West Texas, lots of it!

Across West Texas May 23, 2006
Leaving Guadalupe, up early, a beautiful sunrise, to lazy to take a picture. The wind blew all night shaking the tent violently , I was afraid to get up and pee, thinking the tent would fly away.Back on the road in a hurry, too windy for coffee making. Everyone was running because of the wind, scurrying rats after their nest was invaded by the West Texas Wind.
Leaving head north on SR 62, pass Nichol Creek, looks like an abandoned gas station, great picture there, instead of stopping, I want coffee. I make a run for Ranch Road 652 to Orla, just a road nothing on it, I am taking this route to stay off the interstate. Here No stores, no coffee, no nothing and I loss an hour due to time change, my goal is to get to San Angelo tonight, then one to two days to Austin.
South on SR 285, I drive though Pecos, where the World’s 1st Rodeo started. Most of the stores in town were closed for good, as I head out of town, just before Interstate 20, there is a Wal-mart, gotta love the low prices, gotta love that small town feel. In February there’s a Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering here.
Down to Fort Stockton, its a hot 93, need a lunch before the long drive across West Texas to San Angelo, this is country where the wind blows & blows.
Driving though town, looking for chow, then I head back though town, I often head from one end of town to another to see what my options are when on the road, I spy a place, moments after driving by, the place is packed. Mostly Steakhouses and Mexican restaurants here. So in the SW I should take advantage of my opportunities, there are lots of cars and trucks all around this little cafe.

The screen door says open M-F, closed Sat-Sun. The front of the menu says, ”our food is made daily with authentic ingredients. This is a local hot spot, I get in early, at least for me it's 11:30am. I picked the right place, the place is packed, mostly Latinos, locals and me, the tourist. (I have been back three times in the last year)

The name of this restaurant is Mi Casita, owned by Adonna Louise Gonzalez. Sauces are family recipes passed down by her grandfather Eliborio Pena this place was established in 1992. This is the real deal. The salsa is excellent with the chips of course, a good sign.
Everyone drinks iced tea in the south, You can have it sweet or not, I love SWEET TEA. I order the Cancun special, spicy green chile sauce and a mild red chile sauce over beef enchiladas, Spanish rice and beans, all to too damn good, then the bill, a whopping $8.28.
Two days of Texas wind, my journal says ”Quit blowing please”. Did I mention the heat, only 93, it's only noon!
Fueled up and ready to go. On to Interstate 10, a few miles to SR 67, Texas takes two pages in the Rand Road map.
A future story on what is south of here, Marathon, Alpine, Marfa and Big Bend country, I have be been back here a couple of time since this road trip, more later.
I may wish to move here one day, little did I know I would be so close to a possible future home just south of Fort Stockton, yet this journey needs to be completed.
Even more surprises in a day and a special new friend and friends in Kerrville.
Welcome Home! (6/07)coming!

On to San Angelo, thinking I can be in Austin in a day or two. The scenery slowly changes, only wildlife I see is the roadkill, I pass oil being pulled from the ground, the smell of gas in the air, a pleasant surprise of wind power on the hills here, lots of wind turbines, what better place then West Texas.
Pass Girvin, McCamey, Rankin, Texon, Best, Big Lake, Mertzon, Sherwood, Tankersly and at last San Angelo. Little restaurants to note, McComb’s BBQ in Rankin, in Big Lake Grandma’s claims to have the best burgers, The Yellow Rose Cafe in Barnett.
The park host in the Del Norte Park in California told me they host in San Angelo in the winter, so go to the North side of the state park here for more shade, a nice place, and I am again the only paying customer.
The wind and going downhill must have helped.
66.5 MPG, 368.6 miles traveled