Bergheim GC, Boerne, Tx, 864 mile jump
Yes. You read that right; we have been motoring from Tucson, Az., through NM, and waltzing across Texas. We spent last night in a Walmart parking lot in Ft Stockton, Tx., from which we went to 8:30 Spanish Mass this morning in a small church built in 1865. Although Penny and I know a little Spanish, we did not understand the sermon, but much of the liturgy is repeated every Sunday in every Mass throughout the world. So, we could distinguish those prayers. The Hispanic congregation was warm and familial, many of them went out of their way to greet us during the “kiss of peace”. And, they presented us with pen and pencil sets with an Our Lady of Guadalupe card. While we have often been introduced as visitors in other churches, this is the first time we had been given gifts!
After church, we filled with diesel (at $2.39/gal) and drove here in about 6 hours. Our goal was to get to lower, more temperate elevations. Originally, we had hoped to visit Patagonia, Az., but when we found it was at 4000’ and we were already freezing during the night at 2000’, we decided to drive east until we got to lower ground. After 860 miles, we are at 1500’ and headed for sea level soon!
Most of the last two days are a blur, other than the church and the vast expanses of desert land interspersed with mesas and ranges of mountains through which we passed. La Cruces, NM, and El Paso, Tx., were the largest cities, both in river valleys. In El Paso, we could look across the Rio Grande into Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on the hillside and see the border fence on this side of the river. Another highlight was a rest stop in Texas having picnic pavilions with wagon wheel walls. Oh, I almost forgot! We are back into the land of Live Oaks; there is one in this picture. They are not as massive as down in the Gulf South, but it feels good to be back within their range.
The state park we at which we hoped to camp was closed. Luckily, Penny called ahead. That left us with no plan; cell phone service was spotty, so searching the web for a campground was impossible. Fortunately, as we got closer to San Antonio service improved and we found Bergheim CG near Boerne. It not much, but it’s all we need! Tired and ready for bed at 8PM CST. We will say good night and mission accomplished! It is 67F in here without supplemental heat; nice!