Alpine, Texas

Saturday, November 25
Texas is a giant of a state.  The 7 hour drive from Dallas to Alpine was long and flat.  We filled up with gas prior to driving because we weren’t sure how many gas stations were possible along the way.  Towns were few and far between.
We started driving at 6:00am and arrived in Alpine around 2:30.  John and Libby arrived about an hour ahead of us.  John is a a fast driver!

The scrub plants dotted the landscape for as far as the eye could see.  Mesquite, cottonwoods, tumble weed, cactus and various grasses were all one could see. It was a continuous sea of beige grasses with dots of dark green bushes.  Far off in the distance was a mountain range, Chinati Range. The mountains were brown rock formations lining the horizon.

We had dinner at Reata’s.  This was a classic west Texas restaurant, recommended by Bob Mittle, a law partner of Michael Asen’s who evidently lives nearby  part time.

Alpine is a small town.  There is a stark beauty here with a life style that is hard to imagine.   It is set apart from other towns by about 50 to 80 miles.  Homes are small, white or beige matching the landscape.