Day #94. September 20.

Woke up to hummingbirds in our campsite. Did not get an ID.

We decide to return to Las Cruses to do some business. 

Las Cruses, ‘City of the Crosses’. People say that an unknown Spaniard named the city to honor local bandits buried in hilltop graves protected by three wooden crosses. I like that. Honor among thieves.

Before the Spanish, there were the Manso Indians living in the Rio Grande Valley, with Mescalero Apache nearby. The Spaniards showed up in 1598 and, as Europeans are wont to do, claimed the region for themselves. Mexicans came in 1821 and claimed it, saying it was theirs in the first place. Then those gun toting, upstart Americans from the Republic of Texas, owing allegiance to no one, stepped in to claim it. Then America went to war with Mexico and took control after that.

The Manso and Mescalero ate some more peyote and laughed.

The Santa Fe Railroad came through in 1860 bringing the hoards.

Pat Garrett came to town in 1880 and killed Billy the Kid in 1881.

Emily and I arrived in 2017 and I haven’t killed anyone yet.

We get medicine, ice, gas, liquor, oil change, spare tire and have a great lunch at La Nueva Casita. Second best burrito in the world. Then return to our Desert Peaks refuge for another pleasant and restful evening.

Tomorrow, White Sands National Monument.

Namaste.

Desertscape at Organ Mountain Desert Peaks National Monument