Texas is just too large to drive across and last year we went across on Highway 20 so were were able to visit friends in Dallas and Vicksburg.  This year we decided to go straight across on Highway 10 from Florida all the way to Arizona.  We stopped for two nights to rest near Houston and three nights in a delightful park about 30 miles out of San Antonio.  The park was filled with very small white tailed deer that were so tame that they came up to eat out of our hands.  The park was much farther from the city than we expected and when we asked the ranger why people come to that park he said “fish, watch the deer and enjoy the quiet”.   We didn’t fish but certainly enjoyed the deer and the quiet.  Then we went into San Antonio and enjoyed the afternoon and evening with friends Cathy and Kaye Richey (friends from our days in Puerto Rico).  We enjoyed seeing the Alamo and walking along the Riverwalk immensely.  Miles of walking along the river with shops, restaurants and lights on both sides and small boats going up and down the river – several of them was serving dinner to the passengers.

According to the city website San Antonio captures the spirit of Texas.  “The seventh largest city in the US, the city has retained its sense of history and tradition, while carefully blending in cosmopolitan progress.  The city has always been a crossroads.  The sounds and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germans, the Wild West, African-Americans and the Deep South mingle and merge.”    We found it to be a charming and friendly city and another that we will keep on our list to revisit.  The visit to the Alamo had me wanting to go back and review the history of the area.

Went through Sweetwater – the home of the World’s largest rattlesnake round up – so disappointing that it wasn’t going on so I could take part (ha).  Lots of “green energy” – beautiful windmills all along the ridge creating electricity.  Drove through cotton fields with just little bits of cotton left that wasn’t harvested and there was snow along the banks of the road where it was in the shade.

We also stopped in a small town in West Texas known as the “antique capital of West Texas”.  We stopped and I walked up and down the street looking in all the windows.  Everything was closed – don’t know if it’s because the economy is so bad or it’s just so cold that they didn’t think there would be any tourists dumb enough to brave the cold winds.

Crossed over the Colorado River (since I’m from Colorado, it was very disappointing) it was about 6 inches wide.  Last night it snowed and today is sunny and windy but we had a Blizzard (actually it was at Dairy Queen).

The best thing that happened today is that we have surround sound and I found a little $40. device that allows me to play my IPOD throughout the motor home.  Seemed very appropriate to play all my Country/Western music while driving though Texas.    We stopped at Wineries and Oil Refineries and spent the night at Monahans Sand Dunes State Park.

Spent two days in HollyLake Ranch, TX with our dear friends from Germany – the Porters.  What wonderful “hosts” – we had lots of  delicious Germany food.  We hadn’t seen them for 17 years and the connection was just like we had never been separated.  When we walked the dogs last night there were beautiful snowflakes coming down and about 20 deer on the golf course.  We were worried about driving in the ice and snow but the sun came out and was a beautiful day to travel.

Betty and I spent the afternoon going through antique shops which has always been a favorite hobby.  There are so many different things to observe along the way – saw signs that said “I buy live wild pigs” – wouldn’t want catching them to be my career.  Today saw a pasture filled with camels.  Can’t imagine why they are in Texas.  A little further down the road was a ranch that raised minature horses (something I always planned to do but that doesn’t work if we want to travel).  Lots of logging trucks on the road.

Richard was able to play golf this afternoon – he’s trying to play in every state.