We got an early start out of San Antonio but not before we stopped to see the famed “Alamo” that has been ever present in so many westerns whilst growing up.
Today was the first day that we got a real sense of the vastness of the state of Texas! It just goes on for mile after beautiful unspoilt mile and can see why this place holds such an enchanted place in the mind of this nation. Once we broke away from the I10 to head for Marfa the landscape took on the feel of being in an old John Wayne movie and I couldn’t help but wonder what it must have been like for somebody cruising through here on a horse 200 years ago. The temps were in the mid 30C’s not much water around and just vastness all the way to the horizon.
The Days ride..
I had read about Marfa when researching the route and all the reports used words like “cute”, “typical small town Americana”, “weird” and many other interesting descriptives. We arrived in Marfa just after lunch and there may as well have been tumbleweed blowing across the street….but in fairness, it was Sunday afternoon! Quiet aside, we checked into a wonderful old hotel called the Paisano built in the 1930’s and a real step back in time. The place is old, but immaculately maintained and the staff couldn’t do enough to help.
The Alamo
The afternoon was spent handling chores (laundry…my worst!), the blog, swimming etc before an early dinner capped off by a ride about 15km out of town to see the famed Marfa lights. No one has been able to provide an explanation for these mysterious lights on the horizon that have been reported for over 130 years that show up most evening. The speculation ranges from swamp gas (although there are no swamps around), Car lights creating mirage’s in the air (but what about the part that this was reported as early as the 1800’s?) to other weird and wonderful speculation. I have no idea but they were certainly interesting to see although I was unable to capture a photo so if you are interested, this will tell you more.. The Marfa lights.
Big Texas..
The Marfa Lights..Courtesy of the internet (not my photograph)
Tomorrow we head for Roswell New Mexico, the town famed for its supposed UFO crash landing in the 1950’s.
