"Getting lost in Texas ...." a El Paso Travel Page by kymbanm

We listened to our travel companions (despite my better judgement) and headed off to Carlsbad Caverns.

As we headed down I-10 East, and passed the offramp my map said we should take, we kept in touch w/ our mini caravan via cel phone. [AKA: mistake #2] We got a call telling us to take the Faban exit, so we did [mistake #3].

We went north. For quite a while actually .... seeing nothing but distant ranches and the rare vehicle (ok, 2 vehicles). Since the road was smooth and paved, we didn't worry too much - yet.

Then the paving became rough, later it became so damaged the potholes could've eaten my car. Then a dirt road. Okay, getting nervous, but still laughing about it.

In the distance we saw a cloud of dust heading our way. As it got nearer, we saw a white truck. Using the "universal sign of need" in rural US, I pulled over, rolled down my window and leaned out w/ a hopeful look on my face.

The truck did pull to a stop and it's window came down. The driver was a roundfaced, brown-skinned rancher - complete w/ cowboy hat, western workshirt and all.

K: "Can you help us, we're lost"
Man: "Where are you trying to get to chiquita?"
K: "Carlsbad Caverns"
Man: "Mijita, you are REALLY lost."
K: "How bad?"
Man: "REALLY bad, you need a road that goes through the mountains, not around them."
K: "Oh."

Man: "blah, blah, blah"
[ok, that's not what he really said, he was trying to give be directions - I think]
K: stares blankly
Man: "Don't worry mijita, just follow me"
K: stares blankly
Man: "Okay?"
K: "Okay"

His window rolls up, and he starts driving slowly away. We make a U turn on this little road and begin following .......

He took those roads with the speed of a local, when we got to the vehicle eating pot holes, he weaved around them, never once hitting one. Next thing we know, he's pulled onto a previously unseen alternate dirt road. We glanced at each other, and figured that we couldn't be much more lost, and continued to follow .......

Miles upon miles of dirt, dust and scrub - with the mountains getting closer by the mile. During the worst of it, we just kept his dirt cloud in sight as we struggled to keep up in my little purple work horse of a city car.

It seems hours, but not really, we make a hard left turn to keep the truck in sight ..... BOOM! we hit pavement! Literally!

Yipee! A paved road! After many more miles of right and left turns ..... we come to a fairly busy 4 way intersection - still in the middle of no where, but we've been seeing a few vehicles :)

Our angel pulls over to the side and motions to us to do the same.

Man: "You can get to the mountain road from here mijita. Just take this road right here. When it ends, turn left. When that one ends, turn right. When that one ends, turn right. You'll see the road from there."
K: "Thank you sooooo very much. I don't know what I would have done ..."
Man: "Chiquita, no worries now. That's what neighbors are for."

And with a big grin, and a roll up of his window ...... he was gone.

Passenger: "Did you get all of that?"
K: "I THINK so ..... we'll know soon enough"

Within 15 minutes, we were on the right road ...... heading up 182 towards New Mexico! WOOHOO!!! We made it!

Our journey still had many hours to go, but now we were at least heading in the right direction, and on the right road :)

In the distance, we saw a line of white ... we weren't back by White Sands were we? The gypsum desert? Since we were still in Texas, we were pretty sure that was not the case. But we passed a seemingly abandoned town named 'Salt Flats'.

Hmmmm, a natural salt field ...... gorgeous!!

The correct route took us through the Guadalupe mountains - beautiful. Into the northern Chihuahuan Desert. The hours were filled with beauty .......

Several hours after begining the journey, we're here ..... at the Carlsbad Caverns Nat'l Park in my home state of New Mexico!

More to follow .... but you'll need to find my Carlsbad Caverns page to read it :)