Taking the Roads Less Traveled Near Carlsbad Caverns in Southeast New Mexico

We don't have any off roading guide books that provide information on unmaintained roads in New Mexico.  Eric used Google Maps to create a rough route for us to follow today. Some of the roads he expects to drive on don't show up on Google Maps, so I will be relying heavily on Eric's sense of direction and driving intuition to return to civilization.

Today's drive starts at Sitting

 Bull Falls Recreation &

 Interpretive Area, just

after 12:00 pm.

This area is prone to
flash flooding.

We are driving unimproved

roads.

I am liking
this view...

.... and this view.

Two roads diverged in the
Chihuahuan Desert...

 We stop to admire the scenery.

Eric carefully looked at this

downhill section before

starting off.

We continue our drive,
one hour & counting...

Eric pulls over at

this open spot.

We find broken glass...

This is a party spot.

 Our view...  Wow!

Eric finds an alien

Prickly Pear Cactus.

We find shot gun shells, .22 gauge long and short shells, 9 millimeter shells.  That's how I think the cactus got its eyes.

A beer bottle neck adds
a "certain something" to
this flowering branch.

Eric & speculate on what's

in the black hose that is

strung across the road.

Our conclusion... Water.

Two hours and counting.....

Eric uses my cell phone &

GPS to make decisions on 

which way to turn on these

unmarked roads.

We are listening to podcasts on Eric's phone.

Eric is navigating us toward

the checkered flag.

The roads we are driving

today aren't on the GPS.

The last four roads Eric selected turned out to be dead ends.  

Three hours and counting...

That's where we've
been.

Someone lost a muffler.

This section of road
probably floods.

Three and a half hours and counting....  Eric and I start make plans, in case

 we are still out here in the dark. We've got food, water, extra

jackets and a nearly full tank of gas.

This road leads to an

oil derrick.

I think we are getting

at somewhere....

Nope.... The road ends at a ridge lind.  And, there it is!

A truck!

We are getting closer
to the road home.






Four hours and counting,  Let's try another unmarked road.

Roadrunner....

Where's Wile E. Coyote?

We passed the truck and continued northeast, toward Carlsbad.

A windmill.... a sign
of civilization!

Cattle graze right next

to the road.

This one walks across
the road right in front
of us.

Finally, Eddy County

Route 429.

This road is paved
with Chip Seal.

The stop sign at

Hidalgo Road...

Eric & I are just 18 miles
from our motorhome,
parked on BLM Land.

We'll be home by 5:00 pm.





Eric and I loved the changing terrain we saw today.  The  road conditions were challenging enough for Eric AND the uncertainty of when our drive would end.  
A great adventure!