White Sands National Monument - 24 August 2003
The next morning I left Lincoln, listening to Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix. Between Lincoln
and Capitan there was some guy selling cow hides and heads out of his pickup on the side of the
road. I thought it was odd. In Ruidoso, there is a store called Mountain Men, selling hides and
antlers. Even my room in Lincoln had a pair of antlers. I guess cow hides and antlers and such
things are supposed to be decorative. I personally don't think they are. I'm very sure the animals
don't think they are either. Also around Lincoln and Capitan is the Smoky Bear National Forest. I
didn't see Smoky but I did see lots of wooden bears.
Anyway I headed back through Ruidoso and then through the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Of
course, I saw Casino Apache but I did not stop. I pass through the outskirts of Alamogordo and then
onto White Sands. It's pretty amazing coming down from the high area of Ruidoso, down through
Mescalero and Bent on Highway 70 just before reaching Tularosa and looking out over White Sands. It
is a very broad expanse of white. Startling, I know. On the way into the park I was listening to a
CD by Jai Uttal. Right when entering he was doing his version of "Calling You" which I originally
heard in the movie Bagdad Cafe. I believe it's by Bob Telson. Anyway, there's some lyrics about a
desert road and it seemed appropriate. Of course the desert road it is talking about is someplace
near Vegas.
On the way out I guess I must have been going over the speed limit. The park Ranger flashed
his lights at me.
