Fort Davis 2021

6/26/2021

And the adventure begins! Set the alarm for 5am but was up 4:45. Felt rested and ready, got coffeed up, ran thru RV checklist twice and pulled outta the driveway and hit the road. I’d put the RV thru numerous 60 miles test drives leading up and it had performed nicely. I had six new tires. I had added a cargo hitch to the back where I kept all emergency engine fluids, fuel, and my bike. I’d prepped hard. Nevertheless, I still retained a touch of anxiety as I launched my annual long assed road trip in an RV for the first time. The engine, which ran great, still lingered in my mind as to its soundness. One piston didn’ fire when I purchased the RV, but I’d had that repaired and repaired quite capably. RV was plenty sound. But still...

But I seized the day. And I gotta tell you, that day was a long time coming due to the lost “Covid Year”. So there I was, on 290 West, going sixty. It was so damn early on a Saturday morning that for long stretches, I was the only one on the road. It felt familiar. It felt good. The first 100 miles out of Austin consists of a lotta stop and go. Dripping Springs, Johnson City, and a whole lotta tiny towns with one light and speed limits in the 35 mph range. After Fredericksburg comes long stretches of open road.

And I was really on the road. Sun was rising behind me and Fort Davis here I come. But it got awful windy and awful quick. The RV has decent power, but it’s a big automobile. Think small moving van. I was being blown consistently to one side, quite hard at times. Nearly off the road hard. I wasn’t just holding onto the steering wheel, I was gripping it, 10-2 just like in driver’s Ed. I pushed on. I passed several big RV’s, the really big, long, $100k type RV’s that performers travel in, that had pulled off to the side of the road. Maybe they were just waiting the gusty winds out, dunno. I was traveling at about 55-60 mph which the RV responded to well.

There is a rest stop I like stopping at on my way toward FD. But well before arriving there (it’s just after Sonora, 196 miles from Austin) I developed a fuel concern. Never having traveled a long distance before in the RV, I had a vague idea of what kind of mileage I was gonna get, having done some research on the interwebs. But I had no first hand experience. Naturally, I had a Classic-Close “nearly-ran-out-of-gas-call”. Keeping a sharp eye on the GPS, which displays the distance to the next gas station, and with about a quarter tank of gas, I bypassed a fuel stop and aimed for the next. Just as that Exxon was in my rear view, the GPS indicated the next fuel stop was 58 miles ahead. Could a quarter tank get me there? I had a two gallon container in my cargo in the rear so I had a safety, but I got a little anxious. I pushed on. The gauge needle was soon at “E” and dipping down, one excruciating millimeter at a time. I was about 10 miles from a Luv’s gas station. My knuckles were turning a shade of white. But I made it, pulling into an empty spot and a welcoming pump. Big old RV at the next pump, cars, vans, everyone filling up, going inside and buying the biggest containers of sodas I have ever seen, bags of chips and all the rest. Gas goes up the further north you get, and at this Luv’s, the filliup was exactly $43. I was back on the road.

When I hit the immigration checkpoint stop, I pulled up slowly to the booth, and the immigration officer (wearing his familiar green uniform) greeted me with a smile. He couldn't wait to ask me about my RV. "Man" he said giddily, "You don't hardly see those any more." We bantered for a full five minutes all about the ATXTraveler, the smile on his face never wavering. He didn't give a damn if I was an American Citizen or not. He waved me though with a "good bye and good luck". I don't think I have ever had a friendlier encounter with one of those folks. Ever.

Fort Davis is the highest town in all of Texas so I did a lot of altitude climbing. Once I got of the main highway, it’s a long assed straight two-laner that went on for 46 miles. Then I pulled into FD. I’ve been here several times before and know the main street pretty well. I parked across the Drug Store, which is a primary tourist destination. It’s really a homey restaurant, burgers, dogs, ice cream floats and the like. It was a Saturday and pretty full. I was giddy, flashing my goofy grin to everyone. Some folks returned the grin. Other’s gave me plenty of space. Victoria knew I was coming to FD but I had not given her a precise date. So I sat myself down, called her (she answered!) had a drink, relaxed, and gave her time to prepare for me. Vick lives outside of FD, up on a hill, about 10 miles away. I took things in, rested myself from the long drive, then got back in the RV and headed to White Tail Dr

The door is always open to Victoria’s house, so when I arrived I marched right in. And there was smiling, welcoming Victoria! Never fails, always great to see my dear friend and longtime colleague. And it was like we’d just seen each other last week. Extended catch up, food drink, dogs barking, every imaginable topic cussed and discussed, war stories (movie business), you name it, and comfortable and laid back as two people can be.

Had to see her Tesla, so I got the space age auto tour. It really is a thing of beauty. We’ll joy ride soon. On every road trip I’ve taken, my last stop on the way home is always FD to visit Victoria. But this year, I made it my first stop. What can I say. It’s been great.

6/28

Either my first or second night here, while sound asleep, a torrential rain storm opened up on top of us. It was loud, with plenty of thunder, lightning, and hail. Ground got soaked real good and low water crossing rose real good. Day after that, Vicki and I went into town for some shopping, and while at Porter’s, another fantastic downpour came down. Nowhere to go, we took our time going up and down the aisles. Rainfall finally let up, and we made a dash to the Tesla, loaded up and headed for home. Nope. Couldn’t even get out of town. Emergency vehicles blocked the road and we pulled over and for about an hour shared iPhone photos and waited. Finally, finally! we were let through. And we saw what the problem was. A part of the newly paved road had been literally washed away by the rain. We’d been warned that the low water crossings was impassable, so we just had to take a look. And WOW. It was even scary to look at. Torrential, snarling, a shining example of nature, a creek transformed into a rapid filled river right before our eyes. We turned around and went back into town!

Victoria knows the folks at the Fort Davis Fire Department and they put us up for the night. On cots. It was more or less, a terrible nights sleep (can report that a cot is a terribly uncomfortable thing to sleep on). Groggy, achy, sleep deprived, we thanked our gracious hosts and headed home. It had been communicated to us that the “better” of the two low water crossing was passable and we passed it just fine, in spite of the Tesla’s sports car low ride profile. Home, we grabbed a bite to eat and immediately set to make up for lost sleep with naps. Low water crossing steadily receding. Hope the RV can navigate OK. I leave for NM on July 2nd.

7/2 It was the longest I’ve ever stayed at Vicki’s, 6 days, and even that felt short. Had a marvelous time. Coming back on the same road trip later on for seconds, FYI. Said goodbye and eased the ATXTraveler out very very slowly onto a rain rutted, extremely bumpy gravel road. Smoothly navigated low water crossing, the one that prevented us from getting home a few days earlier. Then came the blacktop.

Too many highlights to list, but on top, of course, is dear Vicki. Then the communion with nature. It’s a little/big slice of paradise up here in the mountains. Her car of all things was third in the highlight department! I’m a tech nerd, and the rides in her Tesla wowed me. You know that sensation you get when a plane is hauling ass down the runway for liftoff? When you get pushed back into the seat cuz it’s going forward so fast? That’s what it feels like in a Tesla when the driver floors it. Dazzling safety features, the list goes on. If money were no object, I know what car I would buy :)

Albuquerque bound. 475 and about 8 hours woo hoo.