Back at the parking lot, I inspected Jumbo, a large steel container originally intended to catch the plutonium from the bomb, if the test explosion failed. It was never used. Later, the ends were blown off with a conventional explosion. Standing in Jumbo is a popular photo opportunity. From the parking lot, there was a bus ride to tour the nearby McDonald Ranch House, a single store adobe building where the first bomb was assembled. Then back to the edge of the parking lot, to check out the vendors. I had a pretty good hot dog, and bought a Trinity T-shirt.
By 10:40 I was back out to Highway 380 and turning east toward Carrizozo. The drive was mostly just more dessert, but the last few miles before the town pass through the Valley of Fires Recreation Area. The stark black lava fields contrast with the surrounding sand, The lava field appears to have only about a third of the vegetation as the nearby desert.
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