40 Border travel

ROPA?  clothing for sale?

     Our next planned stay was the Stillwell Ranch and RV by the Big Bend Park nearly 500 miles away, and yes we would still be in Texas. Huge state.  We were planning on traveling the US side of the border along the Rio Grande River.  Since we were traveling alone we had been cautioned to travel during daylight hours, use filling stations in populated areas and we didn't think the "don't pick up hitchhikers" applied to us. 

It's not always sunny, but still no rain!

     February first we started out on Highway  83 we headed West until it turned North following the Rio grande we were seeing border patrol vehicles quite often now and passing thru inspections stations by every border crossing area.  I seen a nice herd of Brahman cattle just as we approached an inspection stop, I didn't think it would be wise to do a U-turn in plain view of the station.  I didn't think the German shepherd could catch us, however I would give the patrol vehicles an even chance.  I think their helicopter standing by would probably do the trick.  I would get my picture some other day.
     We passed thru the inspection area's quickly.  Evidently we didn't look like drug smugglers or aliens.  Sometimes we thought we were in the middle of filming an episode of "bad boys" or America's most wanted.   It is a little intimidating as you approach and all the high tech scanners are pointed your way and then the German shepherd circles your vehicle.  
       We had been told not to miss the Roma High School along the way.  It was huge, resembling a major college campus.

Typical Texas cemetary

      Not wanting to be stuck at night between major cities we stopped early at Laredo.  Made a bad decision here, tried to get a screen protector, called to check on availability and of course when we got there they didn't have one.  Maybe stubborn but once I decide on something it is hard to shut it off, two hours later we had a screen protector.  A stop at an ice cream store helped settle me down, comfort food my favorite thing.
   The next day we continued our travels changing to highway 277  at Camzo springs.  As we traveled we kept gazing across at Mexico across the river to our left.  I think in my mind I had been expecting a river like our Mississippi so it was quite a shock to see how little water there was at times.    Again we stopped early in Del Rio, even had time for a nap.  That felt good maybe this traveling is running us down?
     Super bowl Sunday morning we headed out, just north of town we took highway 90,  our goal was to get to Stillwell's tonight.  Before we committed we wanted to make sure they had a place we could watch the Super Bowl,  Barbie (our Stillwell contact.) assured us we could, in fact they were having a Super Bowl party.  This must be a more civilized place then I had been thinking.   The next morning we turned onto hwy 90, I was starting to be comfortable with this Texas landscape,  at first the lack of  shade trees and plush green grass bothered me.  But now I decided I could live here.  Lots of open area, mostly rocky with small scrub trees and brush. 

Guarding the border

     We have been hearing that grandson Colton asks if Gram-ma and Gram-pa are still in Texas, cute.

Jet Pilot?

     We have been very fortunate on this trip to get travel advice from many people, on this leg we had received good ideas form "forum George" and a new internet friend Bob from Canada, (currently in Florida.) I'm beginning to wonder who keeps the lights on in Canada from October thru April.   Here are a couple of examples of the notes we receive.  "Not sure there is a road number but only one road. If you get to Study Butte, you have passed it by 15 miles...ha ha There is a nice cafe, cabins, camping, etc there....you will be surprised."  Or  "just before you get to the Park entrance takes you to the Stillwell Ranch...then go on down to the bridge to Mexico...You can not cross....Mexican soldier is there with a machine gun...ha ha but you can look at the river.."   and with these bits of advice, maps and the internet we adjust our travels,  sometimes we are lost and just stumble on neat places.

Amistad Recreation Area on the Pecos River

   
     At one point we were behind a Semi that had been traveling slower than the posted.  As we peaked a hill we could see for miles down the hill and across the other side,  we made our move about the same time he did.  Never pass a loaded semi going down hill.  That load he's carrying gives him great acceleration.   Seventy, seventy five, eighty?  Last I seen it was eighty five as we pulled around him.  Of course now I realize he was speeding up to make the next hill.   And on the up hill side was a passing lane.  Lesson learned!
     We turned into Langtry to visit the Judge Roy Beam museum.  It would be great to have really know this character.  Skirting and sometimes breaking the law all his life he ended up squatting on a railroad right of way erecting his saloon and becoming a Justice of the peace.  He called himself the "Law west of the Pecos" and had a reputation for adjusting the fines to whatever the accused had in his pockets.  He sentenced two men to death and then secretly arranged for them to escape.  Although legally not able to grant divorces he did so for $10.00, he charged $5.00 for marriages and his parting blessing was "May God have mercy on your souls." 

  
       There is a rumor that some of the illegal fines he collected went to help the poor and children with medicine and food.  He said it might help him on judgement day.   He sounds like he was an ornery old cuss, but one of his oddities was his infatuation with Jersey lily a British actress.  He fell in love with a picture of her and claims to have named the town and his saloon after her.  Writing her several times she sent him and the town a fountain for naming it after her.  He didn't like the gift saying everyone here drinks beer.  ( from his saloon and courthouse of course.)  Her visit to the town came  ten months after his death.  She was presented with his pistol.  An interesting story. click "here" for more information. 
     Stopping at Marathon ( last town before Big Bend park) we were fortunate to have a great burger at Johnny B’s.  Around two o'clock there was a small hill with the road cut thru the rock hill.  We knew that the Stillwell lay just ahead.  What lay in store for us there.  Our plan was to wait two days for our mail and medicine form the Mayo clinic to catch up with us.  A couple of trips to the park and we would be on our way.  But tonigt, get registere set up our little home and enjoy the Super Bowl with friends we hadn't met yet. What do they say about the best laid plans?

     This is our path from Alamo to Stillwell's.  Interactive  Map   I just found something interesting, ( at least to me.) the removable graft on the side of the map shows our average speed at reference points. If you hit the play button in the lower left corner it will replay our path.