Ancient graffiti
May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
These petroglyphs have been carved on the rocks here from about 2000 years ago, until about 600 years ago. Added to by successive generations. They're a mix of animals, humans and geometric patterns.
Alien landscapes
May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
Some more panoramic views of the badlands and painted desert within the Petrafied Forest National Park. Such a hostile place, not like earth at all.
How the west was won
May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 79 °F
There are endless freight trains running both east and west through the desert,many of them, like this one, over a mile long. I caught it in video to give a sense of the scale.
Camping in New Mexico
May 18, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We're camping tonight in six mile canyon, in the Cibola National Forest and Grasslands.
Climbing Boca Negra
May 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
We've arrived in Alberqueque, home of Breaking Bad. My uncle from Ireland happens to be visiting a more distant cousin of ours here this week. So if it works out and they aren't elsewhere, we're goingRead more
Looking for Heisenberg
May 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
James and I drove around Alberqueque this afternoon looking at some of the filming locations for Breaking Bad
Didn't get to see Uncle Felix
May 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 90 °F
We finally connected, but sadly they had gone up to Los Alamos. Bummer that it didn't work out, but that's the way it goes.
Wild, wild horses
May 19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
We're camping in the Lincoln National Forest, at Three Rivers. We arrived just before sunset, got distracted by some wild horses nearby and now we're cooking and putting up our tents in the dark.
Under the stars
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 55 °F
The moon didn't set until about 4am here, so I got up early to try to take a picture of the Milky Way. I knew it would be visible and wow it is spectacular. My picture does not capture reality at all.Read more
Breakfast time
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
White Sands National Park
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
I didn't get a chance to post this stop during the trip. One of the National Parks that we visited was the White Sands National Park. An F16 fighter from the nearby White Sands AirForce base hadRead more
Smokey the Bear was real
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 81 °F
Orphaned in a forest fire close by, Smokey became the symbol for fire safety. He is actually buried here in Capitan.
More alien shenanigans
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 100 °F
We've arrived in Roswell, where in 1947 a UFO is believed by some to have crashed. The government said it was a tracking balloon, but then the government almost always lies. So who knows... Ha,Read more
Y'all
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 93 °F
We've decided it's steak night. Trying the Cattle Baron. We've already had 4 "Y'all"s. I love the real west.
Roswell after dark
May 20, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 88 °F
One last spin around Roswell
May 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F
Just had one last look around Roswell before heading to Texas.
The road to Lubbock
May 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 77 °F
James first stopping point in Texas is Lubbock where he will do two days of new employee orientation. The drive from Roswell to Lubbock was mostly through farmland.
He met his fellow interns onRead more
Texas welcomes its newest Texan
May 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 84 °F
James arrives in Texas, his home for the next couple of months.
The road to Big Bend National Park
May 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 84 °F
Della and I left James in the afternoon, and headed south to Big Bend National Park. We arrived in the park after midnight, and found a secluded corner to catch some sleep.
Lots of animals on theRead more
Teralingua
May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F
A ghost town along the Mexican border. It was once a thriving mercury mining town, then abandoned and now partially inhabited by a few desert living folk, mix of artists and those trying to get someRead more
Santa Elena
May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F
This is the Santa Elena canyon. There are people walking up into the canyon on this first picture to give a sense of scale.
The cliff face on the left is Mexico (Chihuahua), and the right is USARead more
TravelerHa, ha, I was going to say something like that. I remember you telling me that a lot of folks in Russia actually call you Elena 🤣
TravelerYeah, Lena is short from Elena. But I'm written as Lena in my passport and other official documents. I love the place though, I bet we can call me Elena for once 😁
Out and about in the park
May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F
A few shots from around the park, more to follow
How the other half lives
May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 106 °F
Big Bend is up next to the Rio Grande which forms some of the border with Mexico. In the past, a crossing operated over to the village of Boquillas del Carmen, but it was closed when I was there. TheRead more
Heading back to Lubbock
May 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F
Driving back North to pick up James. Took a few pictures from the roadside
Traveler
I grew up in an oil region, so I hope nobody blames me when I say it's beautiful ☺️
TravelerThere is something very hypnotic or relaxing about them. It's a very relaxed motion.
TravelerThere is something very hypnotic or relaxing about them. It's a very relaxed motion.
TravelerNew pomping machines doesn't have these things actually and this is why it also feels nostalgic
TravelerI didn't see my first oil pumps until about 10 years ago. We have them in parts of California too. I haven't seen any, other than this design.
Highly recommended
May 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
A wonderful friend gave me this shirt-pocket sized guide to all the USA national parks. It's been a life saver, as we almost always arrive when the visitor centers are closed.
TravelerAnother wow! We need Andrey to read this graffiti
TravelerWe absolutely need him on the job.