All good stuff here folks - thanks! Good idea on the sat view Jim, especially for a rookie.
Loc, I was thinking somewhere in the Las Cruces area would probably be a good first day. Printed out a list of options from the website Joe posted the other day. The Tejas welcome center also sounds like a good possibility.
I will be solo, so however I feel will dictate the deal. Main thing is to be back Thurs night so we can load our "bus stuff" and take a shake down cruise this weekend to Buckhorn.