Aliens, playing in sand, exploring ruins, carving into rocks. Sounds like New Mexico. 

 You may have noticed that a couple of days ago we finally added some more photos to our 'Photos' section. We usually aren't too up to date on this section because it takes us quite a while to sort through 100s of photos and then to upload the few that we want. We had the spare time to upload them because we woke up and it felt kinda cold.

I thought I was being a mega wuss. Our usual routine that takes a few minutes to shift everything around inside from sleep ready to drive ready means I have to take stuff in and out from the back. When I stepped outside in pants and a sweatshirt on, I felt so cold. The day before it was extremely bright out and in 70s. Kim went online and checked out the weather. It was a warm 17 degrees in Grants, New Mexico. Apparently we are still bringing the cold with us. After a cold day, we went to see El Morro National Monument the next day.

When we first pulled in, a couple with New Mexico plates asked us where we were from. We told them New York, and they knew that seeing the plates. They were curious where in New York. Telling them Rochester made the woman smile and told us she was from Brockport. Small world. Besides meeting people from Western New York, we also did some hiking.

El Morro had some petroglyphs dating back to the 1600s, and more recent inscriptions from the late 1800s. Some of the markings were incredibly detailed considering it was all done on the side of a mountain wall. The skies were again extremely blue, and it was much warmer than the day before. Despite being warm, part of the trails were blocked off because there was still a lot of ice around the area. Even though we'd like to get a souvenir from each place we visit, it would just cost way too much. As we were leaving, Kim was asked if she wanted to fill out a 7 page survey. For some strange reason, Kim said yes, but was given a free pin when she was done. She was excited like a little kid on Halloween. After receiving free goodies, we made out way west to the next state: Arizona.

It was beginning to get a little late, until we realized Arizona thinks it's cooler than all the other states in the U.S. 2009 marks the year that Arizona doesn't participate in Daylight Saving. The Navajo reservation in the northern part of the state observes it, but the rest of the state doesn't. Very cool, Arizona. Not sure what they're trying to prove, but it did buy us some more time to see Petrified Forest National Park.

This place seems to be a preview for the Grand Canyon. You're driving along a road, and then there's a gigantic gap in the ground for miles and miles. You can drive to other sections where you see huge chunks of petrified wood, which looks way cooler than it sounds. The stuff must be somewhat rare, because a stump of it sells for about 28,000 dollars. I want to know who actually buys that and hauls it away. 

As we drove through the park, we saw that the old route 66 used to run through the park. You can't even tell that there once was a road there, and that it was a major route for so many travelers. It's almost sad, until you realize you're talking about pavement. What would have been sad is if we lost Fink, which almost happened.

For whatever reason, my window was rolled down, and when we came back from a quick mile loop walk through the Crystal Forest section, we found Fink to be gone.  Luckily, we only searched for a few minutes before we found here. She didn't wander too far from the bus, and when I slid the door open and then shut, she must have recognized the sound because she started meowing and Kim heard her. We were then in possession of a cat again. Fun. Finding animals that belong to us is a past time of ours, but we had to call it a day eventually.

We are now camping at Homolovi Ruins State Park. Exploring hasn't been in our agenda today, because winds have been up to 50 MPH. It kinda gives birds a turbo boost. Funny to watch at least. Tomorrow the wind is suppose to die a bit, though. Now playing 52 card pickup will be way easier. 

p.s. Fink now uses me as a place to sleep while I try to sleep. What a good cat.

 Alamogordo has a couple of cool things: a missile range (that's not open to the public) and White Sands National Monument. I'm sure this place just looked like a giant litter box to Fink. Kim and I had different uses for it, though. Mostly jumping off dunes, and burying pets in sand. When we first got there, I was overwhelmed by how bright it was. It was extremely sunny out with no clouds in the sky at all. I guess the fact that the entire ground is made of white sand out there doesn't ease my eyes at all, either. 

Despite my eyes wishing for shade, we spent