Del Rio, Texas

January 13, 2009

Today's journey was a slow shift in scenery. Leaving Marathon the land was flat with mini-mountain ranges around us on the horizon. Soon the land started to show some “ups and downs”. Soon little dry creeks and draws were scattered across the prairie.


The occasional ranch house passes by. Most aren't used any more. The cattle are still here, but as transportation has improved there is little reason to live on this, a land more suited to the cattle than the rancher. Seeing these places in disuse I imagine there have been many a tug at the heartstrings as the traditional rancher's lifestyle has given way to a modern way of life.

Cuts along the road, and soon palisades along the ridges showed elegant limestone masonry work. The Lord is a magnificent bricklayer when He sets to it!


Automated broadcast feeders and hunters' blinds appear all over these low rolling hills. Thousands of acres once cleared for cattle are now being allowed – and helped – to return to more natural habitat by sports people. Owners and managers encourage careful selective harvest of the game population. Many of the plots are owned by groups of users who fly in for camping and hunting adventures. The results are flourishing populations of wildlife.



As we dropped down from four thousand foot elevations to around one thousand feet. We met up for a while with the Rio Grand, and then with the Pecos River.

Soon they merged together in a pink and gray limestone gorge called Seminole Canyon to feed a vibrant blue Amistad Lake. The lake stretches miles in many directions covering about 140 square miles. Its finger like coastline features hundreds of little coves. Looks like an absolute great place to fish!

We had a wonderful chat with the proprietor of Buzzard's Rest RV Park. She is a Thai lady that came here and trained as an accountant. She used a scholarship and internship with Hilton Hotels. Her son is grown now, and she visits family regularly in Asia. Though near 60. she spent a couple of days at Camp I at Mt Everest in September! We could've listened to her delightful tales all day, but we thanked her and set about making secure for the night.