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Following a wonderful afternoon and evening with Gavin and Liz, and a nights rest, the longest distance to do in a day awaited us. According to the GPS, the route would take us south through Tuscon then east toward New Mexico, with a dip down through El Paso, and then back up into NM, and into Carlsbad…560 miles.We left Mesa (outside Phoenix) about 9:45 after a great breakfast at the Valley Eatery Diner Restaurant (honestly, that was the name of the place..look at the picture!) with Gav and Liz. We decided on the southern route into Carlsbad (through El Paso) because something caught my eye in the atlas we’ve been referring to. Evidently, Guadalupe National Park is home to the highest peak in Texas. There are some photos in the gallery. Actually a very pretty sight to see, especially as the sun was setting and the shadows cast across the face. We figured that since we be seeing a lot of flat over the next few days, this little taste of Texas may as well have a purpose. Outside El Paso, we crossed the Rio Grande..more like the Rio Pequeño. It must have been where we crossed it, but I swear I could have thrown a rock across it. To think that only a few miles down river Mexico lies on the opposite side.. Anyway, east of El Paso is where the drive got interesting, or should I say the exact opposite! 135 miles of nothing in every direction. The only thing that kept our attention was Gaudalupe Peak off in the distance, knowing that when we reached it the end of the day was near. Settled in at the Continental Inn, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and hope to get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow is our second longest day, about 450 miles to get to San Antonio, and we’re doing the Carlsbad Caverns before we leave!