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| An Oasis in the Desert. |
A hot shower, flaky oatmeal, steaming coffee, toasted semel, hitched up, ready and victorious-all before nine. We eased through downtown Federicksburg, and after that, our run of over three hundred miles was uneventful. In fact, it was quite pleasant. As the Hill Country filled our rear view mirror, we learned to our surprise that West Texas ain't flat. We heard a couple of ads on the only radio station broadcasting for a Mexican place in Sonora, so we stopped for gas and the special (Gorditas) of the day. They were pretty yummy, though some strange squeaks having been emitting from the truck ever since. We arrived at the edge of the Davis Mountains just about three. This state park is here because of the spring that has been gushing in the area for over fifteen hundred years. They say 23 million gallons a day pour out from the earth. In the thirties, a CCC group formed a giant boomerang shaped swimming pool and an irrigation system for the surrounding area. That explains the sudden greenness that sprouts out of the desert. The only negative thing I can say about this place is that the band isn't very good. I think their name is Pecos Gambusia and the Pupfish. All they can do is nibble. Anyway, you won't hear them playing in Luchenbach any time soon. I put my foot in the pool and a school of these tiny fish swarmed my toes. I had visions of blanched white bones surfacing from the pool, but the bicyclist we met (Thomas) emerged from the pool none the less for wear. Maybe they're not as ravenous as they appear. They are very tiny (2-3 inches), and this is the only place on the planet where they live. The pool is over twenty-five feet deep in places, the water is 72 degrees, and it is crystal clear. The fish, though endangered, are plentiful. Scuba divers come from all over to examine the spring and swim with the fishes. It's as cool as it's unexpected. I mean you don't expect to see a shop renting diving equipment in West Texas. Tomorrow, after a ride in the morning, we plan to visit the McDonald Observatory at Fort Davis for the night show. We'll even get to look through telescopes and everything. It should be good, and if tonight is any indication of the weather, the sky will be alive with stars. At one point today, the Bunny and I realized at the same time (We do that a lot) today that we've just turned a corner on our trip. We headed straight west all day, and that felt to both of us like we were starting to head home. But let's not get carried away. Many adventures lay before us (God willing: no one is guaranteed tomorrow), and we plan to enjoy every one. In the meantime, we continue to realize that life is good, especially today.
Sonora court house, one of many in Texas that follow the same blueprint.
The interior woodwork is impressive; so are the hand painted walls.
The obligatory food shot: Gorditas (We shared) We're not in BBQ country anymore, Dorothy.
West Texas and beyond. Who said texting and driving was dangerous?
Thomas, a guy from Northern New Mexico has been riding since October. He says he's tired, and he's called for an extraction. All he has to do is get to Carlsbad (Another 150 miles). Yes, that is a three speed. (Edwardo, of you're out there, this guy is so minimal, he reminds me of McCarthy. He even had duck taped pants).
The view from our living room.
The Gambrusia, and maybe a Pupfish or two, just after they swarmed my toes.
A rare red-checkered Bunnyfish.
The pool is deeper in other parts.
The outflow canal feeds the irrigation ditches for the surrounding farmers.
A steady current (Not too swift) flows through these gates. The pool is almost thirty feet deep here. The ducks don't seem to care.
Just across from our campsite is a diverted natural creek and pond. Believe it or not, the green moss is several feet under water.
The pond from another angle
Fric and Frac safely nestled in for a few days. I mean we're living large: power, water, cable TV!
Our first sunset in west Texas.
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