02x04 - New Mexico: White Sands

[bunniefuu]

A m*llitary testing ground
and alien hot spot...

a blacktop highway...

We're out in
the Wild West right now.

That stretches on forever.

I'm gonna get myself
over to New Mexico...

and I'm never looking back.

This is insane!

I feel very Steve McQueen
right now.

Not a bad way to start
the day, am I right?

Land as far as
the eye can see,

k*ller trails and riding
with these two...

Ernie Vigil and Nick Apex.

A good friend
hooked me up with them.

They're locals and two
of the best stunt riders around,

tearing it up in Hollywood,
at competitions,

and on the streets.

They know all the sick
riding spots.

Like this one, Montessa Park...

acres of desert
just south of Albuquerque.

It's like riding a bull.

That was awesome.

More, more, more,
more, more, more, more.

How do you step out of this and
not have people see your boner?

So good.

That was awesome. Awesome ride.

How'd you like that thing?

I love that thing.
It's so fun.

Man.
I love you.

So good.

How long you
in New Mexico for?

Just a couple of days.

I'm gonna go pick up my friend,
Aimee, at the hotel.

We're going to White Sands.
Sweet.

Yeah, down through
Lincoln National Forest.

That's a good...
That's a good run.

Are you guys from here?
Born and raised.

I grew up riding
out here as a kid.

Ten minutes out of the city,
you know what I mean?

So, like, ten minutes
from my house,

I could be out here any morning,
just ripping it up in dirt.

So, like, that's the cool
thing about Albuquerque

is all around the city,

you just have
all this open land

with tons of trails,

and you can just kind of
go balls to the wall

and go out
and have a good time.

Is it... is that
a ski resort up there?

Yeah, yeah.

You know, that's the good thing
about being in Albuquerque.

I could leave my house at, like,
: in the morning,

go up, do a half day
of snowboarding,

be back home by like : p.m.,

load up the bike in a van

and come out here and rip dirt.

You know...
It's snowboard, ski,

and ride dirt bikes
in the same day.

That's a good life.
It's so good.

You have a good life.
Yeah, yeah.

It was a pleasure. Enjoy
the rest of your trip.

Take care. You
have a good ride.

Back at it.

The last time
I was in Albuquerque,

I barely saw the place,

but the people I met
were clear on one thing...

I had to see the dunes
at White Sands,

and I knew they were right.

That famous rolling landscape
slipped into my subconscious,

and it wouldn't let go.
So I'm back here,

ready to uncover the many
mysteries of New Mexico.

New Mexico is a lot
more than aliens.

People see New Mexico
as this remote place

in the United States,
just a desert wasteland.

But really, it's this fertile
valley of diverse culture.

It's a Mecca, really,
for the arts.

It's got
a technological history.

It's got an artistic history.
It's got a colonial history.

Bill Gates tried
to establish Microsoft here.

Smokey the Bear is
from New Mexico.

Now that we're connected
with "Breaking Bad,"

now we're wearing stuff
like this, we're trying to be...

You know, with knives
on our sweaters.

That doesn't mean
for everybody to move here.

We don't have enough water.

I'm starting here
in Albuquerque,

then I'll head south
to Sierra Blanca Peak,

the highest point
in southern New Mexico.

Then I'll end my trip
in White Sands...

One-half Army testing grounds,

one-half geological marvel.

Before heading out,
I gotta grab my friend,

Aimee Nash, who just landed.

She's in the band
The Black Ryder,

whose music is ethereal
and atmospheric.

She's a good friend and loves
the road as much as I do.

Hey.

How you doing?
Hi, babe.

Good to see you.
Good to see you.

Did you have fun
out in the dirt?

It was really fun,
I have to say.

I've never been on one
of those things before.

My God,
they're crazy.

Yeah?
Did you go fast?

Yeah.
Bouncy?

Yeah,

It was like riding a bull.
So, we gonna hit it?

Yeah, let's go.
Let's do it.

Yeah.

I'm so happy
you're here.

Yeah.

That sounds nice.

It's so pretty.

There's so many different
flavors going on over here.

There's architectures
all over the place.

There is!

Look at that house.

I've always been fascinated
by architecture.

Buildings combine art
with function.

They help shape
the vibe of the city.

I heard about this guy,
Antoine Predock,

a world-renowned architect
and bike collector

whose unique aesthetic

is famously influenced
by the area.

He's designed everything
from houses and schools

to museums and stadiums.

With that mix, I'm dying to see
what's inside his mind.

This is it.

Now, I'm gonna
have helmet hair.

Yeah, I have helmet
hair every day.

I look like an animal.

You're an animal?

Let's go meet this dude.
This door?

I think so.

Hi, nice to meet you.
I'm Norman.

Hey, Norman. Antoine.

Nice to meet you, this is Aimee.
Hey, Antoine. Aimee.

Nice to meet you.
Aimee, Antoine.

Nice to meet you.
Thank you.

What's happening?
We came out here.

We heard there's beautiful
riding out here,

so we came out
to ride motorcycles.

She came from L.A.
I came from New York.

We're going
to White Sands after this.

Motorcycle's my life.
The beginning is right there.

Yeah, there's the Lambretta.

Yeah, these are great.

So, there I am on my way
from Paris to Istanbul.

What year is this? .

That's a ' TV.

How long did
that take you?

That's a long trip, right?
Not that bad.

Yeah? A couple weeks.

A couple of weeks,
yeah, see, there you go.

Is this your workstation,
your battle station?

Is that what this is?
Yeah, this is it.

So, projects all around us.
In China, Chengdu,

we do fantasy drawings

of what they think
it's gonna be.

We actually built it.
It's right here.

That's amazing. Chengdu, China.

So, you go to these places first

and see the sights
and the place,

and then you design?

Yeah, yeah, sure,
because they're

all about place
in every way.

And all this relates
totally to motorcycles.

Does it?
Yeah. Explain.

Well, architecture's episodic,
it's a storyboard.

It's in your head
or it's on the wall or whatever.

It's episodic, has to do
with conditions of light, space,

and riding a motorcycle
is episodic, totally.

Yeah.

You experience thermoclines
of temperature.

You know, the rush
of cold air on a pocket.

It's just exhilarating.

So, I think in life, that's
a kind of good thing, too.

Surrender to conditions
rather than, you know,

just mind managing everything...
Yeah.

And see what happens.

You really try to find
the spirit

of the place
that you're designing.

Yes, spirit of place. The
spirit, which I love.

I love that. In Spanish
alma del lugar.

Spirit of place.

I like that.

Buildings
could evoke a land form.

Like, behind you,
a mountain, maybe, or a volcano.

That's in Wyoming.

For me, that's how
I see the land.

I'm a desert rat. I mean,
my spiritual home is here.

I've been here years.

The inspirational palette here
is infinite.

So, have you had enough
archi-t*rture yet?

Archi-t*rture?
I love that.

We're gonna ride bikes, right?
Let's do it.

So, the Sandia Mountains...

That's the Albuquerque icon.

That's what we all love,

and it's like they're
multiple personality mountains

because depending
on the light,

it's like a projection
screen of sunsets.

Fantastic phenomenon.
It's beautiful.

This whole place is like
a geologist's wet dream.

You can see a lot of colors
that I've seen in your work,

as well, Antoine.
Yeah.

Take that, Aimee.

In the old days,

I kept a horse back in Old Town,
and would ride out,

following
the irrigation ditches

to the North Valley...

till they busted me
because of the manure pile.

Look at
the mountains up there.

Yeah, those
are beautiful.

You know, in New Mexico,

the license plates say
"Land of Enchantment."

That's no bull

Yeah, it really is.

At years old,

Antoine's accomplished
more than most

and still finds time
to rip it up on a bike.

Rio Grande, man.

Aimee, look at this.
That's amazing.

Look how pretty
that is.

That's stunning.

It means everything
to New Mexicans.

It's the lifeblood.

Yes.

Isn't that fantastic?

Thank you for
showing us around.

I'm in awe
of his unending love

for both New Mexico and riding.
Thank you.

He sees poetry in the colors,
light, and land forms,

while also finding inspiration
in the complex experience

of being on a bike.

After seeing these mountains,

it's no wonder
that Albuquerque

has influenced him
for over years.

You ready to get some food?

Yes. I'm starving.

I'm starving, too.
That would be great.

Turn your head around
like "The Exorcist."

Okay, we don't have any
heart conditions?

I've never
seen this much snow.

A thermal goggle that
allows the soldiers

to see a thermal image.
You look badass.

Here we go.

You ready to get some food?

Yeah. I'm starving.

I'm starving, too.

What did you eat in there?
What should I order?

I had the beans
and Tex chili.

Is it awesome?
Yes.

Negan...
You're Negan, right, in the...

I play Daryl.
Daryl, right, yeah.

I'm a good guy.
The nice one.

I'm a nice guy. -He's the
one with the bow and arrow.

- I liked it.
- Yeah. Cool. -Say hi!

Before hitting the road
tomorrow morning,

we couldn't miss
the Owl Café,

a local institution

serving up New Mexico's
famous chilies.

Hey, y'all,
how's it going?

How are you doing?
Good, how are you?

This is complimentary
green chili beans

for you to try. Thank
you very much.

Is this mild, or is this hot?

It's spicy.

It's got some kick? Yeah, yeah.

Should we have
some water or anything?

Right.

I was gonna say,
something to drink first?

Water, please.
Okay.

We'll have
the chicken enchiladas.

The chicken enchiladas?

I'll be right back, okay?
Thank you.

Thank you. My name is DJ.

Okay, ready?
I'm going for it.

Are you going for it?

I got it in my hair.

Really?
Brain melting?

My God.

That's spicy.

Really?

One of the few things
that actually does grow here

that's a vegetable is chili,
you know, so...

The red chili
and the green chili...

It's always hard
to make a choice.

If I have to eat chili,
it's red chili.

I would say
my preference is green.

Red chili chicken enchiladas.

Chocolate cake,
tiny bit of green chili.

Cleans you out, too.

This is quite an adventure.
Yeah.

I'm trying to think,
like, how we first met.

Well, you came
to our show first,

that's when we first met. Yeah.

Came to the show
we played in New York,

and we stayed out till really late.
Yeah.

I had to catch
a flight the next day,

and that was not a good thing.
Not a good idea?

No, 'cause I felt
very, very bad.

Really?
Sorry about that.

No, it was my fault, but yes.
It was fun.

We had fun, fun nights,
little crazy.

I'm gonna have
a little dippy in this.

Holy

Okay, see, I'm glad
you went first, then.

You need some water?

That's got, like, a thing.

So, how long you been
riding motorcycles?

Well, actually,
I grew up with my mother,

and we didn't actually
even have a car,

but I had an Uncle Jack

that was my
grandmother's brother,

and he had five motorcycles.

So he took me out
when I was, like, .

The first tour I did
in America was

with
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

And they became
good friends of mine,

and they took me out
for some rides on their bike.

I was, like, when I go back
to Sydney, I was like,

I have to have a bike now.

Did you go all over
the States, or...

Yeah.
When I was growing up,

I read a lot of books
and saw a lot of films.

I loved Hunter S. Thompson...
Yeah.

And thinking of what
the American dream is...

Like, getting out on the road
and actually seeing it.

It was amazing.

What was
your favorite place?

I've got a few,
but I love New Orleans.

New Orleans is awesome. New
Orleans has a great spirit.

Yeah, for sure.

See, I like places
that are, like,

connecting with the spirit
of each place.

It's amazing. How are
we doing over here?

I'm not good with spicy.

Here's some extra napkins.
Thank you.

Do you, by chance,
need any sour cream?

Yes. But does that k*ll it?

Now you tell us.
DJ, now you tell us.

I'm asking you.
I'll be right back.

Thank you, DJ.

Now she tells us.
Now she tells us.

I think she just likes
to see people...

Suffer.
Yeah.

I'm doing it again, though.

You love it.
You're a daredevil.

So, Ski Apache, are you ready?
Ski Apache now?

After you, madam. All
right, let's go.

I can't keep up with you.

Day two...
We're heading out and up...

, feet to
Sierra Blanca Peak,

which is part of
a string of volcanos

that stretches through
south central New Mexico.

This is awesome out here.

Beautiful.

The area is home
to the Mescalaro Apache Tribe,

who hundreds of years ago

roamed the southwest
as nomadic hunters...

Experts in guerrilla warfare
and highly skilled horsemen.

Now the descendants
operate several resorts,

including Ski Apache,

the southernmost ski area
in the U.S.

They've got over
acres of slopes

and a , -foot zip line
with our names on it.

We might be riding up,
but we're gonna be flying down.

We're out in
the Wild West right now.

I've always wanted
to be in a Western,

and I've never
been in one.

Maybe you gotta make one.

Right?
You could do the music for it.

There you go.
I'm down for that.

That would be awesome.
We could do a good

Western soundtrack.
Yeah.

Holy balls.

Holy balls, indeed. Holy balls.

This is great!
Just like, if you die

and you're on
your way to heaven.

I've never seen this much snow.

I'm Australian.
What do I know about skiing?

Yeah, right.

Can you tell
the altitude difference?

Yeah. During that
really foggy part.

Yeah, definitely,
I felt it.

Got a little light-headed.

Never-ending mountain.
Right?

Look to the left, turn your head
around like "The Exorcist"

and look behind you.

I can't right now,
I'm busy.

It looks really cool.

Now I can look.

That's crazy.

I don't think I've ever been
this high in the sky

before on the ground.

The Lincoln National Forest
is over . million acres

of flawless wilderness.

Riding through here,
it's hard not to dream

about ditching it all
for a cabin in the woods,

kicking back, and listening to
the wind blow through the trees.

We should go
take a picture, right?

There's snow, look.
This is crazy.

Look how high up we are.
Yeah.

Right?
This is like, airplane high.

I know, I didn't
want to look over.

Yeah, I was barely
looking where we were going.

I couldn't stop looking over there.
Look at the mist.

Yeah, come on. Let me get
a picture, come over here.

I remember when
we were drinking somewhere

you were telling me about

you like being the gorilla
for Halloween, I think.

You have a good memory.

Well, since you've roped me
into doing this in the snow,

and we're gonna be,
like, zip lining,

we may need some
extra warmth with costumes.

Okay, I hope it's something
sexy and awesome.

We'll make sure of that.

I see a zip line sign.

Leave it to a friend like Aimee

to remember my wacky,
costume-loving ways,

and make it
a part of our trip.

Fingers crossed that we find
some like-minded weirdos

with a secret costume stash.

My God.
That's crazy.

What kind of show is this?

Chicken.
See, this is what happens

when you do
last-minute shopping.

A gorilla suit.

Very sexy.

These little feathers are going
up my nose and

There's a lot of things going
on in my crotch right now.

Are you set up to catch
some chickens and gorillas?

Ready to rock and roll.

Lord knows, you gotta make it
to the bottom

of the zip line
with everything intact.

Wish me luck, man.

All right,
let's do this.

You don't want
to go too fast

because you're gonna be
a scrambled egg

at the bottom, bro.

We okay? Think so.

Okay, equipment feels good?
Yeah.

Okay, we don't have
any heart conditions?

It's heavy. It is heavy.

It is heavy, indeed.

How high is the bar?

It won't be that
much higher than you.

Is it straight arm? No.

Do you need to weigh us
before we go up?

No, no, no, we're
already past that.

You guys are already past that,

so we're good if you guys
are ready.

Yeah.
Ready.

Well, if this goes
horribly wrong...

Don't say that now.

I, - I want you to know
it's been fun, you know.

Thank you for riding
motorcycles with me.

Thank you for being
my friend.

Thank you.

That was a little shaky.

He said there's
back winds,

so we may go up
to miles an hour.

You what?

It'll be fine, we'll be fine.
We'll be fine.

We're a chicken and a gorilla,
what the can happen?

You chicken! This
little chicken hair

is really getting
on my chicken nerves.

Ruffling your feathers.

Thank you.
Yay.

- It's windy out there.
- Windy as

Is it dangerous
when there's really high winds?

It is, it is. More dangerous?

'Cause that wind'll
carry you.

Do that chicken dance
all the way up, bro.

So, this is the top.

This is what
we call Palmer.

You don't want
to go too fast

because if you
come in too hot,

you're gonna be
a scrambled egg

at the bottom, bro.

The reason that,
you know,

you guys came up here
to see us and hang out

with a bunch
of wild Indians is

because we have
this awesome zip line

and this beautiful mountain.

Part of the reason that
we were set in this area

is because we were placed
on this reservation.

As Apache people,
we took a lot of pride

in our culture
and our heritage

to be able to, you know,
bring people up here

and show 'em so much land,

so much beauty that we actually
have within this area

because it's important
to us as a culture

and as a heritage.

-Thank you so much.
-All right, so, yeah, of course.

Yeah, of course,
you know what I mean?

I take a lot of pride
in telling people that.

Thank you. It's an
honor to meet you.

For sure.

You guys feel alive yet?
Yeah, definitely.

'Cause here soon enough,
you're gonna feel alive

like you never felt before.

You guys are good with it?

It's ladies first
all the time, girl.

Okay, lean forward.

Here we go.
Here you go.

You ready for this, girl? Yeah.

Yeah!

He's going backwards,
check him out.

Enjoy it, brother,
and I'll see you at the bottom.

Full pull. Full speed, buddy,
full speed.

That was crazy!

That was nuts!

I went almost backwards.

That was awesome.

Not gonna lie, you
definitely feel alive up there.

Come here, give me a hug,
that was awesome.

Good job.

There you go.

Dude, that was insane.

I gotta admit,
when I first heard

about a ski resort
in New Mexico,

I was a bit skeptical,
but I was so wrong.

The people here have a profound
connection to the area,

and this adventure they've
created lets people experience

the natural beauty
of these mountains.

Now it's about time
to put the bikes to bed

and see what this mountain town
has to offer.

Check this stuff out.

These little guys.

What the hell's
going on in here?

Is this like a...

I wish this was open.

My God, the shops!

It's pretty quiet here,
isn't it?

It is, it's
really quiet.

What day is it?

I don't even know
what day it is I'm on.

I think it's Tuesday
or Wednesday. I don't know.

I have no idea.

This one's open.

This is awesome.
What's this called?

The Two Bears Trading Post.
This is cool, let's go in.

All right.

Look, there's
a log home for sale.

That looks awesome.

That looks like
a Lincoln Log home.

After you.
Thank you.

They're all made right here.

Hey, guys, hi.

Yeah, this is awesome.

Norman, yeah,
nice to meet you.

Aimee.
Nice to meet you.

Aimee.
My wife, Barbara.

Is this your bike out front?
It is.

The riding out here is great.
Gosh, yeah.

It's so pretty. You bet.

Hands down, one of
the prettiest rides there is.

Really. -Yeah, it's pretty
cool up here. I like it.

Is this yours? He is.
He's a timber wolf.

He's a real wolf?
He is a real wolf.

We raised him.

He's pretty. What's his name?

Cherokee. Cherokee,
he's beautiful.

Yeah. We had several...
Smokey and Kimber,

a bunch of others
that we raise 'em.

We have a half acre fenced off
as a sanctuary for them.

Every morning about : ,
you'll hear 'em howling,

and then the whole canyon
lights up that we live in,

all of the wild wolves,

the Mexican gray wolves
that are down here.

Yeah.

It's pretty cool
to listen to 'em singing.

We live miles out
in the middle of the wilderness,

so the log cabin

you see in the picture
as you was coming up...

Yeah...me and my
wife built that.

It's beautiful. They're
nice to live in.

Yeah. I wouldn't trade it.

That's awesome.
Yeah.

You don't need anybody.
That's great.

Yeah, it's okay.
I like living self-sufficient.

If we harvest an animal,
we eat the meat.

If it's not fit for human,
my wolves eat the meat,

but we keep the claws
and the teeth

and the bones and the fur.

Nothing goes to waste.
That's the way I was raised.

That's good, yeah.

I like these.

These are great.
I just saw that.

Right? You can get
your horse going.

That's not what
I was thinking, but yes.

You know what I'm saying?

And arrowheads? They are.

That spear that's
right up there?

See, it has the obsidian
blade in it.

Isn't the obsidian
like a shiny black...

It is. It's glass... volcanic glass.
Yeah.

It's also supposed to be
good for anti-negativity.

The crystals. Yeah.

I need some of that.

You need it?

Whip and some obsidian.
Know what I'm sayin'?

Can I get the obsidian
and the jackalope,

is that what it's called?-

Jackalope.

And the quirt? That's a whip.

That's like a mini whip.

Somebody sent me one,
a little different one.

But sometimes on set,

I'll sit there and whip myself,
just to like, wake up.

You can use it
for whatever you want.

I'm not sure yet.

Here, let me see that.
Here, you got a jackalope.

- That's for you.
- Dude! Thank you so much!

Thank you, my first jackalope.
Thank you so much, guys.

Nice to meet you guys.
Thank you so much.

Thanks for shopping with us.
What a pleasure.

Bye-bye.
Take care.

Tomorrow is the final stretch
to White Sands m*ssile Range,

where we're gonna go
do what they do best...

Blow a few things up.

Thank you for the jackalope.
You're welcome.

That was very,
very sweet of you.

What is that?

It's like a drone plane.

This is so "Terminator."

nt pistachio.

Hi, everyone. Hello.

How's it going?
Good.

It smells
really good in here.

Shut up.

That's awesome.

If you would sign
that for me, please.

Of course.
That's early on.

That's when I didn't look
like a wild animal.

My daughter loves
you so much.

Bum bum bum bum.

It was nice to meet you, yeah.

What a pleasure.
Thank you so much.

This is just
a lifetime experience.

I can't stop shaking.
I'm trying.

I'm, like, "My God."

Come on in.

A chocolate bar
that used to be chocolate.

Chicken heads.
Gorilla heads.

Glad we did that.
That was fun.

It's super early.

I'm super tired.

Dude, how do you
make this work?

Look.

On, on, on, on, on.

I'm not...
I'm, like, not awake.

It's... It gets
a little cold up here,

I won't lie,
up in the mountains.

Yeah, there was
a point yesterday

where I could
not feel my feet.

They felt like hooves,

and it took me a long time
to thaw them out.

But it's beautiful.

Going up the mountain was,
like...

I mean, there's dropoffs that
are, I don't know,

, feet off
the edge of the thing,

and you're right on the thing,

and there's snow
and a little bit of ice.

And you're like holy

But super pretty.

Like, everything looked like
a poster everywhere you looked.

Here we go.

We are back on the ride.

About time.

Shaka, brah. Shaka, brah.

This is so nice.

This is my favorite
kind of riding.

Me, too.
This sort of vibe,

out in the middle
of mountain ranges and stuff.

Totally. Last day.

We're riding miles
to the desert of White Sands.

Before the dunes, we're stopping
at White Sands m*ssile Range,

the largest m*llitary
installation in the U.S.

A few years back, I went on
a USO tour to the Middle East.

That experience
deepened my appreciation

for the people
who've served in the m*llitary.

White Sands m*ssile Range

was established in the s

as a part
of the Manhattan Project.

It was the detonation site
of the first atomic b*mb.

While this is a complicated
part of our history,

there's no denying
the role this space served

in the events
that changed the world.

The entire social dynamic
of New Mexico

has been
dramatically transformed

because of
the White Sands m*ssile Range.

Used to be in the old days,

if you were riding
down the interstate,

sometimes you'd see contrails
from rockets getting sh*t.

We are deeply aware
of the role we play

in the national security
of this country.

We take that
very seriously.

Look at this
jet fighter plane thing.

What is that?

What is that?

It's like one of those
drone planes.

You are entering
White Sands m*ssile Range.

Look over here.

It's a m*ssile!

Yeah, this is crazy
Crazy!

This is the place.
This is the place.

How are you? Jerry Tyree from
White Sands m*ssile Range.

Norman Reedus.
Nice to meet you.

Hi. Aimee. Nice to meet you.
Aimee, nice to meet you.

Welcome to White Sands.
Thank you very much.

We're part of the Army Test
and Evaluation Command here.

We test everything
from soldier sensors

and lasers to the most
advanced w*apon system

for air and m*ssile defense,
bombs for the Air Force.

Today, we're testing

some PEO soldier sensors

and lasers on some weapons.

Maybe get you to help us
with the test here today.

Gonna be awesome.
How about that?

Let's do it. Yes,
please, thank you.

Hello, sir, how you doing?
I'm Sean Wilson from PMSSS.

What's going on here?

This is the FWSI,

which is the Family
w*apon Sites Individual.

It is also coupled
with an ENVG,

which is an enhanced
night vision goggle three,

a thermal goggle
that allows a soldier

to see a thermal image
that's down range

so if the enemy is camouflaged
or behind something,

the thermal picture sees that
somebody is back there.

This is also a thermal imager
for the r*fle,

which is synched
wirelessly to the goggle,

so now you can see
what your w*apon sees

and still maintain situational
awareness on the b*ttlefield.

And you look badass.

Would you like to check it out
and try it on?

Derr.
Yes.

Now, we're just gonna lower
this down, let me know.

That's about right.
Are you good?

This is so "Terminator."

Now you see... the big picture
you see is the goggle,

so that it can maintain
situational awareness

down range. So if you move
the w*apon sight back and forth,

you can see that it moves
inside the goggle.

This is crazy.

This is insane.

This takes a little
while to get used to.

When you feel comfortable with
it, we're gonna have you sh**t

at that -meter target
out there.

Whenever you're ready.

There you go.

Takes a second
to get used to.

Yeah. Aimee, you
gotta try this.

Yeah. All right.

Going hot!

Hang on, guys.
I'm gonna sh**t this.

Am I getting it?
Yeah.

I am?
You're doing good.

I'm doing all right!

Hot.

Did I hit it? Yeah. rounds.

Really?
Yeah.

Try the M-
machine g*n next?

Let's do it.
All the way back.

We're hot.

Yeah. This is rad.

Thank you.

The vastness of this area,

the pioneering technology,
and the rich history...

It's unbelievable.

What these guys do here
has a huge impact,

and for me,

looking through the lens
they look through,

it's an experience
that'll be hard to shake.

After this, I could
spend all day here.

Yeah.

Like, that's so fun.

What you do here,

far away from Washington,

far away from many countries
which depend upon us,

what you do here makes
a significant difference

to the security
of our country,

and to those
who depend upon us.

I want to express
my thanks to all of you.

I'm very grateful
to all of you.

Hi, how are you, sir?
I'm Dave Brown.

It's pleasure to meet you.
Norman Reedus, nice to meet you.

Thanks for coming
to White Sands.

How are you, sir?

Norman.
Nice to meet you.

So, we wanted to make sure
that, before you leave,

we give you a little hardware
from me and the Sergeant Major.

Okay? Thanks for coming here
and telling our story.

Now you're a part of
our team.

That's awesome.
Thank you guys for your service.

Thank you,
and it's a pleasure.

You're official. Official.

Yeah, it's a pleasure.
I'm a big fan.

Back on my USO tour in ...
Coffee time.

It was moving to meet
the servicemen and women,

hear their stories,
and see their shared bond.

And when they talked about
their connection to my work,

it was humbling.

I've got such a deep respect
for the people

that dedicate themselves
to protecting our country.

And it's always
an honor to meet them.

One, two, three.

That was awesome.

Yeah, that was so fun.

I'm still kind of amped up.
Yeah, totally.

Like!
I want to go kick

a hole in a wall
or something.

I'm really curious to see

what these dunes
are gonna look like.

This is slippery.

That's some bumps.

Last stop,
White Sands National Monument.

This is pretty amazing,
riding through here at sunset.

Yeah, this is really
pretty right here.

This is magical.

Yeah.

square miles
of glistening white sand dunes.

Well, actually, they're
super rare gypsum dunes.

In fact, this dune field is

the largest of its kind
in the world.

And what would you do
if you were surrounded

by the biggest
gypsum dunes around?

Easiest question
I've ever had to answer.

Ready?
Yeah.

I was there! That did not work.

Yeah, here we go.
Here we go.

My God.

Yeah, that didn't work.

That doesn't work.

You know why? 'Cause your feet
drag on the ground.

Okay.

One, two.

My God.

Okay, that didn't work.

Maybe over there?

This is beautiful.
Look at that.

Yeah.

Okay.
Let's do this!

That was way more fun
than over there.

Look at that.
That's so orange.

What was your
favorite part of this thing?

I really loved
going up that mountain.

It was a little scary.

It was so majestic, like,

the scenery there
was mind-blowing.

And I think connecting
with the people, as well.

Yeah, and then you open up,
you meet somebody,

and they have
such a genuine, cool vibe

that you get it
right off the bat.

Getting to stop
and connect with people...

That's really made
the trip special.

Thank you so much
for having me.

Yeah, thanks
for coming, yeah.

Look how beautiful
that is right there.

That's crazy.

What a way to end a trip...
Sitting out here,

surrounded by miles
of perfect sand,

a mind-blowing sunset,
and a good friend.

Let's go get a drink.
Yes.

At every turn,
New Mexico surprised me.

The terrain seemed to change
without warning...

Vast desert,
lush green forests,

snow-capped mountains,
soft dunes of sand.

The people here
have found a way

to honor the land
in their own way.

Here, the land, like the people,
holds stories.

And when we find amazing places
like this,

hopefully, if we're lucky,

we get to take
a little piece of it with us.