New Mexico

The drive through New Mexico was long and dry. The sun was hot and relentless. We both decided right away that New Mexico is not the state for us! After a night at a rest stop (and waking up to watch the news about Japan on the rest area TV), we headed to a small town called Holman to visit friends Daniel and Rebekah. It was nice to see a couple setting up their life together after moving out to an unfamiliar state simply because they both desired to be there (sort of like how we will be). After delicious pancakes and coffee, we went for a short hike just behind their backyard. It was a steep and pretty, like most of the land around them. Later in the day, they showed us the yarn mill and weaving center where they work, and then we departed with a lovely gift of home-baked bread and sweet honey.
On our third night in New Mexico, we turned off of Route 40 and headed toward some beautiful rocks on the Continental Divide Rd. We drove toward what we thought was uninhabited grazing land, but were surprised to find small pockets of houses nestled in between the desert scrub. What a gorgeous view they wake up to every morning! Here we were grateful for the 4-wheel drive as we drove up to our incredible camping site. In the morning, we went for a walk/jog/scramble, investigating, but soon learned that the rock there is dry, crumbly, and incredibly unstable! We returned to the campsite via road, and got in the car determined to make it out of New Mexico by the afternoon!