white sands national monument, new mexico

when i left rob's, i drove north for many miles through the base. the wind from the side was stiff. sand storms kicked up in the distance, and at times i drove right thru them.

tumbleweed blew across the highway too. if i had my normal camera, i could have shown the 3-ft diameter one that i dodged.  ha!  i was told that sometimes the local highways are closed due to missile testing in the area. i didn't see or hear tests, but i did see (and hear) a number of funky swift aircraft overhead.

white sands national monument was spectacular. it's soooo white! the paved roadway ends a few miles into the dunes and the last few miles is just compacted sand to drive on. with the road being sand, the dunes being sand, and the wind making even the air to be full of sand, it made it so that everything was white! had it not been so windy, i might have gone on the 8 mile loop hiking path.

the white sand dunes are within the missile testing area so they warn guests not to pick up any objects to avoid getting accidentally blown up.  i wonder if i'm allowed to post this picture.  i suspect the varied-length ruler is the most dangerous item because it is shown so many times.

some people bring sled-type things to slide down the dunes. the dunes didn't seem high enough for that to be lots of fun, but i didn't try it so i can't really say.

i didn't stick around the dunes too long because the sand was blowing relentlessly at my van.  i also didn't walk outside too long because the sand was blasting me relentlessly too.  the wind was so strong that i thought it was going to rip the phone from my hand when taking this photo.

picnic anyone?  want a sandwich?

visitor center.

i headed toward carlsbad, new mexico as my next destination.  i went over a mountain pass that was made of more turny highways.

van shadow.