Drive Clean Across Texas

Alpine, Texas: We had another great day on the road - even though My Driver put a long 280 miles on our bus. Our new RV already has over 2,000 miles on the odometer. Probably time to go shopping for a new bus? (Just kidding.) Truth be told, when we left Las Cruces this morning - pointing the Magna Peregrinus east - we had no set destination in mind. We traveled east on I-10 - through awful traffic (and terrible pollution) in El Paso, Texas and just kept going until it looked interesting to head south. The speed limit on I-10 is an incredible 80 mph. We cruised in the slow lane at 60mph.

We left the interstate at exit 206 and followed highway 17 to Fort Davis. This area is largely agricultural. At Fort Davis, we took a left onto 118. Highway 118 is one of the prettiest "scenic drives" we have ever traveled! The road, called the "Texas Mountain Trail", passes through a rocky canyon, with a bubbling creek alongside the road. The fields are filled with cattle, yucca and prickly pear cactus. The road was in great shape, with wide shoulders and numerous pull-out, picnic areas and historical markers to make the beautiful drive even more interesting.

Apparently the old Texas anti-litter slogan, "Don't Mess with Texas" has been replaced with a new slogan: Drive Clean Across Texas.

We are also now in the Central time zone.

After seeing no wildlife all day on the interstate, 118 turned out to be a near drive-through wildlife park! We saw huge herds of deer, many single bucks, herds of mountain sheep, wild turkey and bright red cardinals flying in the wind.

A few of the many deer we found today


The Magna Peregrinus on scenic Highway 118

One turn-out had a marker describing the ruins of the ranch home of Manuel Musquiz who settled in this area in 1854. Musquiz abandoned his home due to Indian raids. The deserted buildings were used as a ranger station from 1880-82 while the country was being cleansed of "Indians and bandits".

Manuel Musquiz homestead ruins - now protected by a cover

We pulled into a campsite in pretty Alpine, Texas (we have actually been here before!) in time to get the satellite dish up to watch the indoor Civil War (Ducks v Beavers in Corvallis). At half-time, we put the game on the DVR and headed into town for dinner at the historic Holland Hotel's Edelweiss Restaurant. The restaurant brews their own beer and they also serve buffalo burgers, so we thought we would give it a try. The food was good and the service was good, but it was 8 o'clock on Saturday night and there were only about five people in the entire restaurant.

This photo is not blurry - you have just had too many microbrews


Texas Black Gold at the Edelweiss Restaurant in Alpine, Texas

Our meal was going well, when I noticed the glint of metal from behind a nearby table. It was a revolver - pointed directly at us! The face behind the gun said to us, "I have a gun." Really? "What are you doing with your gun?", I asked. "I'm protecting you," came the answer. Whew. Five-year-old Michael (and his plastic gun) seemed to be in charge of the dining room. His mom manages the hotel and Michael roamed through the restaurant before heading up to his room for bed. He told us "today is Saturday, tomorrow is Church day and Monday is P.E. day". P.E. is Michael's favorite subject in kindergarten and he really enjoys exercising. What a hoot. Every restaurant should have a gun-toting five-year-old sheriff. Michael said if anyone drops their fork, he can run and get them another!

Since the Edelweiss seemed to be going nowhere soon, we asked our young waitress where we could go for some excitement in Alpine. She suggested Railroad Blues just up the street. Railroad Blues seemed fairly dead when we stepped in and ordered a beer at the bar... but within a few moments crowds started to fill the entire - quite large - bar. Paula Nelson - Willie's daughter - was singing tonight at Railroad Blues. (NOTE: I swear Paula was traveling in the same Prevost bus Willy was using a few years ago at Coachella.) After enjoying our beer with a very friendly biker (Neal, from Midland), we skipped out before having to pay the $8 cover charge. It isn't that we are old, cheap, tired from driving or do not appreciate good music. We left simply because it was so smoky. We Oregonians don't realize how spoiled we are with our smoke-free environments.

Something tells me we aren't in Oregon any more. Thank goodness, since Our Ducks lost in Corn Valley to the stinking Beavers.

Until my next update, I remain, your Texas correspondent.

RV Park: Lost Alaskan RV Park. This park is nothing fancy, but we like it here very much. Lost Alaskan is the best choice of the several parks in town. Owners are very friendly and helpful with advising excursions, restaurants, etc. Full hook-up gravel sites with picnic tables. All sites are pull-through. 30 & 50 amp, water pressure isn't very good (50psi). Many nice, large shade trees, but we had no trouble finding our satellites. Cell service. Aluminum can recycling. Good cable television, laundry, bathhouse, club house, horse shoes, play ground, swimming pool in season. Just over a mile to town. We paid $30.