Day Three Blog

         It was cold again this morning, but traffic was light heading into El Paso, Texas.  Unfortunately we didn’t set off any car alarms at the Holiday Inn, but we did meet a tour bus from Minnesota, and everyone seemed fascinated about our trip.

         Once we got through the city we headed northeast to go back into New Mexico via Highway 62, a two lane which was beautiful.  Always nice to be off the interstates.   The roads are really nice once you get out of California.  Mike was interrogated at a border patrol stop, and we were able to proceed once the guy became convinced we weren’t transporting illegals in the saddlebags.   Or, it had something to do with Mike’s full face protector, who knows.  Later, we started to bypass a small, run down store with fuel, when we did the math and realized it would be a close call to get to the Carlsbad Caverns … and after having watched “Wild Hogs” we elected to gas up.  A bunch of turkeys decided they didn’t care for Harleys and started after us once we fired up again. 

         We arrived at the Caverns just after 2 am, which meant we missed the walk-in tour, but we still could go down via the 75 story elevator built back in the 1930’s.  Mike asked the elevator attendant if they ever change the cables, and when she said “no”, the other tourists in the car became a bit nervous.  The caverns were incredible … the cave rooms were the size of a large auditorium.  A nice diversion from the long hauls.  We encountered the same people from the tour bus back in Deming.

         We’re staying in motel just outside the park and it’s Mikes turn for the rollaway.  It is in such sorry shape he ended up pulling the mattress off the rollaway and it’s on the floor.  I’m glad my turn was yesterday.

Only a 270 mile day, easy going.  Tomorrow, a long haul deep into the heart of Texas.

Dave