Turns out I didn’t need to stop in Roswell.  There were aliens in White’s City as well.

And a bear for good measure.

White’s City, not Carlsbad, is the closest city to the Carlsbad Cavern.  Carlsbad is actually 25 miles away.  Though I don’t know if it’s technically a city.  There’s not much there other than a motel, an RV park, a gas station, gift shop and a restaurant.

White’s City is named after Charlie White, not related to James White (the guy credited with exploring Carlsbad Caverns.)  Charlie White was just some dude who moved from Kentucky to New Mexico to cure his tuberculosis, and decided there was an opportunity for money-making outside the Carlsbad Caverns.   I guess that wasn’t worth much to his descendants, who put it up for auction a few years ago.

So we’re camping here for the night before going to Carlsbad Caverns the next day.  And it’ll be my first time camping!

I’m excited!

Here’s our tent.  We were only one of three campers.

And I claimed my sleeping bag right away.

This is going to be fun.  What great bear bonding!

And tomorrow, Carlsbad Caverns!