Power for nothin'

We are at the free city RV parking in La Mesa, Texas (map).

This is one of the great things about west Texas (and many other high plains states between the Mississippi and the Rockies). Not only do these communities welcome RVers by not passing anti-RV legislation (we could easily have stayed at the Wal-Mart here, if that had been our preference), they actively encourage them to visit by providing these nice parking spots.

This one is part of a large city park complex, with a nice playground and a picnic area. The RV parking consists of nine paved sites, each with 30-amp power and water. There is also a dump station, which we don't need since we just dumped Monday, at yet another free city facility in Breckenridge. One can stay here for up to four nights, absolutely free. After that, the city wants to start collecting $20 per night, which is not unreasonable for 30-amp power. The sites are a generous 20' or so wide, and at least 50' long. Last night, it was just us and a mini class-C.

Yesterday we diverted briefly from US-180 to swing up to Stamford, Texas, at the request of our good friend and Red Cross co-worker, Bob Penick. His great-grandfather was one of the town fathers, and we spent some time scoping out the old Penick Hardware store building, right on the town square, that housed the family business for decades. The building is boarded up, but is clearly slated for some sort of renovation -- there is an architect's print posted in the window, and the building is sporting cleaned-up brickwork, brand new gutters and leaders, and a new electrical service.





We also drove over to the rodeo grounds, home to the Texas Cowboy Reunion, where Colonel Penick's name is first on the engraved list of past presidents of the reunion's Old Timers Association, back in the 30's.



After our brief but interesting visit to Stamford, we continued west on state route 92 to Hamlin, home, naturally, of the Pied Pipers. From there we angled back to US-180 by way of farm-to-market road 57. We often marvel at how these "little" farm roads in Texas are in better maintenance, alignment, and grade than many US highways in other states, and they are often posted at 70mph.

Today we will continue west on 180 into New Mexico.