Roswell, Nm to Alamogordo, Nm

So, after watching a HBO movie called October Sky last night, this morning we went to the Roswell Goddard Museum. We weren't allowed in the planeterium (because it is owned by the local school system) but seeing the father of the American space program's actual engineering lab gave us a blast (excuse the pun) - especially Carl Sagan's introduction documentary.

Tranquility Base here - actual moon rock from the actual moon. Encased in resin. Still gave me a chill, and the resin seems to give it a little piz-azz.

A quick drive across to Alamogordo (check the number of syllables) later, we raced through the New Mexico Museum of Space History and took some photos outside, with an amazing view of the White Sands in the distance.

Ian stands next to the most powerful rocket motor ever made - the F1 rocket engine.

Not all inventions are used for good - the Germans used Goddard's patents as source material for the V2 Doodlebug. The Nazis had copied his work but ironically, after 1945, German scientists working for the US, took his work and created the basis for the Space race to the moon.

Disabled parking. Would you argue?

We arrived at White Sands (with seconds to spare, fast becoming a Warn trait - if not already!) in time for the sunset stroll such a magnificent time to explore the dunes of the Tularosa Basin (it's not a valley).

We learned about the critters of the desert (small and white is good, black stinkbugs = bad), how fast the dunes move (10-15 feet per year!), and another nice stranger offered to take our photo.

Sunset at white sands - we both felt the awe and magic of being in such a special place. Watching the silhouettes of the rest of the tour on the dunes before us lent a certain Lawrence of Arabia vibe to the surroundings. We could not imagine a more wonderful sunset - over the gypsum dunes of the White Sands of New Mexico.