Brrrr!

It's cold here today. MSN weather says it's 36 degrees F., and we've got a little wind as well.

The dogs and I drove from Alpine to Fort Davis about 40 miles north of here yesterday. Charming little town, but not much to it. On the way back on Hwy 118, I saw a sign that read "Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute" so turned in to see what it was. A narrow dirt road led me the the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Gardens, a really neat place. The dogs and I took about a 45-minute self-guided tour (read: "hike") through the place. Lots off botanical research is going on there, funded privately. The Institute was started by several professors at Sul Ross State University, here in Alpine. I saw at least four different varieties of agave, and went through their hummingbird and butterfly area. Unfortunately, it's still too cold for much activity there. I was a nice walk. I kept imagining a sunbathing rattler on every rocktop, but it must have been too cold. It got up to the mid-70s yesterday, and sunny. A beautiful day. The dogs acted like they were really enjoying the "wilderness"; certainly no blacktop nor fire hydrants there.

Today is laundry day; it's much too cold to be out running around. I think everyone in the park is laundering today: it's taking me twice as long to get one load of stuff washed and dried.

I've learned a new fuel-saving trick these last couple of days. The nights here are in the 20s and I can keep Van Go warm all night by using the little space heater I was maligning last month instead of turning on the furnace. Tried it last night and it worked great. I've got it on today, too; the dogs are actually shivering.

I did some research on Camping World's Anthony, TX location last night. They've got a huge RV park there, so I think I'll go there as soon as my mail comes here in Alpine, and get the microwave fixed. After that gets done, I'll head for Tucson for the Life on Wheels conference, then to Albuquerque and visit Deb and see Marc and family.