15th day - 25.02.2022

Even without the barking of dogs, I still wake up too early. But that's not because of the motel - the room is great. It's more because my internal clock is still not completely adjusted. Too many time zones in a short time. I take the opportunity to write my blog this morning. Sometimes I just don't feel like it in the evening.

The breakfast here is significantly better than in El Cajon. There is a waffle baking machine and everything is somehow nicer and more caring. However, they have the same hard-boiled eggs in the fridge as in San Diego. It seems to be a trick of Days Inn. Anyway, I can do without it. But there is peanut butter. And everything is well stocked too.

At 9:30 am, I set off and drive out of this large city. It takes about fifteen minutes. The road leads through a pass between two large rocks, and after that, it becomes truly incredible. It opens up a plain that I have never seen before. You could almost think you have a 360° panorama in front of you. Unfortunately, you can only stop further down to take pictures of this view.

The 70 takes me directly to White Sands National Park. Admission is somewhat pricey at $25, but the internet doesn't seem to be working somehow. In any case, the young woman at the cash register gives me my card back and says online doesn't work. I won't know if I don't have to pay until I get the bill. But the park is worth $25 three times over.

This is by far the whitest sand I have ever seen in my life. It is so surreal that it looks like snow. On one of the planked paths that have been laid out so that you don't have to walk in the sand, I meet Mark and Debbie from Kansas. They use the time every year to escape the terrible weather at home. Mark says that it is currently -10° and they are snowed in.

After a short small talk, I continue on the loop, which leads about 5 km into this sand desert. Despite several visits, it is still incredibly peaceful and quiet here. Some children use the dunes and go sledding. You can see individuals walking around in the dunes, and they look like small black shadows in this white splendor.

After 2 hours, which were actually not planned that long, I drive out again. Richer with an incredible experience. The 70 briefly merges into the 54 before turning right onto the 82. The destination is the Lincoln National Forest, and you quickly gain altitude. It goes up over 2600 m, Las Cruces is just 1200 m above sea level. Over time, the temperature becomes significantly cooler and there is a lot of snow. I turn onto the 130 at Cloudcroft, and it slowly goes downhill again. The snow becomes less and less and makes room for numerous ranches that are located here. Finally, I reach the 82 again and the forest ends and the vegetation becomes shrubby again. At the same time, the plains become larger again.

After a few kilometers past Mayhill, the bushes get smaller and I drive through an endless prairie landscape. You can see on both sides to the horizon. Together with the blue sky, it is a unique sight. The traffic is absolutely minimal. You can stand in the middle of the road and admire the spectacle. Road, horizon, and landscape form a large plain bordered by a radiant blue sky. You really can't paint it any better.

In Artesia, turn right onto the 285, and the prairie is now spoiled by numerous small oil pumps. They look like aliens as they repeatedly bend their noses down and then straighten up again. It's not particularly romantic.

After a short time, I arrive in Carlsbad, my domicile for tonight. The model is a collection of containers that have relatively small rooms. Bani from India, who warmly welcomes me, is very friendly. And the rooms are really sufficient, although I miss a nightstand. But that's the only flaw. Otherwise, it's totally clean and there's a burrito for breakfast.

The internet doesn't work here either, and my hostess says there's some cable cut. Well, there's nothing you can do about it. At least I still have network here. I visit the local Walmart and on the way back, I see the Guadalupe mountain brewery company and stop in for a quick beer. The place is quite crowded even though it's only 6:00 p.m. But everyone here leaves much earlier. When I leave at 7:00 p.m., half of them are already gone and numerous tables are empty.