Road Trip with the Dad

So last Sunday I got to go with Dad and spend Monday in his office. We went back home Monday night. I wasn't especially into the office thing, either. And poor little Bertie had a very rough time of it.

But the road from Clovis to Las Cruces is fascinating. You start out at about 4300ft in Clovis--that's why it's called the "high plains." Think about it--that's almost 2/3rds of the way up Mt Washington, highest point in the Northeast, and a whole lot higher than Ohio where I was an unclaimed stray. You get to Roswell and then really start climbing---towns like Tinnie, Hondo, San Patricio---Can't you just see Roy, Gene, Mr. Eastwood, and "Duke" Wayne riding across your computer screens?????? Great town names.

You pass the Tunstall murder site then climb thru 6000ft. Ruidoso is the next town at 6900ft. Climb some more---Apache Summit is the apex--7591ft above sea level. And all the while you catch glimpses of Sierra Blanca, dominating the plains from its 11,000ft elevation.......Then the descent through the Mescalero Apache reservation into the Tularosa basin, about 4500ft. Alamogordo leads the way into the desert---White Sands National monument and the missile range---kick it out to 80mph. Then clear the San Augustin pass at 5719ft and descend into Las Cruces (3900ft in the valley where we live).

Mostly I sleep through the ride but I do get occasional phrases of the music from the iPod---"wrap your legs round these velvet rims and strap your hands cross my engines...i wanna know if love is wild and i wanna know if love is real...i wanna die with you Wendy on the streets tonite in an everlasting kiss..." or "roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair/ the night's busted open and these two lanes can take us anywhere..." (Bruce S.) The man knows about dogs and cars. "Did an angel/ whisper in your ear/ hold you close/ take away your fears/in those long/ miles from here..." (Lucinda W.) or "Sometimes i wonder if i'm ever gonna make it home again/ it's so far and out of sight.."(Carole K.) Another favorite is "a woman is like a dresser some men are always runing though its drawers.."(Cream) or "Counting the cars on the New Jersey Turnpike/ they've all come to look for America.." (S&G) And lastly "once a story's told/ it can't help but grow old/ roses do/ lovers too/ so cast your seasons to the wind.." (Boz S). Just road song fragments that I heard when I was awake, which wasn't often over four and a half hours driving through the night. But it's all worth it to spend the time with my Dad.

LOL

Leny

First Mate of the Pirate Dogs