After leaving Santa Fe, we left the skiff of snow behind and enjoyed a sunny drive to Las Cruces New Mexico. We stayed here 2 years ago so not much new to report, but you can check our blog from then to learn about Billy the Kid and other Las Cruces info. The little bit of snow in Santa Fe was enough to cover the back of Harvey with muddy spray so I took time to clean it pretty.
Our next leg takes us through El Paso which is on the Rio Grande river. That means Mexicans may try to sneak across the river so on the only road out of town, there is a permanent inspection station. I'm not sure why but the cars were examined and a dog walked around each of them but the motorhomes were waved through without inspection. Maybe I could make some extra cash filling up with illegal immigrants.
This is our campsite in Fort Stockton Texas. Not many amenities here. We did get some wind and sand for entertainment. That grassy stuff on the ground isn't actually grass, its some evil plant with burrs covered with thorns. If you step just right, the thorns go right through your crocs and you know it. I was a bit worried that they might give me a flat tire; they're that bad. Anyway, you learn quickly to stay off the plants.
Fort Stockton has one of the nicest visitor centres we've seen. You have to admit, thats a cool road runner. All festive and all.
This is part of the entrance to the visitors centre. Isn't that something? Its such a small town that the visitors centre is probably the biggest feature in town.
The main reason that Fort Stockton exists is because of the fort which was built here to protect settlers who were moving west and unhappy Indians would try to persuade them to go back, usually by massacring them. The fort is still there so we had a walk around. Seeing the barracks and the jail was all and good but the most interesting thing we found was this wagon. Knowing I'm a John Wayne groupie helps explain why I'm tickled to find this treasure. I mean, he may have sat in it, wow!
Next stop is Boerne Texas. You will note we don't quite have the place to ourselves like we did in Fort Stockton. I'm assuming that everyone stayed there once, just like us, and wouldn't go back to be terrorized by ambushing burrs. None of them buggers here so we're going to start taking walks again.
Got tired of walking around the campground so we went for a drive. The town of Fredericksburg was a great place to spend a couple of hours. Its just like St. Jacobs (if you know where that is), all touristy and trinket shops. Founded by Germans as well. Admiral Chester Nimitz, who commanded the Pacific fleet during the second world war was born here and the largest Pacific War museum is here. The top of the museum is built to look like the top of a war ship.
If you are a fan of country music and are over 30 years old, you probably have heard of the song "Luckenbach Texas" by Waylan Jennings in 1977, when outlaw country was king. Google it, its really cool. Anyway, we had to go there; it was just a few miles away.
There actually is a place by that name. A general store, a dance hall and a blacksmith shop is the total extent of the place. Oh yeah, 3 different bars. Its a magnet for would be outlaws and was loaded with bikers and their girls. Had to have a beer to get in the zone. Now there's an outlaw.
Well, after one bloody light beer this outlaw went looking for the toilets. All I can say is, I'm just glad I didn't have to sit down to get relief. Rustic and well used. Well, I've been to Luckenbach Texas and couldn't find Waylon and Willie and the boys, but it was fun anyways.
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