I never thought New Mexico would be like this.  Some incredible, pull-it-over and wait downpours today.  Really lousy drainage in places.  Entire right hand lanes underwater.  Crazy intersections with no idea of water depth but cars flying through nevertheless.   The sun would come out every so often and be gone within minutes.  Then more torrential rain.   It was an easy day to exercise the dogs since nobody anywhere was using city parks with the lousy weather.  I banged away at the list and am making good headway.  I might even get back on schedule despite the “delay” in Silver City.

Let’s start with Ruidoso:

I was hoping from the sign maybe some fake concrete teepees — but there were only cabins.  Neat log cabins though:

 

Even Ruidoso has been invaded by aliens now, too.   Lots of wood carved ones in Ruidoso and Roswell that weren’t there four years ago when I was here last.  This one at the Ruidoso River Museum:

 

Moving on to Roswell.  Damn that little SUV for ruining my shot:

 

Farley’s has apparently “borrowed” their sign design from Ship’s Coffee Shops in Los Angeles:
http://www.oldlarestaurants.com/ships/

 

Even McDonald’s has jumped onto Roswell’s alien-theme bandwagon with this unique UFO building:

 

Pretty fancy for a mobile homes sign — but the neon holes match the letters… so maybe it always was for that:

 

From Artesia:

 

Although the hail didn’t affect Sparkle’s front end at all yesterday — today’s rain sure killed the white paint on that black bumper.  I guess I’ll have to decide when I get home whether to a) get it repainted, b) strip it to black, or c) let it be whatever it wants to be.  I kinda favor c) as it will always be a reminder of this trip.  But maybe it’s just TOO hideous.  What say you guys?

By the way, I got a phone call tonight from my Silver City mechanic — can you believe it?  He was checking in to see how things were going.  I told him how great Sparkle was running.  I also mentioned the bumper paint problem — and that I really didn’t mind.  After all, it was really just an extra (I don’t think I was charged).  He said it should really be allowed to dry longer.  I’m also wondering if yesterday’s hail didn’t loosen the paint and then today’s rain just ate into that.

 

In Carlsbad — the Apache Canyon Trading Post — which appears to be long-closed:

Some details:

 

In Whites City — this sadly deteriorating, big motel court — known as White’s City Deluxe Motel originally:
http://www.cardcow.com/173513/whites-city-deluxe-motel/
http://www.cardcow.com/251469/whites-city-deluxe-motel/

The sign says it’s being restored — but I have my doubts.

 

On to Arkansas Junction.  It appears this sign advertised for the long-closed cafe next to it.  This star is technically known as a C-152 Lectra.  This video of one in Raytown, MO shows how this sign would have operated at night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-m4xcocevI

 

From Hobbs — not sure why they white-painted the “Liquor” when it’s still a liquor store:

 

And last one for the night from Tatum:

 

According to all the weather predictions — tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeously sunny.  In every single city that I expect to be in.  So I’m hitting the hay early expecting a marathon day of shooting.