Fort Stockton, Texas

We are staying two nights in Fort Stockton, Texas. Texas is a huge state, so we will be traveling long days to get through here. Yesterday we drove about 350 miles from Deming, NM to Fort Stockton. When we got to El Paso, Tx there was a road closure of Interstate 10. Not just down to one lane, but a complete closure! I10 is a major trucking thorofare so there were thousands of trucks getting of the freeway having to detour through town.

This detour cost us about three hours of time! What should have taken us about 5 1/2 hours, took us almost 9 hours. We were pretty tired when we got to the RV park. Now the good part. The Ram truck continues to prove itself as a worthy tow vehicle. Put it in cruise control and let it do it's work. Doesn't matter if it's flatland or hills, the truck doesn't care, it just keeps pulling strong! We are so happy with it.

There are no great RV parks in Fort Stockton. Last time we stayed here for one night we stopped overnight in the Comanche Land RV Park. They are full with oil field workers and would not take our reservation. There is a Passport America park for only $11.00 per night, but the reviews were pretty dismal. This is why we did not stay here last time. Since we couldn't stay at Comanche we took a chance here (the other parks were $30+ a night).

It turns out this park is a further from the freeway so it is quieter, and although certainly not a resort we prefer this park. It's not a pretty park, it is dirt and gravel with hookups, but for $11 a night I will come back!

Parkview RV Park

Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. It is the county seat of Pecos County, located on Interstate Highway 10,  and the Santa Fe Railroad, 329 miles northwest of San Antonio and 240 miles east of El Paso. Built in 1979, at 22 feet long and 11 feet tall Paisano Pete was for many years the World's Largest Roadrunner.

Paisano Pete

There are not many churches in Fort Stockton. We decided to go to the Fort Stockton First Baptist Church. Very friendly people and good preaching.

First Baptist Church

After church we went to Flying J to fill up our fuel tanks and then to Walmart for some shopping. We have a long drive again tomorrow to Luling, Tx so we are going to relax today.

God Bless,

Brian and Patty

Deming, New Mexico

Two nights only in Deming. We are staying at the Roadrunner RV park which is a Passport America park. We stay half price which means we only had to pay $12.50 a night!!

Roadrunner RV Park

To remind you what Passport America is, for about $45.00 a year you pay half price in about 1500 RV parks around the country. 10 years ago we bought a lifetime membership for $400.00, so we do not have to pay the annual fee EVER. So just these two nights in Deming we saved $27 including tax. You can see how quickly in those ten years we saved the $400!

When we got here last night I read about a great little Mexican restaurant called El Camino Real. New Mexican Food is different then Southern Californian Mexican Food in that one of its defining characteristics of New Mexican Cuisine is the dominance of the New Mexico chile, which are either red or green depending on their stage of ripeness when picked.

Patty had Chicken Flautas with Guacamole and Rice and Beans. I had a combo #2 which had a Taco, Tamale, Enchilada, Chile relleno, Chili Con Carne and Rice and Beans. Just pick Red or Green! We both had Ice Tea and the whole check with tax was $18!! It was delicious, and when Patty and I come back through here in September we will eat here again.

Mexican Food

Today we drove to Columbus, NM. Columbus is a village in Luna County, New Mexico, about three miles north of the Mexican border. It is considered a place of historical interest, as the scene of the attack in 1916 by Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco "Pancho" Villa, that caused America to send 10,000 troops there in the Punitive Mexican Expedition.

Pancho VIlla State Park

United States President Woodrow Wilson responded to the Columbus raid by sending the 10,000 troops under Brigadier General John J. Pershing to Mexico to pursue Villa. This was known as the Punitive Mexican Expedition or Pancho Villa Expedition. The expedition was eventually called off after failing to find Villa, who had successfully escaped. The Pershing expedition brought prosperity and international attention to Columbus and a realization that war had come to the border of the United States.

This actual car was shot up buy the raiding Mexican  soldiers. You can see the bullet holes in the seat and the front quarter panel.

Bullet Hole Car

General Pershing would ride around in a car like this, but this is not his actual car. After his experience here Pershing was deemed best fit for the European theater during WWI.

Pershing Car

These were Grease Racks for armored vehicles. There are now RV's camped around these as this is now a State Park with RV spots.

Grease Racks

After spending time at the Museum we decided to drive the 3 miles to the Mexican Border. There is a free parking lot to leave your car and you just walk across to the town of Palomas, Mexico. 

Palomas, Mexico

Online everyone said to go to the "Pink Store" and eat lunch. I have read but could not confirm that it is owned by former Americans that have settled in Mexico and it seemed so!

Pink Store

The food was OK, The chips seemed like they came out of a bag, and the salsa tasted like Pace Picante. The food last night was substantially better and cheaper to boot! Doesn't make sense to us. In order of Mexican Food on our trip so far, El Camino was best,  Los Algodones was second, and third was here. 

A quick walk back across the border after showing them our passports and we were back in New Mexico.

Tomorrow we leave for Fort Stockton, Texas.

God Bless you,

Brian and Patty