We went rockhounding east of Elephant Butte and where we go overlooks the area where they are building the spaceport. This is Spaceport America that Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic is pouring his money into as well as the state and feds. They had the ten thousand foot runway put in -- concrete three feet thick but parts of it didn't pass compression tests. They are busy tearing up the bad concrete and redoing it. They haven't gotten very far on any buildings either but the road to the place is at least paved now.
We are now in Las Cruces, New Mexico which is very close to the White Sands Missile testing area. We went to see the museum they have on the military base there. They have an outside display of old missiles that all were put through their final testing -- being fired -- here at White Sands. The "trinity site" where the first atomic bomb was tested is at the far north section of White Sands.
We are staying in a campground that a couple we worked with in Door County are staying in for the winter. Our former boss/owner of Door County Camping Retreat and his wife surprised us all and showed up at the campground too for a few days. We have eaten some great, inexpensive Mexican food in a little restaurant nearby and enjoyed listening to a 7 piece mariachi band. The band was just some local talent that played for tips but they were very good.
We are saying goodbye to New Mexico on Tuesday and heading to Benson, Arizona.
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