Exactly a year ago, I walked off the plane at Albuquerque International Sunport (New Mexico, home of sunports and spaceports) after a fairly traumatic border crossing into the USA from Mexico, in LAX. The issue at hand was that I didn’t have a ticket out of the country within the 90 day visa-waiver period. There is a long explanation for this involving some ambiguity around re-entry rules that I won’t go into, but I ended up missing my connecting flight from LA to Albuquerque. I’ve never had issues entering a country before, and to be yelled at and held at US customs was downright scary.
They ended up letting me in though, so I spent the night at LAX and caught the next flight to Albuquerque in the morning. By the time I got into New Mexico, I needed to get out of the airport, away from officials, into the open road, a hot meal and a drink or two.
Flemming came to pick me up at the airport and drove out to the area around Galisteo, I got an eyeful of some big sky, open road, the comforting thrum of a car and something to eat and drink.
I was restored.
We drove around for a month in April 2013, logging some four and a half thousand miles, taking in nice bit of New Mexico, and Utah and Colorado on the way to Monument Valley and Mesa Verde, stopped at the quirky little town of Truth or Consequences so Flemming could hang with a celebrity:
and make friends with a pair of Brits who were road tripping across America in a red double-decker bus.
We spent a goodly amount of time absorbing wind and silence at out at Elephant Butte.
and saw a bit of the state on foot and in the car, just dreaming while filming Beyond.
I miss New Mexico really, really badly. Can’t wait to go back.
charlene winfred 
Beautiful photo’s!!
I want to know more about the two brits in the bus! :-)
So happy I cam across your blog.
Best of luck with your film project!
Joe used to have a Facebook page but I can’t seem to find it anymore. He does however, appear to have an active twitter account: https://twitter.com/Doogle_9
Thanks for dropping by :)
Gorgeous…I’ve been to all of these spots, so this brought back all sorts of memories. Wish I’d known when you were there as a good friend and highly skilled pro photographer pal of mine, Deborah Samuel, lives in Galisteo.
I love NM too! Jose was born and raised in Santa Fe, so he introduced me to his home state back in 2001.
Well the plan is to be back in NM by the time this year is out, so I shall certainly drop you a line when I am back. I think it’s wonderful that Jose is from Santa Fe. There’s a special connection right there :)
NM is the beginning of so many magical things. Cannot wait till we get back there.
And since I dreamt about it last night, must mean we are going there soon :)
Let’s make it happen. Hat over wall!
I loved the photographs here Charlene. You’re view of the word is unique through your lens…and I’ve never been to NM, but this post has me thinking I should! : ) Safe and happy travels. ps: If you ever do get back to WA, it would be really cool to meet.
Thanks Holly! If you love wide open spaces New Mexico is definitely worth a visit.
I’m actually back in Perth at the end of this month. It would be great to meet :)
Charlene I only just saw this message! Of course I would love to meet up. If you want to send me an email I’ll get my phone number to you and we can arrange to meet. :) redterrain @ Hotmail . com