I know I have said it before and I will say it again.  It takes almost forever to get across the Republic of Texas. But that is what the Tortuga has to do to find some tall pines in the cool air of the Rockies.  The plan is to go swimming at Balmorhea State Park on our way to the Guadalupe Mountains, which the Texas Parks and Wild Life Department describes as “the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool with crystal-clear water where people have come to swim, scuba dive, or just relax under the trees at a historic park in arid West Texas.” The Tortuga will be there tomorrow!

Heading west on highway 290 today out of Austin going through the Texas Hill country, it was amazing to see the number of wineries.  We’ve seen Sonoma and the Rhine valley in the past during tasting trips, but 290 appears to be becoming the Texas Wine Corridor.  The only problem was the early departure time in efforts to get to Balmorhea.  Why don’t wineries open before 0800 hours in the morning? Even though there was much disappointment, there was also great anticipation that the Tortuga will be back.  It will be of great interest if the Tortuga can get another mile down the road when there is another Texas winery a quarter mile just ahead.

If you have not had the opportunity to Drive Across Texas, you need to stop what you’re doing and head west (but maybe do this in the cooler seasons).  The western portion of Interstate 10 is a trail of military forts; outposts set so that the West could be settled: Fort Stockton, Fort Livingston, Fort Davis are just a few to visit, and in-between the forts, towns with European names flourished: New Braunfels, Fredericksburg and Luckenbach are only a few that come to mind. It has always amazed me the courage it must have taken to leave the old world to settle the new in hopes of a better life now and for the generations that would follow.  That is so much more than just another mile down the road. 

This wagon spotted at Ft. Stockton isn’t exactly serious history of westward expansion but made us laugh anyway. 

Well, the end of the day finds the Tortuga at Fort Stockton, 9 hours down the road and 400 miles to our back.  The Tortuga has a large hard shell and is not too fast.  Our fellow travelers on the interstate were traveling well above the posted 80 mile an hour speed limit (you have to love Texas), while the Tortuga is traveling 58ish.  The Tortuga life is not about the speed you get there, but the adventure you are having.

After a big display of wind and dark skies, we were bracing for a pop up desert storm in the RV park we found for the night, but it turned out to be all show.  Tomorrow it will really be time to get the Tortuga wet and go for a dip.  Tonight may be the last day with 50 amp service to charge the batteries for a week or more.  Tomorrow, after the swim we are off to the Guadalupes and ready to hike the tallest peak in Texas (for those in the Alps, don’t get overly excited…Some call Texans Flat Landers… but it still surprises some that we have nearly 9,000-ft mountains in Texas)