POTD: Shifting Sands

Shifting Sands
White Sands National Monument
New Mexico
2019

Sand dunes are anything but static constructions. This shot was from the current northern edge of the dune field, but due to the wind, the entire time we were there they were visibly and actively extending the boundary.

POTD: Big Dave

 Big Dave
Silver City, New Mexico
2019

This is “Big Dave,” as he called himself, and his wife whose name I did not get. I came across Big Dave as he was walking very slowly down the sidewalk alone. He was grunting and groaning a bit so as I passed him I commented “Hard going?” or something to that effect. He informed me that walking was painful because he had just finished the Bataan Death March, which stopped me in my tracks.

His comment turned out to be less strange than it sounded as he had in fact just finished competing in the Bataan Memorial Death March marathon held annually at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico to commemorate the infamous Bataan Death March in Word War II.

Dave did the 15-mile half-marathon totally on his crutches. His wife completed the full marathon in just about the same time as it took him to do his 15 miles. As proof of his participation he showed me his right hand which sported a blister of impressive size (see below). All I could say to that was “way to go Dave, you da man!”

 

POTD: Gila Cliff Dwellings #1

Gila Cliff Dwellings #1
Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico
2019

I was at the Gila Cliff Dwellings before, back 40+ years ago. Can’t say it’s changed much, but then my brain has erased all the details of my memories from that visit.  The access is certainly much more structured than it used to be; more people = more rules.