We saddled up with the rest of the cowboys and cowgirls, and hit the drizzly trail around nine. Leaving Luchenbach made us so sad we could have drawn tears from a glass eye. Our drive Northwest led us out of the hill country and into the wide open spaces of West Central Texas. Surprisingly, at least to us, a lot of Texans live in these parts. San Angelo boasts nearly one hundred thousand and the Midland/Odessa area twice that. Upon arrival at San Angelo State Park, we set up in site #11, which overlooks Big Lake Reservoir, but since it was so gray and dismal, we left exploring the park for tomorrow after church. Instead, we drove into town both for exploration and to find a church. We've decided that tomorrow we'll become First Baptists. The First Baptist Church of San Angelo began its missionary efforts in 1881 with Dr. Owen C. Pope and the Rev. I. R. Millican who became known for their efforts in the area. The church congregation itself seems to have been officially organized in 1883 under the leadership of Rev Z. M. Wells. In 1886, Millican returned, and the Baptist Church officially changed its name and its charter to First Baptist Church. Membership increased during the early years despite the drought of 1886, the cyclone of 1887, and the abandonment of Fort Concho in 1889. Throughout its history, the church has been very involved in missionary work, especially in Mexico and Brazil, as well as having a significant role in the community. We'll be welcomed I'm sure. Besides deciding on which church service to attend, we spent time walking Block #1, which is the original downtown area of San Angelo. It's starting to take on a renewed vigor with shops and such, but its outer edges are empty and forlorn. Fort Concho remains intact as a tourist stop just four blocks away, and there seems to be a very nice walkway along the Concho River. Mostly, San Angelo seems spread to the four winds, but thanks to the air base, a vibrant agricultural base, San Angelo State University, and a resurgent oil industry, the median income is quite high. Obviously, people like it here, and if Judy and I weren't suffering from the Hill Country Blues, maybe we would, too. We did find a scrumptious BBQ joint, which became lunch and dinner, so it's not like we're suffering. And there is music, but most shows don't start until ten. By that time of night, we're a couple of shriveled pumpkins, like the ones drooping on porches well after Halloween is over. So, we'll snuggle up in our cozy little Frac, enjoy watching the Texas Music Scene hosted by Ray Benson, slurp up the tasty BBQ, sip a cold beer, and consider ourselves lucky to be enjoying a life that is good, especially today.
Block #1 in San Angelo has several venerable old buildings, a stretch of wooden sidewalk, and signs of renewed energy designed to gentrify the area.
For example, we enjoyed a beer at the newly opened "Casual Pint", which is a very nicely appointed beer saloon and eatery. They offer over four hundred different beers, including some nice craft beers on tap.
Our find of the day is also in old town San Angelo. Peepsi's cooks it "low and slow". Quite good.
We shared a brisket sandwich for lunch and took a two meat plate (brisket, turkey) home for dinner. Our sides are borracho beans and creamed corn laced with jalapeños. YUM!
This saddle shaped building is the Art Museum.
First Baptist Church, our home tomorrow.
More excellent murals like this would add interest and help educate the tourists.
Frac, safely tucked into site #11 thanks once again to traveling mercies.
Bottom line: We're pretty happy here in the heart of Texas.
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