Truth or Consequence, NM

The drive to Truth or Consequence was very long, but not as boring as I thought it would be.  I though driving through Texas was going to be awful; flat, and nothing to look at, which it was for the first part.  But slowly the scenery started to change.  We started to get some rolling hills which the road just cut right through.  Then we started to see some more mountainous terrain which was cool.  We stopped off the road a couple times to get some pictures, and walk around a bit.  Other than the scenery, and the occasional cow, we did not see much until New Mexico.

When we go into New Mexico, we saw tons and tons of cattle.  By the looks of the conditions, mass abundance of cattle, I can only assume that these are a part of the factory farming.  It makes you think a little bit.  However, nothing takes your mind off it like having to stop at a border patrol station.  We have never been through one before, aside from the Canadian border, which is nothing like this.  We stopped and talked with the officer for a bit about our trip, and then he let us go.  As we drove through we saw two other cars pulled off to the side, with the door opened, being search by dogs.  It was pretty scary.

About an hour later we made it to our destination, Riverbend Hot Springs.  This place was awesome.  It was nothing crazy fancy like a resort or anything, but it was very quaint.  The rooms were clean and the hot springs were amazing.  The water is pulled up through the wells and fills the different tubs.  The water is constantly running, and as one tub fills, it over flows into the other ones.  This creates a natural difference in temperature in each of the tubs. The water is mineral water with a high content of Lithium, which just by soaking in it, cause immense relaxation.  This particular place is the only place in T or C that sits right on the Rio Grande River, which is really really cold right now.  Trust me I touch it.  Being on the river also yielded a great view of Turtle Back Mountain, which was the landmark the Native Americans used to always find this place of healing and serenity.

The pools are open from 7am to 10pm, so pretty much the entire time we were, here all we did was soak in the tubs, and then lay in the sun or shade.  It was very relaxing.  We also ate at some local places for dinner and breakfast which were really good.  The restaurants close really early though; some of them by 7pm even.  Other than that, there is not much else to do in T or C.  We had planned to go see the Spaceport America, but we read in a local paper that they were behind schedule, and it would not be completely built until the end of this year.  It was also quite a ways away, and there was no guarantee we could get a tour, so unfortunately we did not get there.  Billy will have to make another trip out here when it is complete. 

It was a wonderful place to stay for 2-3 days, but Billy and I are reenergized and ready to hit the road again.  Today we are driving to Santa Fe, NM, and will stay there for only one night; then on to Colorado Springs. Below are some pictures of the scenery from our drive to T or C, as well as our stay at Riverbend Hot Springs.

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