Arriving at Top Of The Hill RV Resort in Boerne, TX

Why is it that every time we are in Texas it snows!  I’m starting to think that Texas does not like us for some reason.  When we were in Texas in December (north of Dallas)…it snowed.  Now we are in Boerne, Texas and low and behold…snow.  We only went 40 minutes down the road (from Bandera, TX).  Two days ago we were in t-shirts and 70′s!  Crazy.

It’s funny (not funny ha ha but funny interesting) to see cars off the side of the road because they don’t know how to drive in snow.  It’s barely sticking and people are amazed at it.  I guess it doesn’t snow here much, if at all. I wonder what would happen if we could just pick someone up and place them in the middle of New York, or where ever there is a ton of snow.  They’d get over that amazement real fast.

Tomorrow it’s supposed to get into the 50′s and keep rising.  So, I guess we should enjoy what little snow we have for now.  It could be worse, we could be back home in New York.  No thank you! We’re having too much fun, snow or not.

By the way, Congratulations to our Nephew Ben and his wonderful wife Chrystal and there new additions (Aaron & Noah) to the family (Feb. 17th).

Arriving at Our Site

Noah on Left and Aaron on Right (in white hat)

Driving Towards Bandera, TX. Interesting How The Mountain Is Split Right Down The Middle To Make Way For The Road.

Bandera, Texas is known as the Cowboy Capital of the World.  Their cowboy heritage began in the late 1800′s when it served as a staging area for the great Western Cattle Drives.  Today a number of world champion rodeo cowboys call Bandera home.  Bandera sits in the Texas Hill Country.  Just north west of San Antonio.

We came here with our friends Bob & Pat.  Just to check out the land and explore.  I can honestly say, there is lots of land.  BIG, truly Texas sized, ranches.  I love the grand entrance ways they have at the beginning of there driveways. Wandering cows, steers, goats, buffalo, horses, deer, and anything else you can imagine.  It’s strange to look over and see geese, goats, cows and a dog all in one penned in area.

Last night we found an interesting restaurant.  It is called The OST Restaurant.  OST stands for Old Spanish Trail.  Inside it truly is cowboy all the way.  The bar stools are horse saddles!  I would think that if you spent all day sitting on a saddle, you wouldn’t want to relax and have a beer sitting on one.  I know after sitting at a desk all day I wouldn’t want to go to a restaurant where I sit in a cubicle to relax.  Maybe that’s just my crazy New York thinking coming out.  OOOO…maybe I just came up with a brilliant idea for a New York restaurant.  Oh well.  Who has the time.

We’re going to head to Boerne, TX on Tuesday which isn’t to far from here.  Just to see something different.  New scenery.  New restaurants.  New people.  New smells for Tasha.  Oh…did I mention the rv place we found has grass!  We didn’t tell Tasha yet, but I’m sure she’ll have a smile on her face when we get there.

Roaming Buffalo

There Are Horses Next To The RV Park We Are At.

OST Restaurant in Bandera, TX

Brenda Driving Into Texas

On the road again.  Heading towards Texas.  Our friends Bob & Pat are leading the way to the San Antonio area.  We really have no particular plans.  So we thought we’d go along for the ride.  We wanted to visit San Antonio and The Alamo anyways.  So when is it a better time than with friends.

Something you don’t really think about, or know about, until you are on the road in the south.  Border Patrol Inspection Stations.  Not only does border patrol guard our borders, they also survey the streets and interstate highways. While you’re driving down the interstate, at any moment you may come across a border patrol inspection station.  You must stop and be prepared to answer the questions that are thrown at you.  Not that they are particularly difficult questions, such as how many people are in your rig.  This gives the border patrol dogs enough time to sniff your vehicle and the inspector to decide if you are a threat or not.  I must say, we have never been detained.  We apparently are not threatening in the least.  Maybe it’s the New York plates.  Maybe it’s the sign in our front window etched with our names.  I guess we just scream TOURIST!  I must say, the men, women and dogs of the US Border Patrol are hard working people.  We do appreciate everything they do.

Anyway…we’re heading towards the San Antonio area.  We’ll probably be there in the next day or two.  Unless something interesting catches our eye and we stop.  That’s the beauty of no schedule.  I could get used to this.

Approaching Border Patrol Inspection Station on Interstate 10 in Texas, Bob & Pat In Front Of Us

Sunset at Our Stop Over for the Night

Just wanted to bid a fond farewell to Rustry’s RV Ranch in Rodeo, NM. The views and the quiet we had we know we will surely miss. Below you will find images that were taken that shows the views from our coach position. I hope you will agree, it is a special place. If you are an RV’er, you must stop here.

We met some wonderful people. Darwin and Andrea, it was truly a pleasure to get to know you. Thanks Darwin for talking “geek” with me. We hope to meet up with you both on the road again.

See you again sometime Rusty, I truly hope your new park continues to grow.

We left Tombstone and were due to arrive in Deming, NM last Friday. However, we stopped for an overnight at Rustys RV Ranch in Rodeo, NM, and just did not leave. While this area is, well, a very small area, it is just so tranquil. By small I mean Rodeo is a town of 88 people. Where we are in fact, their is no cell service. (Not even with my cell booster with a 9db gain antenna.)

We have mountains on the left and the right of Rt 80. We are right in the middle of them. It us just an outstanding views all around.

Seeing that their is no one really around, their are no lights either to speak of. Because of this, the sky at night is just amazing. And I mean no lights. Seeing the moon is not out, it really is dark! Someone could be standing outside out coach and we would not be able to see them.

The below photo you really need to look at, click on it to enlarge it. If you look close, you will see the outline of the front of the coach. The rest of the image is of the stars at night. More stars than we have ever seen. Really, look close as it may take you a second to see the outline of the front of the coach.

We will be leaving here tomorrow, though we really wish we could stay a little longer just to enjoy the quiet and the peace that you find here. We know once we leave here, it will be more tight RV spaces, people, and noise. Rusty’s RV Ranch is truly a special place that you just must visit if you are an RVer. But be prepared to stay a few nights at least and don’t be surprised if you end up staying longer. (Closest Walmart is 56 miles away.)

David Walking The Streets In Tombstone

The town to tough to die.  That is the motto of Tombstone, AZ.  Tombstone may best be known as the western town that Doc Holliday, Johnny Ringo and Wyatt Earp once roamed the streets.  Were a town was measured how big they were by how many taverns they had.  Tombstone had over 100 taverns!  They were rich and big in those days.

Tombstone was founded in 1877 by prospector Ed Schieffelin.  He was on a scouting expedition “looking for rocks”.  People used to tell him the only rocks he’d find out there was his own tombstone.  He ended up finding silver, mining it and remembering the words that were spoken to him, he ended up naming the town Tombstone.

At it’s peak, between 15,000 and 20,000 people, it’s said to have been the fastest growing city between St. Louis and San Francisco.  The most famous gunfight in Tombstone’s history was at the OK Corral.  In 1881 “Cowboys” had a run in with Wyatt Earp and his family.  24 seconds and 30 shots later, three people were mortally wounded.  In many people’s opinion, this one event is what had kept Tombstone alive all these years.

Tombstone by all means is not a ghost town. It is an actual working town.  There are about 1500 year round residents of Tombstone.  You can certainly see that they take pride in keeping the history of Tombstone alive.

Tombstone Stage Coach on Main Street

Big Nose Kate's Saloon, An Original Saloon

Comedy Gun Fight Show

Main Street Tombstone, Arizona

Something Went Terribly Wrong With David