So.....We went West!

Mr. Chicken Butt and I are enjoying our time here in the Southwest. I thought I would update you with some of the pics we've been taking (mostly on the road, and all are with his Blackberry as I didn't bring a connecting cable for my camera). The scenery out here is gorgeous and really differs from what we're used to back in the mid-eastern part of the country. I hope you enjoy!

These first pics are pictures we took road-tripping from Albuquerque to Alamogordo (or vice-versa) as we randomly stopped on the side of the road.

While in Alamogordo we visited the White Sands Missile Range. There's literally miles upon miles of gorgeous white sands at the base of the mountains and sand dunes 20 ft + tall! It really looks like snow once you get deep into the range and away from the vegetation!

 Isn't it beautiful?

 The Visitor's Center at the Entry of the Park

While in New Mexico we stayed with some of Stephen's family. They lived right at the base of some mountains and were just a short walk from a great public walking path. I walked the path one afternoon and thought it was beautiful and convinced Stephen to walk with me the next morning!

 This is a view of Alamogordo (and part of the walking path) from right at the base of the mountain range. You can barely see the mountains on the other side of the city. Alamogordo is actually in a basin, surrounded by mountains.

One day we took a drive up into the mountains and visited the quaint little town of Cloudcroft. The next couple pics were taken at a scenic point overlooking all of the Tularosa Basin. Alamogordo is just out of sight to the left of the mountains in the pic.

We've had a great time thus far. I'll keep you posted as we've begun our adventure in Albuquerque.