Set out early, about when the sun announced the day. Planned for a late afternoon arrival in Alpine, Texas, it was a solid 8 hours. Packing went quick and light. Essentials, mainly. Warm clothes, sack of food, cooler of food, guitar, audio necessities, flashlight, Guy Clark biography, Trek Marlin 5, backpack, bike helmet, flip flops, and a few koozies.
Everything else would be at the El Viejo Adobe, acquired for an extended stay, across from Sul Ross University. Sort of a home base. The pictures were promising, the place seemed an ideal spot for first trip to the Hook Of Texas. Down west and low, where Big Bend looms large, where the dark sky frames each star in glory, through Farm to Market 1776--Revolution Road. Near Marfa, and Presidio, and Marathon, near Lajitas.
Only imaged the landscapes, only seen the pictures. A place so far away, even most Texans haven't been, drive to the middle of space and time, and keep driving. Long ago nostalgia, saw Ted Nugent in Odessa in the mid 80s. Full loin cloth, shot a lit arrow to the back of the arena, hit the bullseye, destroyed his guitar, blew our faces off, everyone freaked. Just too much for a 9th grader, despite the parachute pants.