We will be pulling out of Las Cruces tomorrow and heading for Ft. Stockton, TX. We originally planned to spend a week in Ft. Stockton, but came to a decision that we would rather spend more time closer to San Antonio where it is so rich with history. We'll only be in Ft. Stockton for 2 nights then will spend 12 days at Hidden Valley near San Antonio.
If you ever decide to RV near Las Cruces, I would recommend Sunny Acres. The location is very near to town so it makes getting to places a lot less time-consuming. Also, despite the fact that there are busy roads on either side, it's very quiet. Our favorite place near Las Cruces is the small town of Mesilla that is only 2 miles from our location. It still has the old-world western feeling to it but with a lot of quaint shops. It is also very dog friendly.
Our friends, Momi and Bob recommended that we take a hike called "Dripping Springs" located in the Organ Mountains about 14 miles outside the city limits. We drove most of the way there when we got stopped by a ranger who told us that Dripping Springs is the only location in the area that doesn't allow dogs. Boo. He did tell us about some other trails in the area that did so we ended up at Sierra Vista Trail. We had the trail all to ourselves and Bear got to run freely. There were a lot of wild flowers in bloom. I've already posted some of these on Facebook.
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| Cactus bloom |
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| Wild Flowers |
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| Happy Dog! |
On our drive back to town after the hike, we came across a resident with an incredible commitment to our country and our troops. I wish I could have captured the setting better. It was very moving. In the center of the sand it says "Freedom is not Free". The plaque on the right says "Patriots Welcome". The sign on the left with the kneeling soldier says "God Bless Our Troops". In the background is a huge Bald Eagle. There were other metal sculptures of soldiers around the property. It was a very moving experience just to be able to take a picture and appreciate this person's commitment. The flags that are flying: American Flag, New Mexico flag and an MIA flag.
So, our time has come to move on for new ventures ahead.
God bless America!
