UFOs, geology and relative time

The visit to the UFO Museum and Research Centre was interesting – the staff friendly and helpful.  Kath thinks the whole thing was a cover up by the US Government for something scary and secret to do with the possibility of Russia invading!! They certainly had the locals scared witless with death threats if they kept to the story of a UFO.  Apparently the sightings continue to this day and who are we to question?

The drive to El Paso was through some great scenery, starting with low hills, scrub and multi-coloured sedimentary rock, changing to pine-clad mountains, which form part of the Mescalero Apache reservations.  At one time, we emerged to view, on the horizon, a white line of ground: The missile range called White Sands – It really is white and is not sand but gypsum (plaster!)

El Paso is the busiest place that we have visited so far and had Peter clinging to his seat as Kath negotiated the unfamiliar road systems!! 

With El Paso disappearing behind us we headed for Tucson, Arizona. As we crossed the state line - believe it or not - it started to rain!  We are hoping to visit Alan Bean’s (moonwalker) gallery and also Pima Aerospace Museum and the Davis -Montan Air Force Base where old US AF aircraft go to die in the desert.

Peter:  No-one tells you when you travel through to a new time-zone. We went from Mountain Time –zone in Roswell to El Paso on Mountain Time though we only discovered that  when we chatted with the locals at the Laundromat. We assumed El Paso would be on Central Time as it is part of Texas. So, we started our washing at 5:15 and we ended at 5:15 an hour later. Einstein would be proud of us...

Tuesday - mixed day

Abilene has little to recommend it apart from the splendid Frontiers Texas museum and "experience". You too can caught in a buffalo stampede or a shoot-out in a bar. A very good trip through the history of Texas from Mammoths to Wyatt Earp via "Indians", outlaws and steer.
Then on the road towards Roswell. It took us fully half an hour to leave Abilene because of road works and the fact that the satnav knew best and kept sending us there. Then miles of nothing but flattish countryside, wind turbines, nodding donkeys (pumping oil - slowly; terrible stink) and fields of something unrecognisable... Sky turned grey on the northern horizon and I hoped for a thunderstorm. (Be careful what you wish for.). Grey sky moved towards us, thunder and llightning ("very very frightening") and by the time we stopped for "gas", The atmosphere was made of water, the temprerature dropped 35 deg F in a few minues and the pumps packed up. Thankfully the lady from the station helped us out but Peter ended up (no exaggeration) drenched. Then back on the road and within half an hour of running the heating at full blast, dry again. And the weather returned to hellish hot.
Tiday to the UFO museum (yes, I know we are sad.). We have not yet been abducted by small grey aliens.
After that, a leisurely drive to El paso, with Tucson Arizona tomorrow.
Kath: I fulfilled one of my "bucket list" wishes by driving along a straight road in the middle of nowhere.  It just kept on going without a bend in sight (and rarely another car) - wonderful! I half expected to see Superman standing by the side of the road looking for a lift.

On the road!

We left Knoxville yesterday morning and arrived in Menphis by early evening (56mph average!).
Today, Graceland in the morning - much smaller than expected... But an interesting insight into "The King" and his peculiar tastes. Weather still too hot for humans but much air conditioning available. Daisy Bear duly photographed in front of the welcome sign - see her on FB,
On then to Texarkana (never heard of it? Neither had I!) on the border of Arkansas and Texas (whence the name). Even the post office has a half in each state!
In the evening, we went looking for dinner along the local pike and, fincing nothing - Sunday night - we ended up in the city center, It was deserted, ("I went to Philadelphia but it was closed"). We had almost decided to return to a Pizza Something when we spotted a noisy restaurant / cool joint / tavern. There we met some people on the terrace who had been in Bath recently and visited the abbey! There ensued a very pleasant couple of hours of conversation and really nice food. Thank heaven for heathen restauranteurs who open on Sunday night.
Tomorrow Abilene, as in cowboy films... Then hopefully on to the back roads to Roswell. If you hear nothing more from us, assume we have been abducted by some passing aliens...
Kath:  I also enjoyed Graceland. It wasn't anywhere near over the top as I had assumed it would be, he bought it as a family home in 1957 and that's really what it is - yes, there are lots of chandeliers but his kitchen for instance was very ordinary.  I had heard of Texarcana because I think there's a song about it.  Onwards to Abilene!! I'm enjoying the driving which I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about.