Texas

(Madrid, New Mexico)

We are in the small town of Junction, Texas, about 150 miles West of Austin. There are no Super8s in this part of the country, so we had to go with a local hunters spot (they are all watching the football game next door). It's kind of perfect, actually. I was dreading this part of the trip a little - driving through Texas - but so far, it hasn't been all that bad.

We slept one night in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in an amazing spa in the mountains. It was a treat, after so long on the road. And from there, the beautiful Turquoise Trail down to El Paso (where we drove into Madrid, above.) This whole area is a balanced "green desert", not to be expected at all. It is beautiful. The last 600 miles have been an empty road across flat green fields, with distant canyons and plateaus. And a huge thunderstorm that has been following Ramón since we left Santa Fe. I look around and can't believe this is Texas.

The second part of this trip ends tomorrow. We will drive into Austin, where i have a few appointments at the university (such great response from these guys, really). Amy flies back to NY on Wednesday morning, and my sister is landing on Wednesday afternoon. I am sad, and, excited for this trip to continue in a different form. We should all be flexible with change. I actually think this whole trip has been about that: flexibility.

Ramón is starting to suffer a little. I picture this very old man, with an oxygen tank, dragging his little feel across the country. And slowly, getting everywhere. He has never felt so small until Texas, where EVERYTHING is freaking huge.

Below, one of the many murals around this parts...

(Ozona, Texas)