’m in Roswell, New Mexico.  Being a fan of the strange and unusual, Roswell has been on my list of places to visit for quite some time.  Well I am here now, in a Read more…