Our 4th of July

We took a trip Across lake Armistad on Hwy Part of the lake is in Mexico and part in the USA.

To the Pecos River….

If you are a Western Fan you will remember that Judge Roy Bean was the “Law West of the Pecos.

 

Inside I saw these boots and immediately thought of our own cowgirl Paula who plants flowers in boots.

Inside the bar where the Judge meted out Justice.

Outside is a showing of many plants native to Texas:

The one upper right is the Pear Cactus. Paula talks about John Burning pear (burns the stickers off) so his cows can eat them.

Out back is beautifully set with a working windmill and benches to rest.

Judge Bean was not a squeaky clean guy, like a lot of western men. He was locked up once in California for dueling. But he escaped by digging out the mortar between the bricks using implements smuggled in by his man lady friends.

He was also hanged once, but the men hanging him left him on his horse with the noose around his neck, hoping to give him plenty of time to think of his wrong doings until his horse spooked. Again he was saved by a girl friend who had hidden in the wood. This was also in California.

He migrated back to Del Rio, then past the Pecos and opened a saloon.  Being a business man, he was appointed Judge by a district judge.  He was known as the hanging judge but only actually sentenced two men to hang and one escaped.

Since he had no jail, all offences were fine offenses and usually the find was the amount of money the criminal was carrying at the time.

He performed marriages and was known to end each ceremony with: “AND MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOULS”.

This post is  late, We are High in the New Mexico mountains in Bloomfield. We came thru Albuquerque today. Problems with the motor home put us in late. My friend Buddy came over and we spent the even telling stories and lying. LOL

I think it is not 1:30am.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

thanks for being patient I will get to the comments and e-mails soon (I hope).

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Popular cars when Buddy and I were teen agers.

BTW: Tonight something came up about being the boss in the family. He had to ask his wife was he hen pecked, she said, No, but you had better be nice tonight!

So he said he wasn’t hen-pecked.  I always believe Buddy!

Last entry on Teeth & to El Paso

Miles today..467    Total miles…1447

Today’s Fuel 74 gals diesel @$3.81

First, on the fourth, WE went to Judge Roy Bean’s place. You western fans might know him as “The Law West of The Pecos”.I will make another entry covering that.

My last appointment was delayed by a text message from the Dentist. ‘I have an Emergency could I see you an hour later.’

So an hour later we met with her she seemed subdued a little. Sherry said, “I know you are excited about your vacation on Padre Island next week.”

“No, that will not happen now, my father passed away last night, He lives 8hr drive into Mexico. My sister is flying in from Dallas and we will leave out. But first,” then her smile came back, “Let’s get this dental work done.”

 

Me in the dental chair with my dentist.

The work got finished I am very happy. She took a personal check for the work. and we left. This time coming out of Mexico there was a big back up and we waited an hour in line.

Thisis what I-10 looked like once we reached it, I told Sherry I love driving out here:

The trip was going great the land and territory looked like this:

Have you ever thought that most places in the world you can never see an entire train at once? Well out west you can. The above is not a good example because the RR track was too close to the road. But when it is about a mile off the road you can see the engines at the front and the engines at the rear.

 

 

All of a sudden the traffic stopped. You know when you see two miles up the road and no end in sight of the jam, something bad has happened. It was an hour of so before we reached the wreck.

The first thing was saw was a Tractor and trailer facing us:

Another Tractor & Trailer just behind facint the other way. THEN:

That is a car under a flatbed smashed like a can. We could not find out what had happened, but it would be a miracle if the folks in the car survived.

We had a good trip the rest of the way, but we knew it was going to be late getting here to El Paso. Near midnight and we dislike setting up after dark.  But we managed.

The land scape nearing El Paso:

I was hoping you could see the mountains in the back ground.  They were hazy and beautiful.

I like these barren mountains, they are so rugged they are pretty.

I saw a dog in the sky, but by the time Sherry was able to get the picture, It was Pinocchio.

It is late here after midnight, near one am.  To morrow off to New Mexico….

Thanks for coming along.

Nite Shipslog

PS: I got these two vehicles as we were leaving Del Rio.  (Excuse the mis-spelling, I know, you always do! LOL)

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I nearly missed them and haven’t dressed the photos up. tired.

Ciudad Acuna, Mexico is an Interesting place.

The first thing I noticed crossing into Mexico, was armed men, soldiers with rifles and side arms. At least fifteen at this border crossing.

The roads and sidewalks are in disrepair.  But the drivers seem to be courteous with each other. People smile at you on the streets and nod.

The Spanish ladies like to wear their high heels. You see them walking pretty fast in them. I even saw a lady, a city worker directing traffic in high heels, they were not spikes, but they were 4” heels. These ladies love the high heels. Our own Rose, who misses her stilettos, must have a little Spanish mixed with that Italian blood. LOL.

Noticing prices in the windows for shoes, $149 (pesos).  That is $11.50 in US dollars. I have been in several countries and you can always spend the US Dollar, but you must watch the change, lol.

The poorest cities in the USA are better off than most Mexican cities we have been in. Strange, we (USA 1776 & Mexico 1810) started independent governments about the same time,  our American Constitution has withstood many attacks, and we still have a much better record of human rights, law and order.

We see our countries morals and some law failures, but nothing like our neighbors to the south.  You have read about the deaths in Mexico to violence. More than countries that are at war. (Not including Syria). So we are not perfect, but still a country I PREFER to live in.

Canada has great infrastructure, so does England and Germany along with many European countries, but Mexico trails because of the type of government. I read from a guy I know, who is married to a Mexican lady. They just drove south into Mexico to visit her parents deep inland. He was forced to pay $400 deposit for his car, which is supposed to be returned when he leaves. He had to pay to keep his two children (American Citizens) because one local constabulary said he was kidnapping them.  To much control by small Ruralies. 

Yes I am proud to be an American, and proud of our Independence. Sometime the government over steps their authority, but someone rises to the occasion to make accusations, and if nothing else goes public and announces, like Mr. Snowden has, that our government is out of control.

BUT LET ME SAY THIS, When we crossed back into the USA yesterday, there were no men armed with AK-47’s giving us the evil eye!

I am not ready to brand Snowden a hero, and neither am I ready to brand him a traitor.

BUT TODAY WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE. I LIKE THAT!

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Not everyone who reads this stuff is an American Citizen, they too are proud of their country, BUT THIS IS OUR DAY TO CELEBRATE! Happy Fourth to all USA CITIZENS.

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This is the American car, the Model ‘A’ even before the ‘T’ and the one we remember as the Model A.

A day in Del Rio (I depend on the Internet too much.)

We spend the day sorta looking around Del Rio. I needed to find the Post Office to mail a book and we would like to find our bank. Searches on the net are impossible. After waiting for a few minutes you are either timed out or get the message: “Unable to reach the requested address’. So we decided to do it the old fashioned way, drive around and search, then ask.

It is amazing how much I have come to lean on the computer for information. Here, were either I have the wrong server or carrier, I feel lost. I run searches and get “Address you entered cannot be found”, and I yell, WHY? 

We located the Post Office, still no one knows about the ‘Wells Fargo’ and searches have proved futile.

I am ALWAYS amazed at the ‘humongous’ springs that exist in the world. There is one here in Del Rio called San Felipe Springs. Out of a big hole in the ground flows 18.2 million gallons a day forming the San Felipe Creek. Beautiful clear water. It is the water source for the city.  We visited it the last time we were here. Within a few hundred yards it flows thru a city park and lately the river is filled with folks enjoying the cool water in this heat.

It appears to me that the folks of Hispanic descent appreciate parks and picnicking like our families used to.  They take advantage of the city parks that is for sure.

It is a pleasure to see the family having fun as a unit. Mama, dad and kids, all laughing and cutting up. A pleasure to see.

We are staying on Laughlin AFB, here near Del Rio. Sherry is hearing something that used to be very familiar to me: Reveille (@7am, used to be 6), She hears Colors (The national Anthem when the flag is lowered at 1700 or 5PM) and then at 2200 (10PM) there is Taps or Lights out. I can barely hear something is going on.

No pictures today to see if this will load without a re-re-reload.  LOL

Thanks for stopping by.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Of course I must add an automobile….

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Some air plane looking cars!

Acuna, Mexico (con’t)

We have not been back over the border since my last post. So I wanted to finish yesterday’s tale.

As I said we took a taxi over, got some teeth work done and walked to find something to eat. On the way we only met friendly folk. And only one person who seemed to be ‘hustling’ for a handout. Quite different from our experience in Progresso, although even there, they weren’t persistent.  I have been in many countries, mostly ports of call of the USN, I have given my share of money to those less fortunate than I, I mean, who can turn down a cute Street Urchin.

All the side streets are very narrow. I loved this guys outfit below! Martha’s restaurante is in the back ground.

I could not get a good picture of these cowboy boots. If anyone can explain them, I am ready to listen. Look close and you  will see the toes extend about 8”

We did a little window shopping, walked in the plaza and always enjoy the colorful displays. Dresses of all kinds…

Boots above a good price 200 pesos = $15.50

I surprised these guys or they surprised me, working on the display we all laughed.

Above is the Border notification and a shot of the River. 

This is the Rio Grande it is very clear water and much larger than is is in The Big Bend Area West of here. BUT here the water is coming from Lake Amistad, where the River is dammed.

Looking back, as we walked back to the taxi stand where we left our car. You see the Gold on White sign of Mexico.

We do plan to drive over the next time we go. I don’t see a problem here. This is a pleasant little town. Well not so little, Acuna is much larger than Del Rio.

I must say here, Please forgive my lack of visits via comments, we are operating on 2G here and it actually took 25 minutes to post last nights blog entry.  They are slow loading, but I am getting to read them.

Most of the time a click send you into never never land.

Thanks for coming this way. We will be here until after the 4th, then head towards Albuquerque.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

For some  reason, patience is tough regarding the net, have you notice that?  LOL

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I have no idea what, but I like it. I lean International

Del Rio Texas.. 150 miles total trip miles …1447 (plus side trips)

FINALLY, I met my dentist, Aide Talamantes-Garabedian DDS.

Is she cute or what? She is also good, she made sure our communications were right. She printed what she was going to do on her iphone for me.

To back up, it is about a mile and half to her office from the closest parking area. So we parked in a taxi lot and took a taxi, since it was our first time. $25 for the short trip. The bridge toll is $3 both ways. He dropped us right in front of her office:

She met us at the door with a big smile and a welcome. We sat in the nice waiting room and I filled out a short form of information.

I loved the sunken light fixture.

She gave me an exam, took a couple xrays. Told Sherry what she had found, I said after the long conversation that I could not decipher. I told her to do what was necessary. She smiled and handed me the iphone that had everything listed and the price.

I was wondering about one very bad tooth  near the front. She smiled and said she would save it but it would require a post formed by the lab. I gave my consent and she started on a root canal.

One shot, and there was no pain during the 30 minutes she took for the Root canal. She said the two teeth needing crowns were on the opposite side and she should deaden it, One upper and one lower. I said no, go with nothing.  She said raise your hand when you feel pain! (on the iphone) She started in and I immediately raised my hand and yelled ouch! The man working on the A/C turned and looked shocked, then they all laughed.

All was completed by noon, including two temp crowns. She explained to Sherry we should go get something to eat. The lab would have the pin back by 2. We went to the place she suggested and it was closed for the day for repairs. So we walked.

Everyone on the streets were very friendly and mannerly on the narrow sidewalks. We were stopped by a city official, to see if we needed anything. He told Sherry of a nice restaurant three blocks ahead. So we went:

That is it, the one with the dark green paint. First problem, the waiter an older neat man spoke NO English. As I am trying to say I want soup, in walks Aide, the dentist. Unbelievable, she helped us order mine was beef soup, delicious Sherry had a stuffed Bell pepper and sides and she cleaned her plate except for the two bites she gave me. We also had a bottled diet coke.

Hosteria Santa Martha

I will have to go over the area in tomorrow’s blog. This one is getting too long.

Back at the office, the post was delivered at exactly 2pm. At about 2:03 we lost power. So All is on hold until Wednesday when I go back to install the post and possibly the crowns.

Without getting into more, I know some of you want to know the prices. For a root canal, two fillings, cleaning, three crowns the total is $1500. I paid $1300 for a root canal then $825 for the crown in Florida. Also, she accepts a personal check.

I will continue tomorrow. Thanks for coming this way.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Once years ago we drove to Progresso, MX  for dental work.  The walk over was about equal to one city block. This trip we just happened to be going West anyway, so we are only a couple hundred miles out of the way.

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I saw an old Falcon Ford today, and did not get a picture. I also missed an Avanti here on base. I hope I see it again.

This is probably a 1959 Dodge.