Dennis and I left Dallas a little after 8:00 this morning and drove with Dennis to Washington on the Brazos. That’s where the Republic of Texas was formed on May 2 1836. The Alamo was under siege from Santa Anna and was fall four days later on May 6th. We drove from their to San Antonio, arrived a little before 5:00 and made a quick tour of this, the most hallowed site in Texas.
It was the first time I’ve ever visited either site and to do it on Texas Independence day made it even more rich of an experience. The Alamo itself is quite small but accounts for only a very small portion of the compound of the time. It is where the last stand was made after the walls had been breached by the Mexican Army.
It was interesting to see the different state flags that hung from the walls inside, each with a number of the men from that state who gave their life for the liberty of Texas. I was surprised to see a James Buchanan from Alabama on the roster of the med who died.
I was also surprised to learn that the Alamo was 111 years old at the time of the battle. This place predated the American Revolution by quite a few years. I had no idea.
We walked across the street after the park closed and down into the Riverwalk and eventually settled in for a Shiner and some food. I had chicken Flautas and Dennis had cheese enchiladas and we both enjoyed the lengthy conversation before, during and after the meal.
Around 8:00 we headed back to the truck and after speaking with our wives on the phone, headed west. Surprisingly, we got all the way to Del Rio about 11:30 and landed at a Comfort Inn with two clean beds, a roof over our head and free wifi.
Tomorrow, we will head on west thru Langtry to Alpine, up to Fort Davis and eventually to the McDonald Observatory and the star party at 7:30pm. We’re planning on camping out tomorrow night and it should be brisk at that elevation.
I’m done for the day. I was actually done a while ago as a nodded off a time or two on the ride from Uvalde to Del Rio.
More to come . .
I can only imagine, with both of you enjoying a lengthy conversation before, during and after the meal with each other; how much "Education without consent" took place.
Pictures we want Pictures......
Mike
Posted by: Mike | March 03, 2009 at 10:57 PM