Day 12, Wednesday, June 14 - Las Cruces to Canyon (TX)

This was to be the longest day of the trip, an estimated 391 miles.  We started late because we wanted to avoid the backup at the road closing for a White Sands Missile range test shot, scheduled for 8-9 AM.  I miscalculated, so we were indeed stuck in several lines of cars parked at the top of San Augustin Pass leading to the Tularosa Basin.  While waiting, we got a good view of the back side of the Organ Mountains, and assisted minimally in helping some other folks to change a tire for a lady stuck in the line - my contribution was the tire gauge that showed just how low her tire was.

So, now two hours late, we changed some plans.  When we got to Roswell, we skipped the museum(s) we'd planned to visit and just ate our last green chile sauce.  Then off through the looong lonely to Portales & Clovis.  Texas, on the other hand, was well populated with towns and their economic engine - cattle.  Hereford claims to be the World Beef Capital, and I'd guess they'd be in the running.  Happy is home of the Happy State Bank.  Friona's HS sports teams are the Chiefs and Squaws - not much for PC there.

Speed limits in Texas are 75 mph and I ran close to it, so we got to the Canyon HIE at 6:20 PM, had dinner at Feldman's Diner, came back to the hotel getting ready to crash.  Tomorrow it's the Washita Nat'l Battlefield (or massacre, if you prefer) and a stay at Weatherford.  We'll be on the home stretch!

For the day - 372 miles, 2069 for the trip.