Two days off work to explore the area around Las Cruces

As soon as we finished work on Saturday, we head up I-25 to Hatch, The Chile Capital of the World. Sparkys Diner on the one street through town, has the world famous Green Chile Cheeseburger.
Not being a burger and bun person, I went along for the ride to see Dave enjoy the biggest burger he has eaten. Juice dripping from his wrists and a moist brow from the heat of the salsa led me to believe he thoroughly enjoyed the experience!  Needless to say, I did have a bite or two and had to admit,it was worth the 30 minute ride.
We head down the 185 to return close to Las Cruces. This was a country road through pecan orchards and pepper fields . We ended up at  Leasburg State Park and in the morning had a tour of Fort Seldon... what a history, glad I wasn't a soldiers wife in those days. Douglas Macarthur spent his early years there.

From there we went to White Sands National Monument, another Wow! You would think from the photos that these were snow drifts but not so.... gypsum for 275 square miles!!!

Not sure why the Colonel  is in Hatch

Visitor center at Fort Seldon

world famous Sparkys

here it is!!

One reason I would not want to be a woman at Fort Seldon

White sands National Monument

Good grief, these photos are all out of order!

No, it is not snow!

Animals of the White Sands area

Fort Seldon, MaArthurs home in ruins

adobe oven/stove

Ruins at Fort Seldon. When they abandoned the fort, they took the roof and doors for the next fort and now the wind and rain have eroded the adobe structures.

The wind came up when we were at White Sands National Monument, 100 kms from home, and poor old Herbie had a tough time bucking the wind on the way back. I think he has sand in his air filter as he refused to change gears on the last big hills, we limped home and have an  appointment in the morning for a check-up. Poor guy!