Day 20 (September 7 – 8, 2015)

We left Santa Rosa behind early in the morning and turned wheels to the South. White Sands National Monument was our planned highlight of the day.

White Sands is a desert area where are great gypsum sand dunes. I would say dunes are brilliant white there; so white that hurt my eyes even I had sunglasses. And there was so hot!

We had also great chance (or actually it was just me, who was so silly) to play at being a cowboy. Stetson, boots and massive size of belt buckle I bought already in Nashville but now I had a feeling that I cannot keep them in packages anymore. Previous time I slipped into boots I was 18y. You can believe I felt I’m young again.

Anyhow, It was nice driving day to see and feel nature that was changing bit by bit from prairie to desert (and back to prairie when we returned to North direction).

In the evening we were back in the ”Route 66” area again. First time during this trip we had opportunity to have a dialog with police. We’re stopped when we just looked motels in city named ”Gallup”. Flashlight was used to shine a torch in our eyes and she (a police was a woman) had respected number of equipment attached in her belt. She told to wonder why we drove under the speed limit and looked around. After she saw we are gentlemen whose are only looking a motel with vacancy but without cockroaches, she relaxed and we had a nice dialog then. She gave a good tip to go to other side of city (other side of railway) to have a look motels and hotels. She told this area is great if you are looking some troubles. She was also so interested whose we are, where we’re from, where to go, if we are singles, size of boots, etc. but she didn’t ask if we are twins? I think she was more intelligent than other Americans we met on the road. Ratio had been 12 Americans we met and 13 of them asked if we are twins?!?!? If we ever go again to US together I organize T-shirts with text: ”We’re from Finland and yes, we’re twins. Anything else to ask?”

Not any problems to found a great motel on better side of the city and as a final episode we saw one tire in our car was loose. That problem we left to next morning and just decided to have a couple beers + steaks before go to bed. As a cherry onto cake, waitress asked to prove by I.D. that we are 21y at least to have a right to order an alcohol. It was second time on the road (but last too). We didn’t say anything nasty for her but for some reason she asked a manager to come and see us. He tried some small talking with us. Very soon they both realized, those twins (yes, they asked if we are?) are not small talking guys. Anyhow, nice day and Indian Pale Ale was good and steaks were even mouth watering delicious.