Well, call me biased but I think that West Texas is some of the most beautiful country in the world. God's Country, as my father used to call Texas.
We left Dallas on Saturday morning and drove into San Angelo where we stayed lakeside, at a USAF campground. We spent just one night. The campground was adequate, but not nearly as nice as others we have visited. We met some nice people, though and it was fine for just one night.
Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast at the local IHOP and started for Ft Davis. We took Hwy 67 in order to avoid I-10 and so got to see a lot of very small towns and lots of wide open spaces. We drove through Alpine, which is still the small town I remember from 35 years ago, and then took a small state road to Ft Davis State Park.
Fortunately, they had space available for us and we got a good campsite, set under a shade tree and surrounded by mountains. As we set up, three large Mule Deer camp up to us asking for handouts. We were able to get some pictures that I will add in my next post. That night, Javelinas surrounded the camp and that was a bit more disconcerting, since they seemed ready to storm the camp for the chicken and dumplings I made for dinner.
We drove the skyline drive to see the stars. This is one of the darkest places in the USA, since there is no light or air pollution to block the view of the stars. They are big and bright, the constellations are clearly visible, and we saw some shooting stars.
Monday we decided to do some sight-seeing in the local area. We visited the military camp at Ft Davis and spent the afternoon viewing the rehabilitated and reconstructed barracks, housing and parade grounds. It is a beautiful camp and I can imagine what it would have been like to be stationed at such a remote location.
After visiting Ft Davis, we decided to drive to Marfa to have a late lunch and to view the Marfa Lights. We could not find an open restaurant in Marfa, and the Chamber of Commerce was closed for the day, so we drove to Alpine and asked the chamber receptionist to recommend a good place to eat. She directed us to Texas Fusion, across the RR Tracks on the questionable side of town. The food was good, however, and the place was packed shortly after we arrived.
As we were leaving, a tourist, obviously British, stopped us outside and asked if we had eaten in the restaurant and if was okay to go in there. I said, it was, the food was good and it was clean. He looked frightened, though and kept pacing around in the middle of the otherwise empty street. I would have liked to have had a Tecate with my meal, but the restaurant did not serve any kind of alcohol, though you could bring your own. I would recommend Texas Fusion, however, to anyone visiting Alpine. Just bring your own Tecate.
After dinner, we drove to the viewing station about 8 miles east of Marfa and waited until dusk for the Marfa Lights. Sure enough, just after the sun went down the Marfa Lights appeared. We watched them glow, grow and disappear for about an hour.
Today is our last day in Ft Davis, so we are taking care of some housekeeping chores, doing our laundry and getting ready to get back on the road tomorrow. Tonight we are going to drive up to the McDonald Observatory to be part of the Star Party, and see the stars through their giant telescopes. More about that trip, and pictures tomorrow.
We left Dallas on Saturday morning and drove into San Angelo where we stayed lakeside, at a USAF campground. We spent just one night. The campground was adequate, but not nearly as nice as others we have visited. We met some nice people, though and it was fine for just one night.
Sunday morning we got up, had breakfast at the local IHOP and started for Ft Davis. We took Hwy 67 in order to avoid I-10 and so got to see a lot of very small towns and lots of wide open spaces. We drove through Alpine, which is still the small town I remember from 35 years ago, and then took a small state road to Ft Davis State Park.
Fortunately, they had space available for us and we got a good campsite, set under a shade tree and surrounded by mountains. As we set up, three large Mule Deer camp up to us asking for handouts. We were able to get some pictures that I will add in my next post. That night, Javelinas surrounded the camp and that was a bit more disconcerting, since they seemed ready to storm the camp for the chicken and dumplings I made for dinner.
We drove the skyline drive to see the stars. This is one of the darkest places in the USA, since there is no light or air pollution to block the view of the stars. They are big and bright, the constellations are clearly visible, and we saw some shooting stars.
Monday we decided to do some sight-seeing in the local area. We visited the military camp at Ft Davis and spent the afternoon viewing the rehabilitated and reconstructed barracks, housing and parade grounds. It is a beautiful camp and I can imagine what it would have been like to be stationed at such a remote location.
After visiting Ft Davis, we decided to drive to Marfa to have a late lunch and to view the Marfa Lights. We could not find an open restaurant in Marfa, and the Chamber of Commerce was closed for the day, so we drove to Alpine and asked the chamber receptionist to recommend a good place to eat. She directed us to Texas Fusion, across the RR Tracks on the questionable side of town. The food was good, however, and the place was packed shortly after we arrived.
As we were leaving, a tourist, obviously British, stopped us outside and asked if we had eaten in the restaurant and if was okay to go in there. I said, it was, the food was good and it was clean. He looked frightened, though and kept pacing around in the middle of the otherwise empty street. I would have liked to have had a Tecate with my meal, but the restaurant did not serve any kind of alcohol, though you could bring your own. I would recommend Texas Fusion, however, to anyone visiting Alpine. Just bring your own Tecate.
After dinner, we drove to the viewing station about 8 miles east of Marfa and waited until dusk for the Marfa Lights. Sure enough, just after the sun went down the Marfa Lights appeared. We watched them glow, grow and disappear for about an hour.
Today is our last day in Ft Davis, so we are taking care of some housekeeping chores, doing our laundry and getting ready to get back on the road tomorrow. Tonight we are going to drive up to the McDonald Observatory to be part of the Star Party, and see the stars through their giant telescopes. More about that trip, and pictures tomorrow.
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