Category: Uncategorized

2019 Road Trip: Day 9

White Sands National Monument

Day 9 was a mix of a driving day and sight seeing day. By this point in my trip, I had planned much shorter drive days so I could enjoy my trip! I left Carlsbad around 10 in the morning, and headed North on 285 to Artesia, NM then headed West on 82 towards White Sands National Monument. This was a gorgeous drive through some small towns and I even drove through Lincoln National Forest, which was beautiful and I was honestly just excited to see trees.

Around 2:00, I finally arrived to White Sands National Monument. This was SUCH a poor decision on my part, because it was HOT, y’all. I went to the visitor’s center and then drove through the park. I got out a few times to take some photographs, but after about two hours, I was out of water and ready to get to my Airbnb for the night.

I do want to suggest to go either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I wanted to rent a sled, but it was SO HOT, I couldn’t justify the $10 cost to rent one. Also, have you ever climbed up a giant sand dune in the middle of summer…talk about difficult!

After I left White Sands National Monument, I headed to my Airbnb in the historic Mesilla district, which is right outside of Las Cruces. I booked an adorable casita for the night, and WOW was it an amazing place to stay! I was able to cook dinner in an actual kitchen, do my laundry, and watch Netflix while chilling on a leather couch!

I would really like to revisit Mesilla, NM one day. It is a very charming historic district with a lot of sights to see. I spent the afternoon doing chores and reorganizing my car, so I did not get to walk around and see the town. I would highly suggest visiting this town if you are the area!

Until next time, peace.

Hey, y’all!

First things first, I’m Savannah aka Van. How do blogs work? Do I just start posting? Do I need to tell you who I am? Do you care who I am? Whatever, here goes nothing.

I am from a very, very small town in Tennessee and got out as soon as I could…an hour away #rebel. I went to MTSU in Tennessee and I have a degree in Photography. Film photography. I love it; the patience required to find the correct exposure, seeing your freshly developed images on film, the smell of chemicals in the darkroom. My first love, film photography. Then, the real world sets in and everything is digital. Go back to school they say, it will pay off in the end, they say. I then went CU in Tennessee, got a Master’s Degree in Special Education. BOOM, Nashville explodes, housing market is unrealistic and I am working on a teacher’s salary. Life if wonderful.

Now I don’t want to sound like I am complaining at all, but you are on my blog and that’s how I feel about it all. However, I do love my current job. I love my students an every day is a new crazy. Do I miss the photography field, every damn day. Do I have summers off to where I can try to get back into it, sure do. So, here I am, on my digital platform, trying to just figure out how to balance my current job with my first love.

Will every image I post be a film scan? Have you seen how expensive film is now….no. Will I brag when I do post an amazingly beautiful film scan…yes. I have NO CLUE what this blog will end up becoming. This may be the only post I ever manage to publish. Who knows? Oh, did you see my obligatory picture of myself at Machu Picchu? Peace.