(12) pt 2 Valley of Fire, Magdalena, VLA New Mexico

Valley of Fire, NM (part 2)
Magdalena NM
VLA, or Very Large Array.

I’ve left the Three Rivers campground and as I was looking out across the vast desert valley literally from horizon to horizon, with those ever present low mountain ranges surrounding the valley, I saw miles, off in the distance, a train. Silently moving across the far side of the flat expanse of mesquite, prairie grass and cactus. Not a sound could be heard. The rail cars were mostly industrial black, with the occasional bright burnt orange car in between. Like a long pencil gliding across the land.

On my way across the southern end of New Mexico, I planned on stopping briefly to see the Valley of Fires Recreation Area. It’s an area that was created over 5,000 years ago from volcano vents in the earth, not an actual volcano. The lava flowed from these vents and now covers an area approx. 5 miles wide and 40 miles long. I don’t have much expectations and plan on only staying a short time.

After filling up the truck with that precious liquid gold (it’s now costing me well over $60 to fill my tank), and getting a good cup of coffee and yes a fresh cookie, I headed toward the valley only a couple more miles down the road.

The Valley of Fires was originally a small New Mexico State Park, which they finally dropped due to budget cuts. After letting it get completely run down, the BLM has taken it over and has made some major improvements. Campers will really appreciate the wonderful paved pull thru sites with water and electric. Each site has it’s own picnic table and shelter and awesome views. Ok, so I’m a little impressed.
Then, even though workers were rebuilding parts of the Nature Trail, I decided to see how far I could go. The BLM has begun paving the trail so that it’s wheel chair accessible and it flows (no pun intended) beautifully above the lava flows. Walking along this comfortable path, I began to see the most amazing sights. The black Lava flows with deep gashes, tubes and bubbles that have broken through and are now filled with exotic cactus, pinion pines and wild flowers hugging the craggily sides and cracks. The soft greens of the cactus and rich full symmetrical shapes of the bayonet plants and century plants seemed to be put there by some master artist. I don’t know why, but I’m completely captivated by this site. As harsh as it is, the beauty completely shines through. The black lava absorbing all light and the vegetation that seems to pop out at every turn just has to be seen in person. I was able to continue the loop trail on the raised compacted dirt that the workers were putting down to complete the path. Who would have believed that I could get excited about lava. But there you are.

A stop over in a small town called Magdalena NM (elevation 7,000 ft) has brought me closer to the VLA, or Very Large Array. Now doesn’t that sound like a silly title. These are the radio astronomy telescopes that were filmed in the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster. They have a self guided tour and a film that are quiet good. I learned so much about astronomy at this site. And it really is an exciting field of exploration. Learning how all energy can be represented by waves, be they radio waves on the lower end up to light waves that are both visible and invisible. Rather than relying on just the optical viewers used in the past, we are now able to view outer space by “looking” at those various waves coming in from outer space. This site is expanding immensely due to the use of new optical fiber technology and major advances in computer technology and software. Expanding the amount of data that can be “seen” from space. Black holes, planets, galaxies, and exploding stars.

Little is talked about listening to outer space for alien radio waves or messages, but this too is a part of the research. Hundreds of Astronomers via for time on the telescopes for their research projects. As I was walking around the outdoor tour site, getting really close to the antenna’s, I heard a whirring sound. Looking up, I could see all of the antenna’s in the array moving in sync. Turning to a new destination in the sky. Searching for answers. Will we one day hear from other planets about life out there? ……

Oh, in Magdalena, I met an artist. A woman traveling on her own in an Airstream camper. She originally lived in Cape Cod for many years, then decided she needed to travel out west to invigorate her art work. She usually stays in a place for 6 months or more, then moves on. The minute I saw her come out of her camper with her gray cat, she reminded me of the movie “The Baghdad Café”. If you’ve never seen it, check it out… You’ll know what I mean.

Next stop, Truth or Consequences NM.

(12) pt 1, Las Cruces, New Mexico, Lincoln Forest

(Part 1)
Las Cruces NM
Lincoln Forest (Three Rivers)

Before leaving El Paso, I read in their local paper that unemployment was around 22% and the high school drop out rate was a horrid 40%. Hard to believe when you take a surface look around the city.

I headed out early this morning, getting on the road about 8 am and hitting rush hour traffic through El Paso. Slow going, but not stressful towing the camper, as it’s easier to drive at 20 mph in heavy traffic rather than going 55 or 65 mph through heavy traffic. Besides, I leave myself tons of room in front of me for stress free stops and slowdowns. Of course, once I was out of the city, the traffic let up quickly. And you all know the routine, more stress, greater chance of shortening your life.

So I head towards Las Cruces to have work done on my Atwood water heater. It runs on either gas or electric and neither was working. A great Rv shop, S&H Rv Super Center was able to get me in right away. After replacing a couple thermostats and fuses they were able to get the gas working. They have to order the electric heating element, so I’m doing a tour around the area for a week.

I’ll tour more of Las Cruces on my return, but today I head out over a mountain range into the White Sands Missile Range. You know, it’s home to the “Trinity” site where the first nuclear bomb was set off. The government owns pretty much the entire valley that White Sands encompasses. I can see many of the military buildings dotted across the vast desert region and occasionally see a sleek black military plane flying overhead.

I’m over city’s and towns for now, so I head towards the Lincoln National Forest and the Three Rivers campground. What an awesome site! It’s about 30 miles north of Alamogordo and is tucked in the Sacramento Mts. and the Sierra Blanca Peak rising to an elevation of 11,977 feet. The road leading in passes the Three Rivers Petroglyph Trail finally leading to an unpaved 5 miles of forest road to the campsites at the base of the mountains, but still about a 5,000 ft level. By the way campers, the gravel/dirt road leading into Three Rivers campsite is very well maintained.

The camp host, (John), one tent camper and I are the only ones in the area. Surprisingly, I have cell phone service and Internet service. I’m getting very comfortable with the solar panels. To tell the truth, I can’t tell the difference between being plugged-in or unplugged. I’m able to use as much power as I want to without the feeling that I need to conserve “battery power”. Of course I camp only at locations/elevations that are comfortable and wouldn’t require the need for A/C. I wonder if my friends Betty and Dave take their motor home out to primitive campsites? For me, it’s such a treat to be off the grid and away from civilization.

Feeling the cool mountain air this morning, the scent of cedar and pinion pines after last nights rain, a treat for this dry region. I plan on going on a hike up the mountain range. It’s a 6 mile strenuous hike, but I’m only going to go as far as Billy the Kids former hang-out. Where he hid from the law. Oh, and my buddy, cowboy Walt, would love being out here. Almost every campground, BLM, forest and rest stop I’ve come across has corrals for horses. If I stay out here much longer, I’m going to have to learn how to ride a horse.

But for now, I’m getting in my hiking. I bought a new pair of rugged hiking boots as well. They are high enough to protect my ankles from possible injury. A must in these rugged rocky trails. I drove over to the Petroglyph site. Taking advantage of my Park Pass ($80). The site is home to over 20,000 Petroglyphs. Now that’s a lot. If you’ve been following my travels, you know two years ago I saw quiet a few petro’s in NM and Utah. This site has some very unique Petroglyphs Many faces, animals, geometric patterns and bird-men. They were created by a group called Jornada Mogollon tribe and there are no known living descendants. Imagine, a whole culture, disappearing into time. Leaving only markings on rocks to remember them by.

On the way back to the campsite, I stop at a chapel built in 1912. It’s very Spanish/Mexican and I say a prayer for peace and loved ones who have passed on in this charming farmers chapel.
After jotting down these notes, I put on my hiking boots and head for the mountain range. The sun is out, but it’s still cool. Good for hiking. The path leads me to the mountain fed stream and I was glad my hiking boots are waterproof, since I had to hop across a couple of boulders, splashing in the cool mountain stream to get to the other side. The stream is running high with the rain we had last night.

The path continues rising through the forest, with the trees becoming larger as I ascended the mountain. It’s a great path, following a natural water shed that runs parallel to the stream. I hiked about a mile up hill and came across many primitive camping sites. Thinking of my friend David L who loves to camp out in rugged country like this. Campfire pits surrounded by large rocks, each site nestled in pine nettles and surrounded by evergreens. I came across an ideal campsite along the stream, huge boulders along side the rushing water, the pine trees reaching for the sky against the sides of the mountain. And there in the wilderness was a well built angular wall, once used to hold back the stream and diverting it to a control gate which led to miles of diversion channels and pipes, bringing the water to the new trains heading west and eventually bringing water to over 500 homes in the area. It was built back in the late 1800’s.

I eventually circled back and noticed that dark clouds were once again forming over the mountain range. I met up with John and his girl friend back at the camp host site. Nice couple, in their late 30’s. We talked about the area and how Billy the Kid used to hide out in these parts. How he has found many smudge pots in the area, as this had become great apple and pear orchard country back in the late 1800’s and early 1900 era. He said he’s come across some trees that are a mix of the two, apple/pear trees. How being so close to White Sands, that there are still people who have illnesses caused from the first Atomic bomb going off here. And how he and his parents have seen UFO’s over the years. He said until you’ve seen one, he wouldn’t expect anyone to believe. But he’s seen them. Interesting stuff.

I’m heading out tomorrow, but I’ll miss this place. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! After a brief but blustery rain this afternoon, I looked out the picture window of my camper, up at Sierra Blanca Peak and was amazed to see the summit covered in snow! Wow. Who would have guessed. Yesterday I saw a rainbow and today I see snow. Life is good.

(11) Ft Davis Texas, Mc Donald Observator

Ft Davis, Texas
McDonald Observatory
Davis Mountains State Park

Whew, After a really full week this past week, I’ve settled Into Davis Mt State Park. It’s located in the highest elevation within Texas, so the temperatures are much cooler than back at Big Bend. The drive was through drier ranch lands and mountains off in the distance, until the gradual rise in land, bringing me through the small town of Alpine and then to Ft Davis.

Now just a quick note, I didn’t really stop in Alpine, but it looks like some retirees or folks with some $$ have begun to discover this little Alpine region. New homes, many on the tops of the lower rounded hills/mountains were taking advantage of some pretty awesome views. A couple of country singers either live in the area or are frequent visitors.

Along the way I’m seen pronghorn antelope, sheep, cows, mule deer (lots and lots of them) and even elk! One antelope was caught along the roadway, unable to find his way around the many miles of barbed wire fences. Many areas I’ve been traveling have cow guards over the main roads creating open ranges, as the ranches in many areas are on both sides of the road, completely open to the cattle with no barriers to stop them from going where they want too.

About 17 miles from the state park is the McDonald Observatory, obviously on the highest mountain in Texas at about 6,500 ft. I did the day tour which is a pretty extensive tour with a live shot of the sun and it’s solar flares being projected on a large screen from one of the smaller telescopes. Kind of cool. Interesting to find out that most of the big telescopes and the ones at McDonald (there are about 4 or 5 really big ones here), collect images of light broken into the various light spectrums and are viewed via computer monitors. It’s called spectrometer viewing. Where the images are broken down into microwaves, the color spectrum, x-rays, and many other forms of light waves. At the end of the tour, the guide mentioned that many of the astronomers who schedule time on the telescopes don’t even have to come to the site anymore, they can have the data sent to them via computer.

The guide said that’s why he prefers to go out and actually look up at the stars many nights.

Windy. Now you’ve got to know, this area has wind. It can come up just about any time, but usually in the afternoon into the evening.

I talked to a young man working in a pizzeria and he was telling me that he loves to play baseball, but it gets really hard with the heavy winds. Sometimes as high as 70 mph. But, like he said if the wind is with you, it can certainly help your fast ball and it’s really great for throwing a curve ball. Makes me wonder how my buddy Andy Anderson is doing with his baseball league?

Oh, I went to Fort Davis. One of the best preserved forts along the western route to tame the wild west. Many of the 50 plus adobe structures, with stone foundations tucked in a box canyon. It was home to the first two all black troops. The buffalo soldiers. Formed after the end of the civil war, the now freed slaves were mostly recruited by a white officer. It was still a very divided life. The black soldiers being ridiculed and treated poorly. But after talking to one of the interpreters at the fort I got it. Sometimes I’m a bit slow. But I got it.

It was a beginning. A beginning for the blacks to show their worth and live free. And the officer who recruited them, was the first of the white men to realize they were of value and gave them a chance to begin that long journey to equality. Do you know why they were called buffalo soldiers?

It’s because the first time the Indians saw them, they associated their kinky hair with the buffalo.

I’m getting lots of compliments on my Titanium 5th wheel camper. I keep telling people thanks, but they have to realize it is my only home as well. Not just a weekend get away. But what a way to travel. Imagine, living in a chateau on wheels with all the comforts of home. Ikea lounge chairs, a comfy couch, flat panel TV’s, oak paneled cabinets in a fully equipped kitchen. Satellite TV, radio, computer with 24/7 internet access and cell phone coverage in most of the country. And it’s all available in the toniest city setting or far out in the remotest country setting.

Back on the road, heading toward El Paso, I again saw lots of mule deer along the miles of grazing lands. Many running and jumping like kids. Checking out the cars as they run across the road and over the next hill. Traveling through a valley that was fed by some natural springs. Farmers were taking advantage by planting lots of peach trees. Possibly other fruit trees as well. This is expansive land. Like when you see a sign indicating the next town is 10 miles away, and you can see it off in the distance, up against a mountain range. When was the last time you were able to look out and see 10 miles ahead of you?

I’ve arrived in El Paso Tx. A border town 500,000 people. A new city in many ways. Lots of warehouse operations along the border, new housing subdivisions sprawling off into the distance. Clean new highways and loop roads around the city. They use swamp coolers in their homes. You know, those boxy looking units on the top of the houses with water running down the insides of them to create cool air. It only works if there’s no humidity though. But that’s not usually a problem out here. Today’s paper said that Fort Bliss will expand with the most recent BRAC closings. They estimate it will create 40,000 new jobs and add 21.7 billion dollars to the local economy.

Have a great day,

(10) Big Bend National Park, Texax pt 2

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK (pt 2)

Traveling along 90 going through tiny towns like Langtry, Dryden and Sanderson, I stop an one of the many picnic table rest stops. I’d already passed about 10 cyclists and came upon the tail end of the group. Two energetic guys who told me they were traveling across county from San Diego to Florida! Now what’s even more impressive is the one on the left is 72 years old. He said it was his first time doing this, but felt he should do it before he gets old. The younger one, a 61 year youngun, was the leader of this dozen hearty soles. They travel about 60 miles a day. I’ve got to tell you I got energy just from talking to them for those few minutes.

I’m still inspired by them days later and have the feeling I’ll keep that memory with me for a long long time. The energy, the life, the spirit to take that first step into a whole new life. Wow. Biking across country. Imagine.

Continuing my travels I pass ranches that go on for miles with names like Persimmon Gap, Dove Mountain, Longfellow and Bug Bucks. Finally heading south on old 385 I head towards one of the largest parks in the U.S. Big Bend National Park. It’s over 26 miles from the entrance of the park just to get to the visitors center. And then another 20 miles to the campsite. Big park. The only park with an entire mountain range within it’s borders, the Chisos Mountains.

I’m staying at the Rio Grande Village campground, tucked in a Cotton wood grove with short cropped grass between the spacious campsites. An oasis within the huge expanse of desert. After getting set up, I take a walk along the trails that lead to the Rio Grande and vistas of Mexico across the boarder. What a surprise to find at the end of a short canopy of cottonwoods a ramp going across a lagoon filled with tall reed grasses.

I meet two guys who have been coming to the park for over 20 years. They tell me how upset they are with the new policy of not letting people cross the Rio Grande to visit the Mexican Villages along the borders of the park. These guys had been doing it for over 20 years and they said it was always a highlight of their trip here.

These are very small villages that exist almost exclusively on the meager tourist trade by selling a few trinkets and providing true Mexican meals to the tourist. Supposedly the government plans on building a fence over the mountains here. What a shame. For years the Mexicans in this region have only wished to stay in their little adobe homes and make a small living off of the tourists. Signs throughout the park now tell us that we can be fined and put in prison if we even buy their walking sticks or try to cross over to their small towns for lunch. It’s hurt the lively hood of the Mexican and they now are getting into serious trouble, crime increasing and families split apart.

A fence, destroying cultures, people, pristine landscapes, untouched for thousands of years. The park used to host a festival and invite the Mexicans across the Rio Grande to come and celebrate their friendship. Gone. It’s gone.

The next day after touring a number of places, I went down to the Rio Grande in the late afternoon. The trail thankfully was short, as the temperature was getting into the high 90’s. Coming up behind me were two police men. Uniforms, guns in the ready, shiny badges. They were on patrol on the hurry to catch a thief. Just like the other day, their were some souvenirs along the path for purchase/donation by the Mexicans. The police officers scooped up the contraband and searched for the illegal Mexicans. I met two older couples along the path. They saw nothing wrong with the police stopping such illegal selling. After all one said, “you know we have to do this after 9/11. They’re all thieves anyway.”

This is a hikers paradise. Hiking in the desert regions early in the mornings. Riding up to the Chisos Mountains and Chisos Basin for more hiking in the cooler higher elevations. My Great Outdoors buddies would really enjoy this region. A campground at the higher elevations would be great for the hotter months. Bear and Mountain lion are in the region so caution must be taken.

I took a short hike and then enjoyed lunch at the Chisos Mountains Lodge. Nice treat to have someone else cook for me. Motor cycle riders all over the place. The mountain range rises from the desert floor and looks so ancient. Bare rock climbing to heights of over 7,300 feet. With trees occurring only around the 5,000 foot range.

There are so many side trips and small hikes that I’ve done, I’d bore you by describing all of them. From hiking the Ernst Tinaja Canyon, Boquillas Canyon, and the Santa Elena Canyon. I’ve got to tell you that seeing the Santa Elena Canyon, which is one of the narrowest canyons along the Rio Grande was awe inspiring. I don’t know how tall the cliff walls were, but they looked like a mile in height to me! And driving up the mountain to the high sided caldera valley that is formed by the surrounding Chisos Mountains was like discovering a secret hidden valley high up within the mountains. A few openings between the mountain peaks giving views of the desert valley far below. The lodge and campsites being the only thing that made one realize it had been discovered years ago.

Now before I’ve completely bored you to death. Hopefully I haven’t. A quick report on the solar panels. I’m getting a strong charge up to 13.5 and 14. Amps. I’ve been able to use the toaster, microwave, stereo and Tv/Dvr with little drainage on the batteries. Of course without a/c at this site, I’ve had the fans on constantly.

A final note before I head out of the Big Bend National park, I paid the now $80.00 fee to enter the National parks. Which the cost increase they tell me now gets me into all the National forests, BLM lands, etc. It’s a bit of a crock if you ask me, since most of the National forest and BlM lands rarely charged access fees. But it does help the park system so I’m grateful for that.
Oh, I almost forgot. One of the main reasons for coming to this park was to enjoy the hot springs which are right next to the Rio Grande. But, since it’s been so hot, I haven’t bothered to enjoy the springs. Maybe another time.

Till my next stop, I’ve sure enjoyed sharing my travels with you, and hope to hear how your doing as well, as this is usually my main means of communications. Speaking of that, I have been completely cut off from cell phone service, radio and TV. Although I could have connected the satellite dish up, I’ve preferred to watch previously recorded stuff on my DVR.
OK, that’s it, not another word..

(9) part 1, Del Rio Texas, Amistad & Seminole Canyon

Del Rio Texas
Amistad
Seminole Canyon State Park
(part 1)

I left San Antonio on Sunday and headed to the western most parts of Texas on hwy 90. The traffic was light along the secondary road, mostly 4 lane divided highway. This was one of my many 150 mile treks that I prefer doing. I can usually get to my next site by noon or 1 PM which gives me plenty of time to check out the area.

Hwy 90 is the southern most highway along the Mexican border and I came across a number of Immigration check points. Noting the high but flimsy fences along many stretches of lonely highway. One handsome Hispanic guard saw my Military sticker and we had a brief chat about his working at McDill Airforce base years ago and that he frequently traveled to Orlando. It’s a small world after all… (hum the Disney song).

The land is mostly flat rolling desert land, scrapple rock, barely an inch of sandy gravel soil, with ranches comprising of thousands of acres, required to support the sheep, goats and some cattle ranching. The goats have easily adapted to this region since they will eat virtually anything including the prickly pear cactus.

I stayed a couple of days in the small border town of Del Rio with Lake Amistad (Friendship) to the north of town and creating a huge lake with great fishing for both Mexico and the U.S. It’s easy to cross the boarder here, but I had no interest in shopping across the border at this time. Lake Amistad was created in the late 60’s from damming the Rio Grande, Pecos and Devil River.

A short 50 miles west of Del Rio and I arrived at Seminole Canyon State Park. Glad to be in a state park again. Being surrounded by an early spring green desert landscape. My campsite is on top of a knoll giving me a great expansive view of the arid country side. With low mountains far off on the horizon. I can’t wait till nightfall to see the stars.

In the morning, I joined up with the tour into the canyon to learn more about the Pecos River Indians who created the pictographs. Very little is know of the tribe that created this art 4,000 years ago on the wall overhangs along the canyons in this area. The name of the park itself reflects the later Indians in the area that met and married black slaves who ran away to freedom and became known as Seminoles.

It was a short mile hike down into the canyon and up to the cliff overhangs that contained the pictographs. The guide is a university student working on his final thesis. Knowledgeable to an extent, but a bit too academic for my liking. However, one learns something everyday. I was amazed to learn the average life span of these Indians was about 30 years. What a short life. Living off of small rodents, rabbits, prickly pear cactus and other desert plants that required baking and steaming in ovens for a couple of days to render them eatable. Although deer was prized, it remained a small part of their daily diet. The majority of their diet being vegetarian.
Many holes were dug in the debris littered caverns from years of poachers digging for arrowheads and other Indian artifacts. This canyon was originally part of a large ranch until the 60’s when Texas acquired it and made it into a protected State Park.

I met a couple from the Netherlands who have purchased a class C camper and have traveled from the east coast out hear to Texas. They plan on going home in about a weeks time and will put the camper in storage, with plans to continue their travels back in the states as time permits. Continuing where they left off. Cool concept.

PS, this report had to be split in two because I had so much going on this week. Hope you enjoy both reports.

(8) San Antonio Texas, Trine and Linda's visit

San Antonio Texas

A city of History, growing every day, and my friends Trine and Linda. What could be a better mix. Trine and Linda moved out here from Florida a couple of years ago after retiring, selling there house in Orlando in only a day or two. It ended up that they sold their home to Katrina Survivors. Because the family had barely the shirts on their backs, Linda and Trine gave them much of their furniture and Trine even gave the shirt of his back (so to speak) donating extra clothing to the family. What a nice way to begin a new life. Giving to those who were in need while being thankful for all the blessing of a good life.

Well if you knew Trine and Linda, (they’re known as The Village People because of where they live. Isn‘t that cute?) you’d know we started out by going to a couple of great Mexican restaurants (MamaCita’s for one) and a trip to a Gelato shop for Italian ice-cream! If you’ve never had it, you should give it a try. Made from milk not cream, no bubbles, little or no sugar in the ice-cream and as rich and smooth as could be. A tour of their immaculate gated community completed the day.

Did you know, over the Easter weekend, many Mexicans come to San Antonio to buy stuff they can’t get in their own country. Now isn’t that a switch. Many of the large malls have adds and directions printed to help out the shoppers and even have tour busses going to and from the hotels. Big business.

Oh and I discovered a great inexpensive seafood place called Barnacle Bill’s Seafood. For $6.00 I had Mahi-Mahi, 6 good sized shrimp, French fries, hush puppies, coleslaw, and a large ice-tea. All made to order. Nothing sitting in a warming tray.

My friends live on the north end of town which is surrounded by multiple loop highways that appear to work fairly well, though I’ve avoided any traffic rush hours. The north end looks like a completely new city unto itself. Growing in every direction possible. They even showed me Eva Longoria’s new mansion being built on top of a prominent hill. Unlike the heart of downtown that on the surface looks like a vibrant active city with historical buildings, high rises and of course the famous River Walk and Alamo. But as you walk around the city, you realize that many of the shops outside of the River Walk are closed or vacant, waiting for a revival. I’m sure it’ll come as more apartments and high-rises continue to be built.

The park I’m in, The Travelers Rv Resort, is located on the south side of town. Backing up to green space and a gulf course, The San Antonio River, an 8 mile bike path and a couple of Missions. A swim in their heated pool and hot tub at the end of a day sure is a nice touch. I’ve had to put my bike in a storage unit because they’ve had many small thefts in the area.
An easy bus ride into town costs only one buck. I road my bike to the Mission Concepcio’n and drove to The Mission San Jose’. Concepcio’n is the only Mission in it’s original state since it was in continuous use after the Spanish gave up Texas. If you go, look up at the top of the archway to the entrance of the main chapel. The native Indians added one of their own gods under the top of the arch. Conversion was never a sure thing back then.

Downtown Trine and I toured the Mercado, the Spanish Governors Palace and saw the Aztec Theatre. The Aztec is the only surviving “Exotic-Themed” movie palace in Texas. It’s like walking into a Mayan Temple. I went back a few days later to watch the free lobby show and then went into the theatre and heard the original Wurlitzer organ and viewed a large screen movie on the Mayan culture. Not to tell the whole story, but the Mayans had hundreds of books containing their history using a form of pictographs. The Franciscan Monk that first stayed with the Mayans, built his mission then burned all of their books. History destroyed.

The theatre was closed for 20 years. After two years of renovations it’s open again for the past year. Check it out at: AZTECONTHERIVER.COM San Antonio is fortunate to have a couple other old theatres like the Majestic, that are now used by the local opera and theatre groups.
A final note, the people are exceptionally friendly in Texas and I felt welcomed where ever I went. Along with the campers who always seem to be in the best of moods, I’d rate this city a warm plus. On my last day at the campground, I gave a couple a ride to a nearby med-center. The husband put a nasty gauge in his leg, requiring 8 stitches. We won’t even talk about my almost falling off the ladder. That’s another whole story.

Till next time, wear your helmet and be safe while having fun.