Day 3, Monday June 5, Liberal to Las Vegas

Left Liberal on US-54 about 7:30, bought gas & ice in Guymon, and headed for New Mexico on US-64, with stops at Boise City and Clayton.  Our real sight-seeing destination was Capulin Volcano National Monument.  After a visit with the ranger, we headed up the road to the summit.

The volcano provides lots of good views of neighboring landforms - craters, lava flows, other extinct volcanoes, etc.  This was the greenest we've ever seen the surrounding grasslands.

On the way out, we saw a couple of horse grazing near a long-abandoned house.  Meanwhile, thunderheads were building on the horizon.

We stopped at a welcome center in Raton, where we discovered our favorite restaurant (El Matador) is closed on Mondays.  They recommended Casa Lemus, where the green chile enchiladas were excellent.  On I-25 south toward Las Vegas (the one w/o all the lights) and the Holiday Inn Express there.  About Wagon Mound, the storms on the horizon decided to visit the hiway, giving us around 10 miles of intermittent rain, hail & winds.

Dinner at Charles Bakery & Cafe - the green chile was very hot, but I finished my stew.  Sandra had a bit more trouble w/ her stuffed sopapilla (green).  Did the laundry & ready for the scenic route to Taos tomorrow.

354 miles for the day, 1002 for the trip.