Time is flying by....
We've been to some very interesting places in the past week!

We are interested in the city of Las Cruces, NM, so we rented a car and spent some time looking at parts of the city as possible places to perhaps live in eventually.
We also visited a very nice little part of Las Cruces, the old city of  Mesilla.  Wandered around and looked in little shops.  Click here to read about Mesilla.

We visited White Sands National Monument in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico. It's known for its dramatic landscape of rare white gypsum sand dunes. There was a raised Interdune Boardwalk with interpretive exhibits on wildlife and other features. We drove on the Dunes Drive looping from the White Sands Visitor Center to the dune field.

Click here for more pix

About halfway between Silver City and Deming is City of Rocks State Park.
"City of Rocks gets its name from the incredible volcanic rock formations found here. The park encompasses a one square mile area in the scenic Chihuahuan desert region of southwestern New Mexico at an elevation of 5,200 feet. The “city” is a geologic formation made up of large, sculptured rock columns, or pinnacles, rising as high as 40 feet and separated by paths or lanes resembling city streets. These rocks were formed about 34.9 million years ago when a very large volcano erupted. Then, erosion over millions of years slowly formed the sculptured columns seen today, creating a stunning, otherworldly landscape."

Our RV is in this photo.  See it??

"Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is a U.S. National Monument created to protect Mogollon cliff dwellings in the Gila Wilderness on the headwaters of the Gila River in southwest New Mexico. The 533-acre national monument was established by President Theodore Roosevelt through executive proclamation on November 16, 1907."

After a short hike, we were treated to an amazing view inside the primitive community that lived here for only one generation.

Anybody know what this is?

Tomorrow we'll explore Arizona around the Tucson area.

Thus far, this trip has been all we expected and more.  We're relaxed, we're learning and experiencing new things, and we feel blessed to be able to travel with our home on our backs.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Just before dawn we made out way to the balloon launching field. We stumbled onto the field by the hundreds and were able to watch the balloon teams setting up in real time.  Until just before launch, we were able to stand right next to the baskets with their propane tanks ready to go.  Testing the burners, the balloonists intermittently lit the area with bursts of light and warmth.
When it was time for the balloon to fill with hot air, a team member would scoot everyone away from the basket and the flat shape of the balloon on the ground.  Once the balloon was inflated, it coasted along the grass for a few steps and then lifted into the air.  On the ground, everyone cheered noisily each time a new balloon took off.
The first few balloons rose in the dark, with the dawn just breaking behind them.  Soon the sky was light and hundreds of hot air balloons crowded the sky.  All different shapes, sizes, and colors.
An amazing process to witness.