This post covers the trip from Albuquerque to Midland, Texas via Alamogordo, New Mexico. White Sands National Monument has already been covered - some of the photos are from the trip to White Sands and the others are obviously after. :-p
The route: I-40, I-25, US 380, US 54, US 70, White Sands National Monument, US 70, US 82, NM 529, US 62/US 180, US 385, TX 158, TX 191, TX Loop 250, Business I-20.
The entire 79 photo set from the trip is up on flickr.
Over at the aaroads blog, Jake mentioned that New Mexico has begun to use a more classic US shield style on their guide signs. His examples are on I-40 Eastbound in Santa Rosa. Well on I-25 South in Bernardo a similar style is for US 60 (Exit 175). The US 60 shield has a 'US' within the shield above the number. Unfortunately, I was checking something on my phone when we passed it, and didn't get a picture.
However, in Socorro, there is a guide for Business Loop I-25 and US 60 with an odd font.
![IMG_5655](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4568421040_fa71cbe456.jpg)
And when did US 60 change to North/South??
![IMG_5656](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4567787585_4382f86fba.jpg)
Now US 60 does run North/South through Socorro - but only for a mile or so.
Next up, US 380 east from San Antonio to Carrizozo. Once the sun angle improved, it was quite an enjoyable - yet isolated - drive.
![IMG_5664](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4568441888_73b0a32ab5.jpg)
![IMG_5670](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4567819189_6f971846f8.jpg)
US 70 near Holloman Air Force Base has some nice overhead guides:
![IMG_5683](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/4567848761_9a0f630d8b.jpg)
![IMG_5684](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4567851045_3224d787e5.jpg)
In Alamogordo, on the old route through town there were still US 82 shields with US 54 and 70.
![IMG_5779](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4568491210_7430baba06.jpg)
Then it was onto US 82 East and the climb into the Sacramento Mountains and Lincoln National Forest. If you ever want a scenic alternative from I-25 to I-20 and not go through El Paso. US 82 is the way to go.
![Sacramento Mountains](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4567868813_33d601d22c.jpg)
![IMG_5792](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4568524356_d7c50f57de.jpg)
![IMG_5797](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4568537678_cfeeb7087f.jpg)
There's even a tunnel!
![IMG_5799](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567909207_a9354d29ba.jpg)
On the east side of the Sacramento Mountains the views are just as photo worthy.
![Otero County View](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4567930521_9df210e8f5.jpg)
![IMG_5809](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567937741_7d0277c869.jpg)
![The twists and turns of US 82](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4568604282_203827ef5a.jpg)
East of Artesia - You'll find plenty of these:
![IMG_5829](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4567975747_a77ebe8c58.jpg)
And the journey home really began when we passed this sign.
![IMG_5840](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567990639_0c3b815cca.jpg)
A few more miles and turns later we pulled into Midland for the night.
One last post left, Day 6 & 7 Midland to North Carolina with an overnight stop in Tuscaloosa.
The route: I-40, I-25, US 380, US 54, US 70, White Sands National Monument, US 70, US 82, NM 529, US 62/US 180, US 385, TX 158, TX 191, TX Loop 250, Business I-20.
The entire 79 photo set from the trip is up on flickr.
Over at the aaroads blog, Jake mentioned that New Mexico has begun to use a more classic US shield style on their guide signs. His examples are on I-40 Eastbound in Santa Rosa. Well on I-25 South in Bernardo a similar style is for US 60 (Exit 175). The US 60 shield has a 'US' within the shield above the number. Unfortunately, I was checking something on my phone when we passed it, and didn't get a picture.
However, in Socorro, there is a guide for Business Loop I-25 and US 60 with an odd font.
![IMG_5655](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4568421040_fa71cbe456.jpg)
And when did US 60 change to North/South??
![IMG_5656](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4567787585_4382f86fba.jpg)
Now US 60 does run North/South through Socorro - but only for a mile or so.
Next up, US 380 east from San Antonio to Carrizozo. Once the sun angle improved, it was quite an enjoyable - yet isolated - drive.
![IMG_5664](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4568441888_73b0a32ab5.jpg)
![IMG_5670](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4567819189_6f971846f8.jpg)
US 70 near Holloman Air Force Base has some nice overhead guides:
![IMG_5683](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/4567848761_9a0f630d8b.jpg)
![IMG_5684](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4567851045_3224d787e5.jpg)
In Alamogordo, on the old route through town there were still US 82 shields with US 54 and 70.
![IMG_5779](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4568491210_7430baba06.jpg)
Then it was onto US 82 East and the climb into the Sacramento Mountains and Lincoln National Forest. If you ever want a scenic alternative from I-25 to I-20 and not go through El Paso. US 82 is the way to go.
![Sacramento Mountains](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4567868813_33d601d22c.jpg)
![IMG_5792](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4568524356_d7c50f57de.jpg)
![IMG_5797](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4568537678_cfeeb7087f.jpg)
There's even a tunnel!
![IMG_5799](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567909207_a9354d29ba.jpg)
On the east side of the Sacramento Mountains the views are just as photo worthy.
![Otero County View](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4567930521_9df210e8f5.jpg)
![IMG_5809](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567937741_7d0277c869.jpg)
![The twists and turns of US 82](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4568604282_203827ef5a.jpg)
East of Artesia - You'll find plenty of these:
![IMG_5829](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4567975747_a77ebe8c58.jpg)
And the journey home really began when we passed this sign.
![IMG_5840](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/4567990639_0c3b815cca.jpg)
A few more miles and turns later we pulled into Midland for the night.
One last post left, Day 6 & 7 Midland to North Carolina with an overnight stop in Tuscaloosa.
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