In June of 2010, we found a Pinzgauer in Luling, Texas after weeks of searching for one that was right for us. We flew to San Antonio on a Friday morning, made the short drive to Luling, then drove our new Pinz back to New Mexico over the weekend. Our plan was to avoid interstates and major highways and enjoy the drive. We spent 3 days driving back to New Mexico and stopped to see some pretty interesting stuff along the way. Here are our pictures from the trip.


This is a picture from behind the Dairy Queen in Luling, Texas. That weekend in Luling was having their annual Watermelon Thump. We really wished we had time to stay, but we had to get on the road. The goal was to make it to San Angelo.


Just outside of Luling, TX.


Avoiding the interstate entirely was impossible. With a top speed of 55mph, the Pinz is not the fastest car on the road.


Mike driving the Pinz.


Turning off of US281 and heading West.


good times.


On the road. There was a small creek running parallel to the road that people were swimming and toobing in. We really wanted to stop, but we were already a little behind schedule.


Reflection in the mirror.


Just outside of Fredricksburg, TX. The landscape is definitely different.


On the other side of Fredricksburg, TX.


South of Big Springs, TX, we started seeing the windmill farms and scheming how we could get closer to one.


It did not take long before we were able to drive right up to one.


The Pinz looks small compared to these massive things.


Another shot of how huge they are.


A quick detour through Tarzan, TX for a photo op.


We stopped at a Wal-Mart in Brady, TX to pick up some supplies. We happened to find Dr. Pepper, made with real cane sugar and bottled in Dublin, TX where Jessica's family is from. We picked some up and threw the ice chest in the back. As we pulled into Andrews, TX and I started to take this picture, a Dr. Pepper can exploded in the back of the Pinz spewing Dr. Pepper everywhere. This was the resulting picture. We now affectionately refer to it as the Great Dr. Pepper Explosion of Andrews.


After a long day of traveling, we stopped at Mescalero Sand Dunes just east of Roswell, NM to play in the sand and check out the capability of the Pinz.


Closer to home, red dirt and oil.


Selbstverantwortung. It is for everyone. Ha.


Roswell, NM was the home to several POW camps during WWII. A work crew building up the banks of Spring River inlaid an Iron Cross into the bank. Shortly after, the city poured layers and layers of concrete over it. In the 1980’s a group lobbied to have it uncovered and won. The German Luftwaffe (Air Force) donated a piece of the Berlin Wall and a small park was dedicated to Prisoners of War. This is the picture of the piece of the Berlin Wall.


and the Iron Cross.


Roswell has also become a mecca for dead planes.


We decided to take the longer way home and drive through the Capitan Mountains.


A quick stop at the Lavender Spring Ranch to pick some fresh lavender.


Mike picking lavender.


Rows and rows of beautiful smelling lavender.


 
We could not pass up the opportunity to take a 6 mile dirt road north out of Arabela, NM. That 6 miles took 3 hours, but the view was unbelievable.


 
East of Carrizozo, NM and about to rain.


Headed toward Mountainair, NM.


 
Our last fill-up in Mountainair, NM before making the final stretch home.