The Time We Went to El Paso

In December 2009, Kyle, three of his friends/roommates from Pitt, and I went on a road trip to El Paso, to see Pitt play in the Meineke bowl game. The game was not a success (at all!), but the trip was! We left from Pittsburgh and stayed the night at a friends house in Ohio. We left early the next morning and drove drove drove until we got to our camp ground in El Paso around 10 am the next day. And then we decided to go on a little hike, because even though we were exhausted, it was just so pretty there and we were happy to stretch our legs. Luckily we were able to shower afterwards at the hotel the Pitt marching band was staying at (they knew a guy), then we set up our tent, cooked up some food, had some whiskey, left some ham out to attract armadillos, and went to bed. It was quite pleasantly warm during the day, and cold at night. Our tent partially collapsed in at night, oh well. The game was the next afternoon: we tailgated, the boys wrote PITT on their chests with sharpee (drunk), made friends with some odd locals, we participated in making a world record for most people doing the YMCA as The Village People performed at half time, Pitt lost, Toby got lost (drunk), and overall it was fun and only mildly disastrous.

We headed out after the game and finding Toby, and we did not want to stay in El Paso any longer, so we headed out. We made it to Cloudcroft, New Mexico, a tiny little town up in the mountains a bit where there was snow. We figured camping in the snow with a broken tent on New Years eve was not the way to go. Everyone in the tiny town was in one bar, so we found the owner of a hotel across the street and rented a suite. We watched some of the festivities on TV, but were too tired to really celebrate, so we went to bed. The next day we continued our drive, stopping in Roswell, New Mexico of course. We camped outside without the tent that night, listening to coyotes howling close by. The next morning we were up and pushed through to Pittsburgh (with a quick loop around the arch in St. Louis around sunset); we arrived very early in the morning/very late at night. Little did I know this wouldn't be my last road trip to/from Texas...

We had lunch on Jim Beam's porch in Kentucky. Kentucky was really lovely. 

Toby, Paul, Nick, Kyle

Stopped to get some fireworks, obviously. 

Dinner I think in Arkansas? We all hate Arkansas.

 Made it to El Paso!

Pondering the campsite. 

 Up up up we climbed.

 At some point in our hike up the mountains, Kyle said to me something like "we need to make sure we remember this." That's the only time he's said anything like that to me, so I remember both him saying it, and the adventure of course.

Showered, tent set up, dinner. 

 And we're at the game.

 The Village People

 Cloudcroft, New Mexico. Just look at this place.

 After a day in the sun.

Packing up to head out. 

 Roswell!

 Cooking and camping another night. It is completely dark; my flash lit up the night.

 Leaving early to head back to Pittsburgh.

 They wanted to get some super hot sauce...

 Husband wears hats.

I was driving in Missouri and this happened; the van went all wonky but kept driving fine. 

 Brief detour onto Route 66 to go see this big guy.

And get another picture of Kyle and I together, making that a total of two I think for the whole trip!

The End

- From the desk of Mrs. M