Post number three- Alpine and Marfa, Texas
Mailboxes outside of Alpine, Texas
We pulled out of Lajitas and headed north towards our next stop, the town of Marfa. Marfa has a big arts community and is known to be “quirky”. We visited here seven or eight years ago and figured it would be a good stop for a few days.
As we head north, we start climbing in elevation. The higher we go the cooler it gets, which is a nice change. We stop in Alpine, Texas for lunch and to wander around a bit. It’s a cool town with lots of galleries, restaurants, and the town is covered in murals.
As we head north, we start climbing in elevation. The higher we go the cooler it gets, which is a nice change. We stop in Alpine, Texas for lunch and to wander around a bit. It’s a cool town with lots of galleries, restaurants, and the town is covered in murals.
One of many Alpine murals
We swing through town, a small Texas hill town in the middle of nowhere. Parked on the corner in front of a business is a genuine Ford GT! I can’t pass this so we stop and I go over to take a look. Turns out it is a private car collection and they charge two bucks to go through. It turns out the guy has two more Ford GT’s inside! Here…...in the middle of nowhere. Oh yeah….he had a bunch of other stuff too.
Do realize that these are very rare to start with. Between 2004 and 2006 there were around 4000 total built and they were snapped up quick. Used ones from 2004 are trading in the 400-500k range today, and they sold new in 2004 for around 150k. Special ones trade in the millions. And there are three in this little town.
Do realize that these are very rare to start with. Between 2004 and 2006 there were around 4000 total built and they were snapped up quick. Used ones from 2004 are trading in the 400-500k range today, and they sold new in 2004 for around 150k. Special ones trade in the millions. And there are three in this little town.
One of THREE Ford GT's
We look at the cars on display then head back through town. We have lunch and then we park the truck and trailer in the parking lot at the train station. We wander around downtown a bit, taking photos of the murals and checking out the stores. While not state law, everyone that worked in the stores wore masks. They’re putting forth an effort at least. I tell them they should see the infection numbers in Tennessee.
We eventually head towards Marfa. Lajitas is at around 2300 feet above sea level and Marfa is around 4700. The higher we climb the more the temperature drops. The hottest part of the day in Lajitas was around 100 or a bit more. We arrive in Marfa at the hottest part of the day. It’s 85.
We eventually head towards Marfa. Lajitas is at around 2300 feet above sea level and Marfa is around 4700. The higher we climb the more the temperature drops. The hottest part of the day in Lajitas was around 100 or a bit more. We arrive in Marfa at the hottest part of the day. It’s 85.
Our campsite at the "Tumble In", Marfa, Texas
We set up at the campground we stayed at years ago, called the “Tumble In”. We set up the camper and hook everything up. I am careful to put on my gloves and kick things before I pick them up. I had no brushes with scorpions this time. We ride through town and check things out.
It’s quite cloudy so I know star photos won’t happen tonight. We take it easy, and cook chicken fajitas on the griddle. We hang out, process our photos, put the blog together, and eventually head to bed.
It’s quite cloudy so I know star photos won’t happen tonight. We take it easy, and cook chicken fajitas on the griddle. We hang out, process our photos, put the blog together, and eventually head to bed.
Grain elevator, Marfa, Texas
We get up this morning and are in absolutely no hurry to go anywhere or do anything. Laurie does laundry and I go to the Dollar General for ice. I also go to a rail crossing in town and wait for the Amtrak train to go through. I wanted to try and get a few shots of it. I knew the train left Alpine at 10:41 a.m. thanks to their website and I expected it to take somewhere around 30 minutes to get to Marfa.
The train came through pretty much when I thought it would. I had two cameras ready to shoot, a short lens camera and a long telephoto. I figured the train would slow down going through town and I’d have a chance to shoot long range coming towards me, and when the gates started down I’d move behind them and shoot with my short lens.
The train came through pretty much when I thought it would. I had two cameras ready to shoot, a short lens camera and a long telephoto. I figured the train would slow down going through town and I’d have a chance to shoot long range coming towards me, and when the gates started down I’d move behind them and shoot with my short lens.
Amtrak coming through Marfa
I figured the train would slow down but I was a bit off on that. I shot until the gates started down, ducked behind them, and before I could pull out my short lens camera, it was gone. Amtrak did NOT slow down coming through town. My guess is they went by at close to or over 70 m.p.h.
I headed back to the camper and Laurie was finishing up the wash. We hung out a little while longer and chatted with a woman named Amy who lived in Austin. She was staying here for a week as Marfa has much lower temperatures than Austin this time of year. She worked remotely and decided to work here instead of at home.
I headed back to the camper and Laurie was finishing up the wash. We hung out a little while longer and chatted with a woman named Amy who lived in Austin. She was staying here for a week as Marfa has much lower temperatures than Austin this time of year. She worked remotely and decided to work here instead of at home.
Desert Flowers
We’ve met a lot of people who are working remotely and are traveling long term. One was a medical device division sales manager. He used to fly everywhere before Covid and now he has a fifth wheel camper and travels that way. His wife and new baby travel with him and he works during the day and they go out and do things in the evening.
We’re seeing a lot of that this trip. People are working remotely from lots of different places, they’re homeschooling their kids on the road and taking them to see the places they’re studying about. Internet and cell phones make it a possibility.
We’re seeing a lot of that this trip. People are working remotely from lots of different places, they’re homeschooling their kids on the road and taking them to see the places they’re studying about. Internet and cell phones make it a possibility.
Laurie gets creative
We scouted a few spots for possible star photos tonight if the clouds cooperate. One might have been good but it turned out that a Border Patrol checkpoint was just south of the location. Those things are lit up like a Christmas tree at night so that’s not a good choice. But we did find another place. Right now there are a bunch of clouds….so we’ll see if that works out.
I hope everyone out there is staying safe and staying well. The mayor of Cookeville (where we live) posted the number of Covid patients in the hospital today and it is pretty grim. Our 231 bed hospital has 117 Covid patients, 29 in ICU, and they’ve shut down elective surgeries in order to convert that area into beds for Covid patients. The middle of nowhere in Texas looks pretty good right now. I hope you’re all vaccinated and stay well.
More tomorrow. Be sure to check out the gallery below for more pics! Click on the small pics and it will blow them up.
I hope everyone out there is staying safe and staying well. The mayor of Cookeville (where we live) posted the number of Covid patients in the hospital today and it is pretty grim. Our 231 bed hospital has 117 Covid patients, 29 in ICU, and they’ve shut down elective surgeries in order to convert that area into beds for Covid patients. The middle of nowhere in Texas looks pretty good right now. I hope you’re all vaccinated and stay well.
More tomorrow. Be sure to check out the gallery below for more pics! Click on the small pics and it will blow them up.