Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas

We Leave Van Horn on the low lands and drive thru pastures, if you can call them that, doesn't look like much can survive well on that scrub brush, but as you can see I guess they do.

Not sure which one is a Texas Long Horn, but it is some type of Long horn cattle.

Humm a water line gauge, wonder why, well flash floods occur in a regular basis when it rains, and rain it does, clay earth, so nothing sinks in right away, and there are these dips in the road that fill up with water.

And then flow over the road and wash anything and everything along with them. Never cross water on a roadway!

Off in the distance we see where we are going, hope the road is not too steep.

So up we go

Higher and Higher, the road looks very small.

But finally we land at our destination

5000 feet + is our altitude.

The mountain is beautiful.

We stop at the Visitor Center and their is a nice walk we can take with Gremlin.

The Pinery Trail, where stage coaches stopped, for food and water while carrying the mail. The buildings were made of local stone, but all gone now just a couple of walls standing. The buildings are gone but the memories of a by gone era are not.

So on the trail we go!

Here is Gremlin, he got tired and it was warm, so he got to be carried!

Signs helped with identification of plants, this is a Banana Yucca.

These signs always reminded us of where we were, not in New England for sure, always on the look out for many different species of creatures that can really be dangerous!

This is Mountain Mahogany

The ranger told us of this homestead that we should see, so we did. The Frijole Homestead.

This Plaque explains most of the history, the setting was amazing. House surrounded by wonderful shade trees.

The Smith Family was the second tenents, and they had a very large family. He raised vegtables there, and fruits, amazing crops, and would leave in the evening, with his wagon filled with fresh veggies, fruit, covered with wet cloths to keep them fresh, pulled by a team of donkeys, and would be in the town of Van Horn for the morning delivery.


He was able to do this in such barren land because of this spring which just came out of the ground, 6 gallons of water an hour would flow from it, and he made trenches to his fields, keeping everything well watered.

This is one of his trenches coming from the spring


A friendly mole lives in the front yard.

This is the school house, where the teacher resided beside the house.
It is being repaired at this point to preserve it.

A view from the back yard

A view from the back of the house facing the hillside, there was a path leading to the pond, and of course we had to walk to see for ourselves what it was like.

Marsh grass surrounds the pond, the water was crystal clear.

This is a picture of the Smith family, could you survive there??

So after all the walking we decided to stay and get a camp site in the park. No Electricity or water hook ups, just a site with a picnic table and the opportunity to enjoy the open sky at night. They had special lights in the Rest Rooms so not to interfere with the night sky....It was really dark...

So here is Paul at our table enjoying the setting sun!

Van Horn Texas

Well here we are in Van Horn, very mexican town, struggling to survive in this economy.


This is the El Capitan Hotel which is in the process of re-opening, would love to stay there someday to experience the flavor of this little town.



This is a picture of the neighborhood, as we headed to the Guadalupe Mts. National Park just outside of town in the Guadalupe Mountains

Always interested in the wildlife, the cats are too, this is a cardinal, not sure if he is just immature and this fall will have his real colors, doesn't matter he/she is just beautiful.

This is a Cholla very dangerous to all, do not touch or brush it, they grow everywhere....! Picky,picky you will need to see a Doctor if you don't obey the signs, but it is not posted everywhere, like here at this campground.

This is a Agave plant sometimes called a Century Plant, the indians use to bake it like a clam bake like we have in the east, and the plant will soften and will be sweet and delicious. Today you can buy it in the grocery stores everywhere, better and sweeter than sugar, try it, we have a bottle in the motor home right now...
For all that have never had a clam bake, make a fire with large rocks in a hole in the ground, when the fire goes out and the rocks are very hot, cover with seaweed, so it steams, add your clams, lobster, sausages, and corn, cover again and wait, it takes a few hours to cook, but worth the wait.

The indians use to leave their Agave plant overnight, not sure what they used to cover their Agave but more than likely it was prairie grass. The desert today is not like it was then, use to be covered in long prairie grass, which no longer exist today, because horses and sheep and goats were brought in and they ate the grass and even the roots, all gone today. Just scrub brush now.


I just love all the catus plants common everywhere.

The day we went to Van Horn it was late and darkness was all around us, in the morning this is what we saw!

Of course chickens will be everywhere, no cages here as you can see, the cats were so excited about this!

Another view to enjoy!

and another!

Abilene, Texas

Well here we are now in Abilene, Texas at the train Station.




The Texas & Pacific Railway, first Railroad across West Texas.

The trains still roar by this train Station today.

Beside the station is a wonderful park, check out Gremlin in the Canoe! A beautiful sculpture to enjoy.

This was the back side of the station stop.

And on the side was this wonderful fountain, and sitting area to enjoy, wish the fountain had been working, I can see everyone enjoying it on a hot summers eve.

Trolley cars take visitors around the town, we see trolleys in almost every city we visit.

This is The Grace Museum, formally the Grace Hotel, the only major hotel from Fort Worth Texas, to El Paso Texas, located naturally across from the train station.

This is a plaque showing the history of the Hotel Grace.

Check out the Paramount Theator, playing the classic 1938 Robin Hood!

I just love the ticket booth, it is stepping back in history for sure!

And just look at the coming attractions!

Wish we could have stayed awhile to explore more and maybe to take in a movie or two, maybe next year!

San Antonio, Texas and the Alamo

We stayed in a KOA campground in San Antonio, Texas, very convenient to the town, we actually left the kitty's in the motor home cool and comfortable, glad to stay put for a day and took Gremlin on his first bus ride into town. But before we left, in the woods behind the camper was this hawk, I couldn't get him to turn around he was actually a little put off about being bothered, not sure what type he is,must check my books when I get back home.




The town was just the right size for sightseeing, easy to get around and very clean.

Love seeing the horse drawn carriages, every town seems to have some

Same with Trolley Cars too

So off to the Alamo was one of our first stops, the grounds outside are so amazing, I just loved the open arches and I suspect during the summer months must have maybe grapes or another type of flowering vine covering this side entrance.

This is the original well at the Alamo, no water in it now just lots of change!


Davie Crocket is buried here also.

This is a side court yard and the building is the Daughters of American Revolution, historical society, where you can do research, disappointed that it was not open that day.

Side view of the Alamo building.

The rangers keeping the peace, well not , but letting you know the rules. The Alamo is considered a church, no pictures, food, etc...and they mean business..

This the the front of the Alamo, built 1836. If you want to learn more about the Alamo check out http://www.thealamo.org/

From there we went to the River Walk, and it was really wonderful to see signs of spring everywhere.

We walked till we could not walk anymore, this side ended with this tunnel, and that is where they keep the river boats while not in use.

Stone arches embrace the river, allowing everyone to cross the river.

Along the walkways you will come across little waterfalls.

Each one a little different.

Cafe's line the riverfront, you actually walk thru the cafe's when you stroll along the river.

This walkway goes on for miles, and they are adding another addition to it, what a beautiful place to take a stroll, or to stop and have lunch.