12th Day: White Sands

This morning it is overcast and cooler, and it feels good. So I could never live in this part of the country. For several weeks now, temperatures in Arizona and New Mexico have been well above 30°C. That is definitely too much for me. Without air conditioning. In the car and room, it's barely bearable. And so, despite getting up early, this morning feels good.

I drive back a few miles to then turn west. I am only about 800 km away from Phoenix. That may sound far for German standards, but here it's a short ride.

As you gain altitude, the desert quickly turns into a forest landscape. Despite its arid climate, New Mexico has a harsh winter with lots of snow in many parts of the state. However, unlike Wyoming, there is no sign of that here.

After 100 km, the landscape becomes more barren again, and the sun beats down on the earth as usual when I arrive at my destination, the White Sands National Park. I've been here once before a few years ago - a unique natural spectacle. The white sand looks exactly like snow, and sometimes you catch yourself thinking you need to skid. The bright ground reflects the heat a little higher. It's relatively quiet here, and those who have taken a seat at the numerous picnic tables are happy about the shade they provide.

After 2 hours, my heat level has reached its peak, and I hit the road again. Since it is still relatively early, I don't take the interstate as suggested by Google Maps, but the country road. Just behind Las Cruces, pecan tree plantations appear on the right and left, which I don't know at all. The same tree all the way, one after the other for 30 km.

My app finally informs me that they are pecan trees. A nut that I don't like at all. I have no idea why, I find them disgusting. However, you can't see any fruits on the trees yet.

The drive continues through Hatch, a center of the local chili industry. The fruits are sold in every supermarket here, and at around €1.20 per pound, they are also very cheap. New Mexico is proud of its green chilies, and you can get chili sauces here from dozens of manufacturers.

It's unbearably hot when I arrive in Deming and first visit Walmart. I'm not really hungry, so I buy two salad bowls. And plenty of drinks. It's pleasantly cool in the supermarket itself, in Germany it would probably go bankrupt after two months due to energy prices.

Cass welcomes me at the Butterfield Stage Motel from 1959 - which is an absolute rarity. So far, all owners or employees at the motels on my trip have been immigrants. The room is stunning and huge. The largest so far on the entire journey. With a lot of attention to detail, it looks much better inside than outside. I'm glad to have ended up here. A perfect accommodation for a road trip.