Klein and I have moved halfway around the world together. We have galloped on the North Shore of Hawaii and on the sunny beaches of Florida, and everywhere in between. The most beautiful ride I think we have ever had was at
White Sands National Monument when we lived in New Mexico. White Sands is one of the most beautiful, mysterious places I have ever been out of all the places I have traveled to all over the world. There is just no other place like it. It just appears out of nowhere in the basin between two mountain ranges. It's beautiful and when you are there it messes with your mind. In your mind you feel like it should be cold because the sand is SO WHITE it looks like snow. White Sands is one of the natural wonders of the world.
When we lived in New Mexico we were only about ten miles down the road from it. One day I loaded Klein up and we went to check it out. When we were out riding around the base you could see it in the distance.
Just me and my girl.
You can see the normal landscape in the background of this picture. White Sands begins and ends that suddenly.
I can't begin to describe how grateful I am for all the adventures Klein and I go on together.
That place is stunning. It really does look like snow. New Mexico is one place I have never been and would love to see. Actually, the entire America Southwest is on the list.
ReplyDeleteThe southwest definitely has its own type of beauty. I love the desert. For the longest time I planned on getting stationed in Tuscon or Phoenix but I just can't bring myself to take pasture away from the ponies.
DeleteSo gorgeous! I love looking back at old trail riding ears photos. It amazes me how much my horse and I have seen together.
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun looking back through pics of all the places we have been. It really hits you just how many places we have lived or traveled to together. I wouldn't have it any other way!
DeleteThat is just stunning! I will have to go sometime, albeit sans incredible perch mare. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is still amazing on foot! You can walk the trails or hang out on the dunes. The sunsets there and full moons out on the dunes are AMAZING!
DeleteThat looks like a fun ride. I had this friend whose parents owned a couple of hot air balloons. One year there was thing in New Mexico and the balloonists got special permission to fly at White Sands. She said everyone had to jump through a ton of hoops to get it authorized and there was NO DAWDLING. You had to launch, fly, then land and pack up immediately. Most balloon festivals you hang out afterwards and tail gate, but not at White Sands. Nosireebob! My friend said it was an amazing experience, though.
ReplyDeleteHaha, that wasn't the park being like that. The reason for those strict rules is because White Sands National Monument borders White Sands Missile Range which is an active missile range that spans over 100 miles and two mountain ranges and it also shares a border with Holloman Air Force Base, which is where I was stationed there. They were making sure the balloons weren't going into the air space for the missile range or the base. That base has a TON of air traffic. There are F-22s, three different types of aerial drones, and a helicopter unit there and they fly non stop. White Sands also regularly launches missiles. You'll see a warning on the site for the White Sands about he possibility of the highway it is on being closed for short periods of time due to missiles being launched. There is some WEIRD stuff going on out in that desert. It is the weirdest area I have ever been stationed at! I plan on writing a post about it, complete with weird pictures.
DeleteYeah, it was the missile range that was putting the restrictions on the balloonists. I guess I didn't know there's a state park separate from the military part. I thought they bordered each other or something. Hahaha. Occasionally you can see stuff launched from White Sands in Arizona. I never have, but I've seen stories on the news.
DeleteWeirder than Area 51? Hahaha. I look forward to your post and pictures about it. My grandfather and uncle were both career Air Force but neither were ever stationed in New Mexico.
That looks like a neat place to ride! Was it super hot though? Whenever I think of that part of the world I think of sayings like "It was 130 degrees...in the shade...today."
ReplyDeleteIn the summer it gets pretty hot but that ride was in the winter. New Mexico has winter. Notice in one pic Klein's face is fuzzy, she still had her winter coat when we went for this ride. It was sometime in the early spring I think.
DeleteJust read one of your replies...you should totally make a post about the weird stuff there with the weird pictures!
ReplyDeleteI definitely will. It was the only base I have been on so far that really creeped me out. There were some places Klein and I were near where it creeped me out enough to turn around and get the hell away.
DeleteI wish you were still here (at Holloman), Stacey! Nina has told us about you! We've got a great group of girls (and horses) at the stables now!! :-) We have definitely seen a bunch of creepy stuff while out riding! A few of the girls rode to McDonald's a few months ago and went through the drive-thru! Hahaa!
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