Our original plan was to leave this morning but after some research Ron found a couple of places for us to investigate. So, I packed a lunch and we were off to our first destination the White Sands Missile Range about 22 miles east of Las Crusas.
The museum and missile park is located inside the entrance to the White Sands Missile Range an active military test range that is the largest overland test range in the US established in 1945. Hence we had to go through a security check point requiring us show our ID and sign papers before we entered.
We were going to drive in but then our car would have been subject to an intense search so we opted to walk in since it would be less of a hassle.
White Sands is where the world entered the Atomic Age when the first atomic bomb was tested at the trinity site on July 16, 1945. Then in 1949, the world entered the Space Age when Bumper, an early two-stage rocket (V-2/WAC corporal) roared beyond earth’s atmosphere. Then in 1950, Bumper went on to become the first missile launched from Cape Canaveral.
Ron was all excited to see that there was a restored V-2 missile housed in the first building we entered.
Ron spent a lot of time admiring the restored rocket and gave me a history lesson on its origin (Germany) and later uses by the USA.
Then it was on to the Missile Park where there were more then 50 rockets and missiles on display that were once tested on the missile range. It includes the huge Redstone, the Nike family of missiles that were located all over the country including not to far from where we live in Rehoboth.
It is amazing to see the advancement in weaponry , but makes one feel saddened to think that we live in a world with so much fear that we have to develop bigger and better weapons of mass destruction to protect ourselves.
We toured the museum and watched a short video on the first testing of the atomic bomb on the trinity site and also more info on the V-2.
White Sands was also used as an alternative landing spot for the Space Shuttle and Columbia landed here in 1982.
Here at White Sands they continue to test the most advanced technologies. In fact, they are closing down the facility to tourists tomorrow for rocket testing purposes. Did I mention that the missile range covers 3,200 square miles????
After completing our tour we headed down to the White Sands National Monument where gypsum forms enormous dunes. We entered the park but not before being stopped at a check point by Border Patrol to check to see if we were US citizens.
At the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert lies a mountain ringer valley, the Tularosa Basin. One of the great natural wonders rises from the basin –the pure white sands of New Mexico. Enormous wave –like dunes of gypsum have engulfed 275 square miles of the desert creating the largest dune field in the world.
How did this get here???? The rain and snow in the mountains dissolve gypsum from the rocks and carries it into the basin. Usually rivers would carry dissolved gypsum to the sea but since there are no rivers to drain the basin the gypsum and other sediments are trapped in the basin. The winds then carry the gypsum forming the dunes.
It is amazing to see these dunes in a land-locked area. Ron and I kept expecting to see ocean on the other side of the dunes even though we knew there is none.
There is a 16 mile round trip road that is well packed down to get a closer look at the dunes. It certainly looked like we were entering a winter wonderland without the cold and ice.
We stopped at the roadside picnic area provided and had our lunch. It was so beautiful, peaceful and incredibly quiet.
Before we left this incredible area we stopped to take a walk on the boardwalk. It was strange to get to the end and see mountains instead of ocean.
Back at the MH Ron took Jewel for a much needed walk. Then it was off to dinner and grocery shopping. The plan is to head out to Rock Hound Sate Park in Deming. We’ll see what that area has to offer. It was another great day here in NM with sunny skies and warm weather.
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