Day 15: Day off in El Paso

Two things that I didn’t expect to happen today were going out to breakfast at a little local Mexican breakfast café and visiting White Sands National Monument…

 

Breakfast at La Poblanita

Our first true day off began by being able to sleep in for the first time since we commenced in San Diego. Rallying the troops, we headed out to grab some breakfast. Entering into La Poblanita was like walking into a Mexican café stuck in the 1970’s. The food was incredible and just what we all needed to start the day off right. Shortly after, many of us entered into a food coma state and went back to the hotel to veg.

 

White Sands National Monument 

After having a chance to hang out and chill a little bit in the early afternoon, 15 of us loaded up the van and drove out to White Sands National Monument. Not really knowing what to expect, we entered into the park and were all instantly impressed with the scenery, a landscape white with sand (made from gypsum) and surrounded by two impressive mountain ranges. We stopped by the visitor’s center where Maggie and Tim had a great idea to purchase a sled. Heading out to the dunes, we entered into what seemed like the worlds largest sandbox with endless opportunities to play and be entertained. From sledding to jumping and running down the dunes, we all had a great time. The sights were impressive; smelled at times like being surrounded by tide pools along the ocean; felt sand in our pockets, hair, and many more places; heard the wind pick up the sand which sounded like waves on the beach; tasted what was below our feet and it turns out to be a lot more like sand than salt.

 

 

Sitting in the sand, surrounded by amazing people in an astonishing location, watching the sunset behind the mountains is a memory that I will never forget. Our evening ended by grabbing some grub in Las Cruces and then heading back to El Paso to pack up and get organized for our first century tomorrow!

 

 

~ Cheers, Jen