San Antonio – Devine, TX
I feel like maybe today was practice for the real thing.
Desert. Poverty. Flies. No indoor plumbing. No shade.
The riding was fine, though we started a bit late so it was a little hot. (I would say that it’s 97 degrees in the shade – except there is no shade so that term has no real meaning here . . .)
There are not tons of tenting options between San Antonio and Laredo so today we’re staying in a Hip Camp. What are Hip Camps? Well, to start with they’re generally not very hip. Instead, they are essentially a way for people to make a few bucks by renting out “campsites” on their property.
The one we are in right now is “interesting” in that Minnesota nice type of way . . .
The guy who runs it, Mike, lives in what looks like a pretty decent house on the property. But if you’re not in the house – which we clearly are not – the story is much different. The “campsites” are just little sections of desert brush cordoned off from each other by pieces of rope. Each campsite is named in a Lord of the Rings theme. Though, as we shall see, I think it might have been more appropriate to use names from the Hunger Games or Lord of the Flies.
We started at Golum’s Gate – or something like that. That site had zero shade, and was next to a person who lives here in a small pop up camper trailer that is covered – and I mean covered – in a hodgepodge of tarps – with a growling dog lurking in a cage that is also covered in tarps. Crap everywhere. All this combined with the flies meant the site was not particularly appealing.
So we ended up moving to West Farthing. At least this site has some type of vegetation. The “tree” we’re under now would be classified as a small shrub in Minnesota. There are about 273 little leaves. It looks like Charlie Brown decided he needed a bush to celebrate a fall holiday – like Halloween or something. Or, maybe more appropos – the Charlie Brown Mayflower Special . . . it is Columbus Day after all.
But at least this little shrub provides a little respite from the sun’s evil rays . . .
When we decided to move we texted Mike to see if it was okay. He ended up materializing and I walked around with him for a few minutes. He said he used to have more trees, but people kept trying to park their RVs under them and the RVs knocked into branches so much that eventually they all died. The trees that is. I’m a little skeptical of this claim. I see no evidence that there has ever been much vegetation here . . .
As we walk around I point to a spot where there is a bigger tree – toward the rear of the property. Under the tree sits a mangy old doghouse and you can see the rope that the former occupant of the doghouse must have been attached to.
”What about that space? Could someone (us) camp back there, under that tree?”
”The County won’t let me rent that space out. I’m in a battle with them because they say I need to have water for every campsite.”
“And you don’t have water back there?”
”Well, actually I do, but I can’t rent that space out on account of the rattle snake that bit that dog.”
Now he has my attention.
“I think we got the rattle snake though.”
”What happened to the dog? Did he die?”
”Well, he got bit in the night, and no one knew until morning. There was nothing that could be done by then.”
He went on . . . “I told them to move that dog closer to the house. I knew there was a rattle snake back there, but they didn’t listen . . .”
”Did you got rid of the rattle snake?”
”Well, my neighbor – and he pointed across a scrubby field a ways – he found a 14 footer and killed it. I expect that was the one. But I still need to rattlesnake proof this area.”
”Hmm. And how do you do that?”
”Need to weed whack that scrub over there,” and he gestures toward a few scrubby things trying to be plants, “then it’ll be okay.”
I’m pretty skeptical, but I keep my counsel. (I don’t usually use this term, but it seems kind of stoic cowboy-like and it feels like this is the to be a stoic cowboy). We’re not sleeping there. But the thought does occur to me that it is only about 50’ to West Farthing, and, as far as I know rattle snakes have been known to slither to new locations from time to time.
But fortunately we don’t have a dog. So we’re fine . . .
Right?
But like I said, this is all good practice for the real thing – across the Rio Grande.
We’re getting to be real experts … at something anyway. If we survive until then I think Mexico is going to be a breeze . . .
This heat is killing me. Time to go take my second outdoor shower. There’s a whole other topic there about how they can just plumb anything anywhere down here. Don’t have to worry about freezing pipes I guess . . .
Just envision a shower that the professor might have rigged up on Gilligan’s Island. It’s about like that . . .
And we used to be upstanding citizens . . .
Dinner was a frenzy of flies and more yuckiness. But at least the other campers were yelling at each other during the night and now the keyboard stopped working….
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Bunkies, Looks like you’re entering the real adventure zone! Rattlesnake cowboy boots would be cool-just sayin, in case you end up wrastlin’ one. Be safe and enjoy type 2 fun- the kind that makes memories that last forever!
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A new goal. Diana would look great in boots like that!
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It’s amazing that you rode your bike for a few weeks and you’re essentially in another part of the world. The culture and the climate sound so different. We had a high of about 50 degrees yesterday and I needed a jacket for my run. Hopefully you get some cooler weather at some point soon. Keep up the good work.
-Torry
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Seeing the landscapes go by is definitely interesting. Supposed to be a cool front tomorrow. Which means highs in the 80s… 😁
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I have totally enjoyed following your blog, but I have to tell you I would never do what you are doing. Why? One word…..HEAT!!
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It’s actually only in the afternoon when it gets bad. Morning and evening are beautiful. And cool front coming tomorrow!!!
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Oy! Sounds like it’s really becoming an adventure!! Random thing I’ve been wondering – where are your bikes when you’re in the tent? Can you fit them in there with you? How do you secure them while in the middle of nowhere without a bike rack or similar structure?
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They left their bike lock for safekeeping with me in Little Rock.
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We definitely cannot fit the bikes in the tent. 😳😁 but don’t worry too much about them when we’re in the middle of nowhere. Bike theft is much more of a city thing. We do have a little lock and some alarm things were can use.
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You’re eating in the tent?! Guess they don’t have bears, but how about javelinas or peccaries? And shake your shoes out for snakes and scorpions!
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Eating in the tent was a desperate measure. Or choice was being eaten by a legion of flies…😁😳😳
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Are you a secret PITA agent working a ‘cold dog case’ every week/month?
I though we taught you snake handling while in Little Rock ? If not we should have. Rattle Snake Ragu with curry rice ! Yummy
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Definitely under deep cover. Even you didn’t know…
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97 degrees! Oi Vey iz mir!!! (a liittle Yiddish interjection) Or I should say Hay Caramba since you are near the border of Mexico. It was 45 here for my ride today-hat and gloves on!
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! For your trip you’ll have to make another song- Alligators and Rattlesnakes and Kimodo Dragons, bye bye! (Kimodo Dragons only in the Galapagos, so you’re likely ok on that front). You’re not in Kansas (Minnesota) anymore!
Seriously though, be safe!
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Thanks Jon. No rattlesnakes for sure! I’ll work on that song
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I hope nothing prevents you from posting regularly from now on. If we don’t hear from you we’re going to be worried! We’ll be sending out the search and rescue! Seriously, stay safe. Have fun, but stay safe.
Angie R
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Well, we’ve ordered a new keyboard. Hopefully that arrives at the Amazon box in Laredo soon… 😁
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I know Diana hates misquetios. Sounds like Texas flys make misquetios seem pleasant.
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The flies have been rare. But when they come out in force it’s horrible. At least with mosquitoes you can put repellant on.
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ah the highs and lows of travel 😉 thanks for sharing and showing the reality of trip, the good and bad or difficulty’s would be a better word! In case stay safe! Thanks
Dave from Lou
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Hey Dave! Yes, we were just talking about it. Even with all that, yesterday was still a good day. 😁
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👍
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As Forest Gump says, Hip Camp campgrounds are like a box of chocolates. We’ve had our share of good and not so good ones since we retired. You definitely get a “good” story out of the not so good ones.
Brad
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I think that was Forest’s mom. 😉😁. But for sure there are at least good stories… although on a bike the price to get the stories is a bit higher…
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