#6: [04-Oct-15]

#5: [07-Feb-15]

#4: [10-Oct-11]

#3: [26-Dec-08]

#2: [21-Jul-00]

#7: [19-Nov-16] (incomplete)

04-Jul-2000 -- Interstate 40 runs east-west through New Mexico almost perfectly following the 35th Parallel. It was well before the fireworks were to start on this hot Independence Day of 2000 and the Garmin & I were itching to do something. About 13:00 we jumped into the Suburban with a canteen of water, a map, and the camera and headed west. I-40 climbs out of Albuquerque and the Rio Grande valley over Nine Mile Hill and drops into the Rio Puerco valley at the Stuckey's store and back out on its way into the sunset. This is an arid, high desert with an occasional juniper or cedar tree and sparsely covered with cactus and grasses. A few miles past the Puerco, the Garmin was telling me that we were arriving at 107°W. I stopped the truck just past a guardrail in a wide spot on the shoulder of the road so as to be well away from the traffic. After loading the camera and taking a last swig of water, I dashed across the 4 lanes of interstate, eased through the ever-present barbed wire fence, and headed south. This is easy terrain. There is not much serious erosion and the ground is reasonably flat; nothing technical about it. Only about 20 minutes was required to locate the position. Out here, with no trees or mountains nearby, the GPSIII was quick to stabilize. I let it average for 800 counts and there you have it- 35°00.000N 107°00.000W. Piece of cake. Took the pix, walked out, went home, watched the pyrotechnics that night.

Happy Birthday, America.

In the Laguna Indian Reservation.