Our first overnight was at Dateland AZ, at "B" on the map, then Benson AZ for two nights (location "C"), then Las Cruces NM (location "D"), now at Alpine (location "E").
The drive so far has been smooth, enjoyable and trouble-free, with overall fuel economy of 11.2 miles per US gallon. Driving in this part of the country is fast and relaxing, because of the wide-open expanses of desert and good, mostly smooth, highways.
Today we visited Fort Davis, an historic town 25 miles from Alpine. We spent the morning walking around in the sunshine and 77F temperatures, looking at the beautifully-restored buildings in the middle of town. The courthouse, which also serves as the county offices, was built in 1910 at a cost of $47,000 and restored in 2003 at a cost of $3 million! That is inflation at work. The jail, which was built at the same time as the courthouse, is currently undergoing restoration. It is no longer used as a jail, but is preserved as an historical building. The contractors working on the restoration invited us to see inside the building, and an elderly member of the work crew reminisced about when, as a 17 year old, he spent a night in one of the cells after being arrested for underage drinking. I asked if that was his last stay in the jail, and he said an emphatic "Yes"! |
| Your apprehensive blogger in one of the historic jail cells. Fortunately, I was released by the Navigator, who requires a driver for the remainder of the trip. |
We will leave Alpine tomorrow for an ovenight stop in Del Rio, then on to Boerne TX for a three-day stay. Stay tuned!
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| The comely Navigator, on the courthouse steps |
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