FED across the U.S.
Whites City RV park in New Mexico to Davis Mountains State Park, Texas: 221 miles
Since we're traveling in an RV, state park campgrounds with electric hookups are preferred. Whites City does not have a state park, so we had to settle for the Best Western RV park. Definitely NOT recommended. Unclean and dilapidated restrooms and shower facilities, as well as unkempt grounds. But it sits at the entrance to Carlsbad Caverns.
And I can definitely recommend Carlsbad Caverns. Since the 1920's, the national park service has done an amazing job of designing and engineering a 3-mile tour of the caverns. The tour can be shortened by taking a 75-story elevator down to the "Big Room," which is recommended for those who don't want to take the strenuous route. You really miss out on the whole cavern experience if you take the short cut, however. Everyone has to take the elevator up, however, because the stainless steel-railed walkways are one way.
I took a lot of pics, all without a flash because the Carlsbad Caverns is large and absorbs such light. Without a flash in a dark environment means you have to hold the camera as still as possible (didn't want to take the time to work with a tripod) while the camera takes longer to catch the image. Consequently, I had a lot of blurred images, but I did manage to take some 'still' ones as well.
Other pics at Carlsbad Caverns...
Then we headed south on Highway 62/180, crossed into Texas and stopped at the visitor center to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Within the park is Guadalupe Peak at 8,749 feet, the highest point in Texas.
Driving south on Highway 54, we encountered our first rain of the trip before stopping in Van Horn on Interstate 10 to fill up with diesel AND update this website parked behind the Desert Inn that was advertising wifi on the main street through town.
Then it was back on Interstate 10 for about 40 miles before heading south on scenic Highway 17 to stay the night at Davis Mountains State Park... recommended...
Oh, and can't see everything.. wanted to stop in Roswell, NM, but time was a factor. So I did the next best thing...