5 April 2014

Will start by saying, 54 years ago today, I woke up in a barracks, Government Island, Alameda, CA. My first morning in US Coast Guard boot camp.  This morning I woke up in a Holiday Inn Express in Alpine, TX.  Been a lot of water under the hulls, and a lot of white lines followed in the last 54 years.  

Nice sky

Thise last 3 were phone pics, the rest are from the new little Canon,

It was chilly this morning.  I've been cold ever since I left Arizona

Near Big Bend National Park.  Not a lot things to see until you get into the park.

Took some work to build this fence out out "Bob Wire" and mesquite stalks

Lots of Ocotillo

The ones near Yuma and Kingman, AZ have more green on the stalks now, and the background is alway BLUE

This fense is interesting to me

Biglefti found this knive off the road, up near the fense line.  Wicked sharp, but has been out here for a while.  Sure would be interesting to know it's story. He'll take it home and clean it up.

A Texas Mall

This guy has been riding his homemade Chopper for a LONG time!

$10 per bike to enter.  Thankful for our Golden Access pass.

Scenery

Little more color here

A side trip off the main road

Like the bear, Lanny went over the hill to see what was on the other side.  Just more of the same

The roads inside the park are excellent

We stopped a most of the pull outs to read the stories

More scenery.  The pictures just don't do it justice. Lanny called the side of the Mounain Ol' Frown Face.

We kept our eye open for critters

Temps were in the high 50's low 60's.  Glad we had electric clothing

A "Bear Deli". They can come down here for their snacks

Looks like a movie set

Another side trip

Pretty trees.....

Inside one of the visitor centers in the park.  There are  4 Centers in the park, each tells a little about their specific area

On Hwy 385 going North out of the park, we saw out first Bluebonnets.Ended up being a lot of them along the road, but saving good flower pictures for the Hill Country

And, some Texas Buttercups in with them

Lanny is happy to be out of the 45 mph speed limit in the park.  We instantly increased to 75 mph for the ride up to Fort Stockton for food and a motel with WiFi

Texas Twisties

The salad bar had egg plant and yellow summer squash on it!  Among other goodies.  We ate at Kbobs Steak House

Coming soon

Finally got up to 70 degrees.  Unplugged the jacket liner, but left it in

The next town is the Willy Coyote

Time to call it a day. And, it's been a good one!

Blogging away.  Check the OSHA approved charging cords, thanks to a visit to Walmart to help out our oulet situation.

Loading dock at the Rail Road siding in Fort Stockon

Cop shop in Old Town Fort Stockton

Main Street used to be the main business district, but it's been migrating up to the Business I-10 loop

Nice old City, but mostly empty now in the downtown area

Hey!  There's my guy!  Right here in Texas!

VROC Clubhouse

Church near the Old Fort

Officers Quarters at the Fort