Day three of my journey began shortly before sunrise in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Unlike the previous two days, some of today's trip would be taking place away from the interstate. About 160 miles, or roughly 3 hours, would be spent on US Route 54 East from Alamogordo to State Route 219 north of Vaughn, NM. I selected this route because this was my first visit to New Mexico and I figured my day would be filled with lots of unplanned stops to take pictures. Traveling on the secondary road would make it easier for me to pull over and take pics. And it didn't take long for the unplanned stops to begin.

I didn't make it more than a couple of miles from my hotel in Alamogordo before I stopped to take pictures of the mountains east of the city. I found an area along East Canal Street where I could pull over.

Like I have been doing this whole trip, I took three portrait pics that I could stitch together to make a large panorama. This is picture 1 of 3.

Picture 2 of 3.

Picture 3 of 3.

Three-picture panorama of the Sacramento Mountains east of Alamogordo, NM. The two prominent peaks in the center of the photo are (L) Ortega Peak (7,695 feet), and (R) Hershberger Peak (7,850 feet).

Zooming in on Ortega Peak (7,695 feet).

Zooming in on Hershberger Peak (7,850 feet).

Zooming in on some homes at the base of Ortega Peak.

I believe the prominent peak in the photo above is Steamboat Mountain (7,020 feet).

I got back onto an empty Business Rt 54 through Alamogordo and headed east, (northeast actually).

Business Route Rt 54 through Alamogordo, NM which was empty on this early Sunday morning.

I made it a whole 9 minutes before stopping again, this time along Rt 54 near Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise would be here soon, and I was determined to get a picture of it.

Looking east toward the Sacramento Mountains near Tularosa, NM.

I thought the 5,600-foot peaks in front of the 8,000-foot peak made for a great picture.

A 5,600-foot peak in front of the 8,000-foot peaks of the Sacramento Mountains, Tularosa, NM.

Gap in between a pair of 5,600-foot peaks in front of several 8,000-foot peaks of the Sacramento Mountains, Tularosa, NM.

A 5,600-foot peak in front of the 8,000-foot peaks of the Sacramento Mountains, Tularosa, NM.

Trying to zoom in on the 5,600-foot peak.

A 5,600-foot peak in front of the 8,000-foot peaks of the Sacramento Mountains, Tularosa, NM.

I was starting to see signs of sunrise.

The stunning red color of sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), made for a great picture.

Sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), Tularosa, NM. I had varying levels of success trying to zoom in.

Sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise over Sierra Blanca Peak (11,973 feet), Tularosa, NM.

The above photo looks south back toward Alamogordo where I was earlier.

Turning the other direction pointed me to the west and the San Andres Mountains.

White Sands National Monument off in the distance.

I tried to take another picture of the White Sands National Monument area to the west. But the camera focused on the bush in the foreground.

Ah, that's better. This time the camera focused on the background.

Looking west toward White Sands National Monument and the San Andres Mountains, Tularosa, NM.

Turning northwest brought more signs of sunrise into view.

As near as I can determine, this is Salilnas Peak (8,965 feet).

Zooming in on Salilnas Peak (8,965 feet).

Zooming in on Salilnas Peak (8,965 feet).

I hit the empty road again and was able to take a few nice shots looking west across the Tularosa Valley at the San Andres Mountains.

Looking west across the Tularosa Valley toward the San Andres Mountains.

Looking west across the Tularosa Valley toward the San Andres Mountains.

Looking west across the Tularosa Valley toward the San Andres Mountains.

I made it 15 minutes this time ! With sunrise visible, I found another area to pull over north of Tularosa, NM for more pics.

Sunrise over the Coyote Hills, north of Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise over the Coyote Hills, north of Tularosa, NM.

Sunrise over the Coyote Hills, north of Tularosa, NM. And before you ask, YES the roof came down immediately after this stop. Overnight temperatures in the upper-30s produced frost on the convertible top in the morning. I kept the roof up just long enough for the frost to evaporate.

Coyote Hills area, north of Tularosa, NM.

Route 54 is right next to the railroad tracks in this area.