Marfa TX is off the main roads through West Texas, and traveling there you see very few other people along Hwy 90. Yet, as the sun starts to dip in the western sky, cars start to roll in to the Marfa Lights Visitor Center. Calling it a "Visitor Center" is a stretch because it is just a rest area with a balcony... unless they meant visitors from another galaxy....
First, a van containing an entire family rolled in. They brought blankets ( a good idea in the cold windy evening) lawn chairs, and dinner. They set up their picnic on the viewing platform and waited for the sun to set. Next came a mid 60's gentleman. He was recording the event. He said the date and time and then, "we are investigating the lights of Marfa...." It all sounded very sci fi....
By the time we were all prepared to meet the aliens, the parking lot was full. All tourists. Each of us wanting to be the first to see the lights dancing on the desert. (The video below will explain more about the Marfa lights)
We watched and waited. Look ! Red Lights!....No they are just tail lights from a car.... White Lights!! Fooled again. We didn't see any dancing lights and later the locas told us that when it is really windy they don't show up. We had fun anyway and maybe we will see them next time we are through here.
The Next Morning....Shopping At Prada
Valentine, Texas is only a few miles west of Marfa on Hwy 90. There we found a building - all by itself... a Prada Store? We had to get out to look. I particularly liked the Prada purses in the window. They looked very chewy.
In 2005, the brainchild of Berlin-based artistic team Elmgreen and Dragset, Prada Marfa was meant to be a “pop architectural land art project.” Costing a sum total of $80,000 - about 40 Prada handbags and shoes, it is a perpetual art installation and not a store, but we couldn't resist a little window shopping.
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Judge Roy Bean was the self acclaimed "Law" west of the Pecos.
Judge Roy Bean was the self acclaimed "Law" west of the Pecos. He dispensed his form of justice from this place in Langtry Texas. He named the town after Lily Langtry, an opera singer that he never met, but held in deepest admiration.
Dogs aren't allowed in the museum (some people are just not enlightened about the benefits of having a dog with you 24/7). Anyway, I had to look through the window of my RV jail. But Trickster that I am, I escaped my prison and ran to smell the flowers on museum grounds....unfortunately my escape didn't last long and I was apprehended and put in solitary confinement (my kennel) while mom and dad finished the museum tour.
Judge Roy Bean: Justifiable homicide.
[Goes through the man's pockets] Judge Roy Bean: I fine this man, uh, $50 for disturbing the peace and $10 for lying around. Nick the Grub (Jackson gang: [Bean has shot Bad Bob from ambush with a buffalo rifle] Damn, Judge! You shot him in the back! Whorehouse Lucky Jim (Jackson gang: Appears like he shot him in the back and the front! Judge, you didn't give him no chance! Judge Roy Bean: He'd didn't deserve a chance. If he wanted a chance; he should have gone somewhere else. Ordinarily, I'd take you in my court and try you and hang you. But if you've got money for whiskey, I guess we can dispense with those proceedings.
Lily Langtry: [Lily notices her portrait behind the bar] Is that a bullet hole through my heart?
Tector Crites (Jackson gang: Yes it is, ma'am. They was wild men in those days. Lily Langtry: Who did it? Tector Crites (Jackson gang: Snake River Rufus Krile did that, I believe. Lily Langtry: What became of him? Tector Crites (Jackson gang: Judge shot him. Dead. Dead, dead. Then he fined him for some other crimes. And then later we hanged him. Lily Langtry: Most appropriate. Castroville, TX is a sleepy little town just west of San Antonio on Highway 10. It calls itself "The Little Alsace" of Texas. A mixture of old southwest with a French heritage makes the buildings in Castroville a unique place to visit. You can pick up or download a historic walking tour of 50 homes build in the 1800's and wander the streets. There are many events planned in this community every year - fun, fun, fun! We stayed at the Castroville Regional Park which is located on 126 pecan and cypress tree shaded acres and outlined by the pristine Medina River. They don't take reservations, but they DO take Passport America! The fees are $35 per night normally but you can stay a month for about $300 per month - including electricity! The park ranger is on site and will get you settled. CHECK IT OUT HERE! It's a great place for a picnic or hike. It's also a great place to fish or just relax and enjoy nature. There is a one mile track around the park and mom and dad used it to try to wear me out....it didn't work. That night we had a terrible storm. The weather alerts said tornadoes were in the area!!! Luckily none came near, but the lightening was beautiful! My brother Buddy was very frightened by the loud thunder and lightening, but I slept through most of it. Mom says I will be a great traveling dog..as soon as I get house-trained...whatever that means... Passport America Tip Joining Passport America lets you camp for 50% at some campgrounds, some nights. Be sure to check the limitations at each park. Some will only let you stay one day and some will let you stay 7 at the Passport America rate.
Mom and dad bought a new RV! It is a little small for my taste, because dad steps on my toes a lot, but I still like that we can travel anywhere! It's been raining a lot in Texas, so we are slowly going west. Today we stopped at FREDRICKSBURG TRADE DAYS! It's Free to go in, but parking is $5 per carload.
Here is a link to All of the Trade and Market Events in Texas! So overwhelming, but if you like the farmhouse look, you can find your treasures here.
And I Peed on His Lawn...
Today we went to visit the Lyndon B Johnson State Historical Park and his Boyhood home. Johnson was raised in a very very small town in Texas and came from a poor family. Which just proves that anyone in this country can become president of it, if they have the will.
The Johnson Settlement - Built By Johnsons Grandfather
Even Got Mom and Dad to Pose
Great Place To Grow Up
I think this was a wonderful place to grow up. The entire town was made up of friends and family and there would have been plenty of places for a boy to roam (with his trusty dog) and explore. I could sniff around here forever. Today the town is small, there are a few antique shops and a great little place to eat calledPECAN STREET BREWING. Where mom and dad got a frosty craft beer and a brick oven pizza (and they even gave me a bite!
Texas Whitehouse
On down the road was the "Texas Whitehouse" Johnson Ranch National Park, but it was getting too warm for me to be in the car while mom and dad took the tour, so they said another day. TIPS: get your tickets to the National Park at the State Park - Go in February/March to see all the little Hereford babies wandering around the ranch. It's free.
Did You Know You Can Volunteer To Work Here?
2016 is the 100th birthday of the National Park System and if you want to have a lot of fun, volunteering is a great way to meet people, learn about the park, and get to see the places that are "off limits" to visitors. Learn More About It HERE!
We are parked at the Thousand Trails Camping Park in Lakehills, Texas, which is about 20 west of San Antonio. Here are some pictures to show how beautiful it is here. I am such a lucky pup to be able to take walks along Lake Medina. See for yourself!
This is a big park and it makes me soooo tired trying to see it all...
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AuthorI am La Schatzi - The Traveling Schnoodle! A Schoodle means that my mom was a beautiful silver Schnauzer and my dad was an apricot poodle. I am traveling all over the country in an RV with my adoptive parents and I love it! Categories
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