Trinity Site, Owl Bar, and White Sands

We woke early to get to the Stallion Gate at White Sands Missile Range for the twice per year Trinity Site Open House. I was really into physics when I was a young teenager, and read several books about the history of the atomic bomb and nuclear power. I even ended up working at the Hanford site in college. So I planned our travel around getting to see the site of the first atomic bomb test. The open house was on October 2 this year, and we were driving up to the gate just after it opened for visitors at 8 am. I was surprised to find a long line outside the gate. We waited about a half hour to reach it. I guess I'm not the only history buff who wants to see the field where it happened. The open house was old hat to the base; they handled the crowds like pros. It is amazing to me to consider how few events in history have made such and impact on how the world functions. This event definitely changed everything.

The monument at ground zero. The bomb was detonated on a tower.

Jumbo. Never used during the test. But destroyed later.

Stay off the grass!

Most of the radioactive glass (trinitite) created in the blast has been removed.

We met two college friends at the open house.

We enjoyed seeing two friends from college at the Trinity Site. We had planned to meet them for lunch afterwards, but since they drove down from Albuquerque to meet us, they also went to the open house. Lunch was at the Owl Bar in San Antonio, NM, where I spent a fair amount of time as a college student.

Friends in low places. So much fun.

The Owl has dollar bill wallpaper. Removed periodically for charity.

Come for the green chile-cheese fries and burgers.

It's on the corner. You can't miss it.

A nice mural out back. I'm under attack.

We left for White Sands National Park and managed to make the drive before the Visitor's Center closed at 5 pm. We toured through the park and managed to spend several hours just before sunset. I've visited here before, but it was a first for Russ. The sand had been wet from all the recent rain, but it was just as soft as I remembered. It's weird that it can be an extremely hot day, but the gypsum sand remains cool on your feet because the white color reflects the sun's energy.

Russ and the R-Pod at the picnic area. No pavement, just sand.

A big view towards the San Andres Mountains.

Cool Feet.

Long shadows on the sand.

It's beautiful in the evening.

We left in time to find the Lake Holloman Dispersed Camping just outside the park entrance. It was convenient and a beautiful spot for one night.

 We left the truck hooked-up and just parked.

Sunset. Looking west towards White Sands.

It was a long sunset at the end of a long and satisfying day.