More than two days of travel at an average speed of 51 miles an hour, but we are here. The Tortuga was greeted with 101-degree temperatures as we rolled into Douglas, Arizona.  Why Douglas? Douglas sits right on the Arizona/Mexico border, no more than 50 miles away from New Mexico. If you look on the map it’s clear that Douglas is the starting point for any trip up the Continental Divide, The first real travel day of the adventure starts tomorrow.

Even though crossing the Republic of Texas was a necessity to get to the BTB starting point, the beauty, nor the SIZE of the state can not be overestimated.

Driving right through the middle of the 4th largest city in the United States was exciting.

 

As you head west it doesn’t take long to hit the Texas Hill Country.

The reward was Pedernales Falls State Park for the first night, and a beautiful sunrise to get the Tortuga on its way.

It didn’t take long for the scrub oak to turn to mesquite, for the hills to turn to desert, and the sky to get to be a brighter blue.

After the long stretch of Texas, a meal at an old stage coach stop is appropriate. If you ever get the chance go to La Posta (near Las Cruces New Mexico), DO IT! La Posta is one of the best Mexican Restaurants in the United States.

Check out the Hatch Chili enchiladas. Hatch, where the world famous green chili is just the next town to the North.

and you will never have better Sopapillas. If you (THINK) you can beat these sopapillas then that just might have to become a Tortuga adventure.

After a great meal at the Stage Coach (Tortuga) Stop at La Posta, the last leg of 200 miles awaited.  But the reward was well worth it.

The adventure was getting exciting.