Driving tour from El Paso to Las Cruces.

Today we went on a tour of old hwy 20 through wineries, pecan forests(farms), small towns and large greenhouses.

We stopped at the historic OLD Mesilla New Mexico. Some explanation of the history of the town that I copied of the internet.

“The Shops of Old Mesilla, NM invite you to step back in time to one of the oldest and most unique settlements of southern New Mexico.  Located off I-10, it is nestled in the Mesilla Valley on the banks of the Rio Grande.  Mesilla has been a part of the Kingdom of Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and finally the United States of America.  Mesilla has a rich history filled with prehistoric cultures,  Spanish explorers, Apache raids, the civil war, and the wild west.  Pancho Villa and Billy the Kid walked the streets.  The famous trial of Billy the Kid was held here and the Democrats and Republicans had a bloody showdown on the plaza.   It was the Confederate capital of Arizona and New Mexico during the Civil War. The Gadsden Purchase finally brought Mesilla into the United States.  Many residents are direct descendants of the original settlers.  Today Mesilla is a part of living history.  Great care has been given to preserve the original adobe buildings and the beautiful plaza. People from all over the world stop to experience the history, art, architecture, quaint shopping, and unique dinning that Mesilla has to offer.”

COURTHOUSE WHERE

BILLY THE KID

WAS TRIED AND SENTENCED TO HANG

Henry Mc Carty, alias Henry Antrium, alias William H. Bonney alias Billy the Kid, lived a very short life , but made his place in history.  

Billy the Kid and many outlaws contributed to the wild side of Mesilla.  He was often seen in the bars or dances in town.  In 1881 Billy the Kid was tried in the building which is now the Billy the Kid gift shop on the southeast corner of the plaza.  He was sentenced to hang for the murder of Sheriff Brady. He was taken to Lincoln, New Mexico where on April 28th he escaped killing two deputies.  Finally on July 14th, Sheriff Pat Garrett shot him in the Fort Sumner ranch home of Billy's friend Pete Maxwell.  Be certain not to miss the Courthouse Building in Mesilla.  People say he still haunts this historic building on the southeast corner of the plaza.  

More photos:

The Mission Trail in El Paso, Texas.

We stopped at El Paso to get Coach Care Cummins dealer to check the motor home, everything went fine for the motor home but the little Honda lost a transmission on the way to El Paso. So we stayed a little longer than planned. We rented a car and did all the sites. The first trip was the Mission Trail.

Mission Corpus Christi de La Ysleta

Also referred to as Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Mission del San Antonio, the Tigua Pueblo’s mission was a sanctuary for Spanish and Tigua refugees. The silver dome bell tower was completed 30 years after the present structure’s completion in 1851. The nearby Tigua Indian Cultural Center offers bread-baking demonstrations and native dances regularly.

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception at Socorro of the South

The recently restored Socorro Mission is the oldest active Roman Catholic parish in North America. It was completed in 1873 and features rustic, Indian-decorated vigas (ceiling beams) and an original statue of St. Michael.

 

Presidio Chapel San Elceario (San Elizario)

The chapel at San Elizario is not actually a mission, but a military chapel. Completed in 1877, its patriotic roots are evident with stained glass windows bearing images of the American flag and Seal of Texas. Other points of interest are the Los Portales Museum, highlighting 400 years of border history, and the jailhouse from which outlaw Billy the Kid helped a friend escape.

Forte Davis National Historic Site

Some interesting facts about Fort Davis, Texas:This is the highest town in Texas at 5,050 feet.Originally a military post established in 1854.

The National Historic site recreated part of the second Fort Davis set up to tame the west and the Indian wars. The fort was an all black recruits.

Some photos:

Fort Davis, Tx and the McDonald Observatory.

Today we drove from Sturdy Butte, Tx to Fort Davis, Tx, a total of 103 miles.

We set up camp at Fort Davis then off we went to the McDonald Observatory.

We bought a Daytime and a Star Party Pass.

The Daytime Pass is great tour stating with an interactive presentation that includes telescope views of sunspots and flares. We find out the sun is in a very stable cycle for the next few years. Then off to a guided tour of the 12 foot mirror telescope. Great tour.

The Star Party Pass is an evening program that started at 9 PM. We started the party with a presentation in the open air amphitheater. The presentation was very well done. Then we got a chance to look at telescopes setup all around the amphitheater. We saw Saturn through a 22 inch telescope, nebulas in Orion’s belt through a 18 inch telescope and on and on. There was 18 telescopes set up this evening.

More photos:

Big Bend Ranch State Park and Fort Leaton State Historic Site.

We went west today through Big Bend Ranch State Park on to Fort Leaton State Historic Site then turned around at Presidio, Tx.

Just into the park we ran into the film set built for the ‘Streets of Laredo’. The floods last year left them full of mud and partially destroyed.

The film set is just behind the Rio Grande River.

The canyons in Big Bend Ranch State Park are almost as impressive as Big Bend National Park

Then off to Fort Leaton State Historic Park.

Then we turned around in the border town of Presidio and returned the same way. Great Drive!!!!

More Photos:

Big Bend National Park, Texas again

On the 15th of March we again went into Big Bend National Park. We started off with a drive to the Chisos Basin in the middle for the Chisos mountains. The Chisos mountains tallest peak is 7, 600 feet above sea level and the pass to get there get over 5,000 feet up.

This photo is looking west down to the campground.

Then we went onto the Rio Grande Village and Boquillas canyon. On the way we stopped for lunch under the cottonwoods at Dugout Wells.

On the way to the Canyon we took the turnoff to the Hot Springs. That is the Rio Grande River with Mexico on the other side.

The rock walls by the hot springs are full of flowers.

We finally made it to the visitor Center at Rio Grande Village and we are greeted by a roadrunner

Then off the Boquillas Canyon.

By this spot just to the left the kids young and old are sand sliding down the canyon.

The Rio Grande River at Boquillas Canyon is at 1,850 feet above sea level.  Here is the rest of the photos:

Big Bend National Park, Texas

Today we went to Castolon Historic District and to the Santa Elena Canyon. We then took the back (dirt/gravel/rock/mud) road home. The day started off cold and damp but ended wonderfully.

La Harmonia Store:

Built in 1920 to house U.S. cavalry troops stationed here during the Mexican Revolution, This barracks building was never occupied by soldiers. Shortly after its construction, the Revolution ended and the troops were withdrawn, leaving the buildings available for purchase. In 1926 the application to open an official post office at Castolon was approved. The building houses the Vistor center in this area.

Then off to ‘Santa Elena Canyon’ on the west side of Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande River.

Then we took a dirt road back to the campgrounds

More photos of the day: