Day Eight: White Sands & F-16s
Alamogordo, New Mexico, greeted us with an unforgettable stop—White Sands National Park. For my East Coast friends, imagine the sand dunes of the Outer Banks, but stretching endlessly, with no ocean in sight. The pure white sand rolled for miles, sculpted by the wind into soft, shifting waves.
The best part? Sledding. Visitors rented plastic saucers and slid down the dunes like it was the middle of winter. AC and I joined in, laughing like kids. It was a welcome moment of playfulness in the midst of long days on the road.
After White Sands, we visited our friend Benton, an F-16 pilot at the nearby Air Force base. Watching those jets take off was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. The sheer power, the deafening noise, and the incredible courage of the airmen made me pause with gratitude for the freedoms and safety we so often take for granted.
From the base, we followed Benton home, where he and his family welcomed us with a home-cooked meal. After days of camp food, a dinner shared around a real table with friends felt like a luxury. We met their two small children, swapped stories, and for the first time in days—took a real, indoor shower.
After another full day, we fell asleep feeling refreshed, grateful, and ready for whatever the road had in store next.
