West Texas Mountains - Davis Mountains State Park

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It’s been very cold this last week but we continue onward and westward.  Days are much warmer and the highs are around 15C.  Some nights have been down to 1C.  It’s fun to be inside at night reading and looking out at the night skies.  The night skies are truly amazing.  We’re not sure now if we will make it to Hueco Tanks State Park.  The further west we go and up towards El Paso the nights are in the -3C.  I think that’s too cold to have any fun but we will see. 

The drought is affecting everyone.  The levels here at Amistad are some of the lowest ever. 

It was a nice drive yesterday and we passed many memorable places along the highway; Seminole Canyon, Pecos River Bridge lookout, Sanderson, Marathon, and Alpine.  Nary a car to be seen on the road.  We did, however, see a major accident.  A road closer caused by a semi carrying a load of steel beams.  It was a mess and we are hoping the driver made it out safely.   Road crews, forklifts, and one-directional caravans took time.  I wonder who pays for all of this?

Crossing the Pecos River

An unbelievable mess.  I feel for the driver.   Clean-up must have taken all day.

We are now at Davis Mountains State Park.  Yep, we love to boondock but having electricity in the winter is a luxury we both like.  It’s 5:00 a.m. and I’m sitting here writing this blog with the heat on.  The jet engine Suburan furnace no longer works.  I disconnected it years ago.  Mr. Heater is doing a good job of keeping this end of the trailer warm while the bedroom door is closed and the ceramic heater is running in there.

The drive was about four hours.  Gas prices were great up to Del Rio around $2.49 a gallon.  As we passed through Alpine it was up to $3.38 a gallon.  We’ll never see good gas mileage with the trailer but we attempt to make the best of it staying around 55 to 60 mph.  There used to be an art display of a Strada women’s accessories store near Marathon.  Now, it’s the world’s smallest Buc Cee’s.  A little roadside entertainment.

Pulling into the ranger's station!

We pulled into the park around 1:30. The rangers at the station aren’t the friendliest.  State parks use Reserve America.  What POS website that is.  I gave up after an hour and a half making the reservation and decided they could figure it out when we got there and they did.  I booked a site way too small and one ranger, a very nice woman, gave us a huge site nestled away from everyone on a very small culdesac.  The minute we found the site at least eight deer were passing through.  After a good nap came a walk and happy hour.  Not a sound all afternoon but the birds and a slight breeze passing through the tree. 

Today we will go for a hike and a stop in Fort Davis or Alpine to upload the blog and Facebook pics.  We’ll be here until Saturday and after I’m not sure.  We may make our way slowly back to the RGV. 

I’ve been looking at motorhome rentals in France.  The company has hundreds of reviews and the majority are very good.  However, the bad reviews are very bad so we’re still up in the air about it.  Christmas holidays make it slow for real estate so we aren’t getting any showings this month on the house.  No rush, when it happens it happens.  As I said before, I think it is priced way too high but the broker says it’s a real deal and like everything else in Mexico, things take time.