For a small village Deming has a lot of good Mexican food. I make my own Mexican, but for some things like tamales, enchiladas, and rellenos I leave it to the restaurants which are good and cheap here. Yes, enchiladas are easy to make, but the cleanup is a chore. Meanwhile I can grab some of the ingredients and local brands I like and can't find elsewhere, and stock up until I get back. Deming is a great place for rocks, and a day trip to...
Back in Deming. Stuck here for a bit because I've used up my gas money. I got out of San Antonio early because the wind was going to pick up quicker than I planned, and moving around here in dust storms is a bad idea. I landed just as the dust started kicking up. The penalty was that Sparky's in Hatch wasn't open yet so I have to go back later for their version of the chili cheeseburger. Driving 100 miles for a burger is worth it in this case. I...
A tiny village along the freeway famous for two things: The Owl Cafe's chili cheeseburger and Bosque del Apache NWR. "The Bosque" is known for it's massive wintering Sandhill Crane flock. The Owl is known for the best hamburger in the nation. This isn't a waypoint for me, it's a destination. The Birdwatchers RV Park is a perfectly fine place to park, and features an owner with personality, stories to tell, and frequently found at his...
Now this is a nice place. A scenic campground near Carrizozo overlooking a large lava flow. Paved roads and parking slots, visitor center, nice amenities. And it's BLM, so cheap with a federal pass. It's kinda "out there" near White Sands Missle Proving Grounds and the Trinity Site. A little tornado took off the roof off the local grocery store in town last Friday, and the nearest Wal-Mart is 50 miles away. An excellent place to park for a...
Clovis was built by the Atcheson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad and it's still a railroad town. It's a big switching yard, and has a diesel repair facility. The passenger station, abutted against the current BNSF mainlines, is home to a model train museum. There are several layouts designed to work by pushing a button (like putting your hand on the glass at the department store during Christmas), the best is a replica of Clovis itself. It takes...
The wind was blowing this morning, and I took off heading into it up hill until I reached the plains. I was at some elevation, the land was flat and I could see forever. And the wind was blowing hard, stealing gas from me at an astonishing rate. When you're on the plains, and in Texas, you expect this. The fields were recently plowed and furrowed, no doubt for cotton, which reminded me of the hazard of dust storms. And I did encounter a fairly...
As usual, West Texas involves covering a lot of miles, and there is little to tempt one to stop and tarry a while. But, the route I'm taking (SE to NW) to Clovis, NM is a wonderfully scenic and varied view from behind the wheel. Much to see, little to do. Last night I stayed at Hords Lake COE campground, near Coleman. It happens to be about the only area with people I've seen that Verizon does not have coverage. The lake (as are all reservoirs...
Tomorrow I head NW through West Texas, leaving a great COE campground for another up near Abilene. A storm will come through tonight, likely keeping me awake, but when it passes the weather should be good for moving. Well, except for the Texas wind which is always a given. Looking forward to the drive through the hills.
I enjoyed the drive west out of College Station because the live oaks disappeared, the trees thinned out considerably, the land became large ranches, and the road began rolling up and down a bit. It was a real pleasure to get to the top of a rise and actually be able to look out over some country for a change. Texas seems to be on a program to restore the old downtowns of the small towns along the way, and they are looking sharp, true to their...
South by Southwest wasn't on my list of things to do, but I've accidentally stumbled onto it. Seeing Austin was on my list though and I feared I'd have to pass it up due to the festival starting up tomorrow. But, I found a spot at a COE campground 30 miles away, perfectly acceptable. So I'll have a couple of days to see Austin, check out several promising bookstores, and take in a tad bit of the festival. I did well at a couple of bookstores in...
Or is it College Station/Bryan? It seems as if you are part of "gown" it's College Station, home of Texas A&M. If you are "town" it's Bryan. The two towns have blended together. The main campus is impressive, large, though I'm not fond of the setting: I'm out here in the middle of Texas somewhere. I'll be checking if I can find a place to park for a day or two near Austin, but mainly I want to check out the bookstores here. College towns are...
My original plan was to go to the Gulf for some sand, sea, birds, and visiting friends, then head up to Austin for a sight-see. Then I heard it's time for South by Southwest, Austin's big music and art festival. Not a good time to be there without some planning. And, it's high-time for the winter down on the Gulf, making for a lot of friction in finding space at good rates. So I'm heading due west tomorrow, to College Station for a day or three,...