Thursday, 10 October 2019: Matehuala.

By 9:30 this morning we had driven from Cotulla to Puente Columbia, cleared the border and were officially on our way.  We left Austin Wednesday morning.  Our odometer read 42,794 miles (and 74'). We spent the night last night in Cotulla at the Microtel.  We met Allison and Jeremy for lunch yesterday in Gonzales.  (Justin had lamb ribs.  He was very pleased but, as for me, I’m still going with Luling.) They said they spend the night in Laredo.  There doesn’t seem to be much closer to the border than Cotulla until you get to Laredo and I guess I’d rather stay about an hour out.  

We drove through Dilly, Texas this morning.  Dilly is home to the largest detention center in the states.  It’s official name is The South Texas Family Residential Center.  It is 75 miles from the border.  I shutter to think what goes on behind those fences.  

Our visit with Dellene was perfect...too short, but perfect.  She is getting ready for a European adventure with Lorayne.  They will leave right at Dellene’s birthday from Brussels (Mons) and go to Munich, Prague, Auschwitz and a few other stops all within one week.  It is an ambitious trip but it will be a great 65th birthday celebration for Dellene.  

Gemma left her pink flamingo at Dellene’s so she is without one of her favorite toys.  

When we got gas this morning we realized that might be the last time we do self-service for a while.  

Our driving today brought us butterflies, mountains, windmills (ok, turbines) and smog.  And, our arrival to our hotel brought us a happy hour of delicious guacamole along with Justin’s first Indio and my first margarita.  The pool was under construction (they said it would be up and running next week) so we couldn’t take a cool refreshing dip.  We could have played put-putt golf, but, instead we chose to have another beverage.

First round of beverages and first real 

guacamole in a long, long time!

We stayed tonight at Las Palmas Midway Inn.  Jeremy and Allison told us about this pet friendly hotel and the location seemed to be good.  As it turns out, the hotel is quite a find.  The room didn’t have frig or a microwave or coffee pot, but it was fine.  English television meant that we were able to watch the Democratic nominees in their town hall focusing on LGBTQ issues.  I am liking Elizabeth Warren more and more. She might be a little to folksy but she is quick.  Poor Joe Biden, especially with all the hoopla right now with his son Hunter, can’t seem to string a sentence together.  

The biggest news today wasn’t political at all — Kim and Brian are engaged!  They are in the middle of a road trip somewhere so far north in Canada that Kim needed to buy new snow boots before the trip.  Ok, maybe it’s not all that far north at all, but wherever they are, I am simply thrilled for them.  And, now we get to have a wedding celebration!!!