April 20: Las Cruces, NM; the central arcade of a sleepy town
White Sands National Monument
Walking barefoot
The dunes advance
Some plants put out enough roots to preserve a chunk of sand underneath them for a while after the dune has moved on
Anywhere there's sand you'll find teenagers in swimsuits with hatchbacks pumpin' out the hip hop
April 21: Cloudcroft, NM; The Lodge, where an elegant waffle was consumed
Carlsbad Caverns
At night, 300,000 bats swirl out of the cavern mouth; the stream lasts for hours
Leaving the Southwest behind: my Del Sol, and on the horizon, Texas
April 22: Oil derricks on display at the Petroleum Museum; in the distance, downtown Midland, TX, Home of Presidents
Pretty farm country near Sweetwater, TX
April 23: The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, located in Abilene, TX, because that's where "Santa Calls" by William Joyce is set