HEADING WEST...YIPPEE

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream telling tall tales about her adventures with her folks, Vannie and Dave)

My mama always said to me when when I was just a young'un, "Gypsy, when you have the chance...go west.  There's a heap a good livin' out in those wide open spaces."

Soooo, headed out, I did.  I brought along my sidekicks, Vannie and Dave.  They know a bunch of stuff about the west.  They've been following the trails out in them parts for quite a spell.  I trust'um.  A few years back they told me tales about going into a canyon infested with rattlesnakes, swimming across a dangerous river, harrowingly escaping a renegade band of hostile Indians, and enduring heart-pounding shootouts.  They are just good folks to have along when you are heading west. 

 And they always tell the truth.

Our first encounter with a terrifying ambush was in Houston, TX.  My goodness gracious, those cowpokes were coming at us from all sides.  We were dodging folks on our right and on our left.  Dave had an eye doctor's appointment, so we couldn't just find a trail around the city...had to go straight through.  After hearing the good news on Dave's eye, we escaped the ambush and headed northwest to Austin, TX.

As coincidence would have it, we had a great place to park right next to the old Salvagio homestead.

We were serenaded with dancing and singing. 

 Maddie is a prodigy on the harmonica, and Vincent can entertain us for hours with car races.

Cowboys with big feet always get the job done...

...and some Cowgirls know how to charm the rattles off of a rattlesnake.

Had to saddle up early the next. morning.  Vincent and Maddie were looking a little gloomy, but we had to head out before all the cowpokes in Austin started gathering on the streets.  

Too much folks around make heading west too hard.

Rode through some mighty hilly country before stopping in Valley Spring, TX.  

Not much folks around these parts.

Two little bitty holes-in-the-road, Whistleville and Bugscuffle, combined to form Valley Spring.

Important fact...James Smathers was born here.  He invented the electric typewriter.

We wondered through western territories barely avoiding a bunch of mean, ugly rustlers.

But when we arrived at the Tres Amigos (3 Friends), 

we knew things were getting better...for a while, at least.  

Bunch of great folks, clean outhouses, and good vittles.

Tumbleweeds were covering the trails, rain was blinding our eyes, but when we arrived in Odessa, TX at the cabin of Dan and Dot Jowers, we felt at peace...

especially when we saw the big black mustache on the icebox.  

"Some good cowpokes must live here," Dave said.

Then Vannie noticed that varmint.  He was big and black and hairy.  

Dan and Dot said not to worry.  He was harmless, and they were right.  

His name is Dugas, and he only barks when he hears gunfights in the OK Corral around the corner

 or when the rustlers across the street start kickin' up too much dust.  

Good guy to have around.

Late that evening as we were sittin' around the campfire,  

Dan treated us to some creme Brulee.  

Mighty tasty...

Next morning we hitched up the wagon and continued our westward journey.  

Seminole, TX has a big old clock at the corner of the street.  

I think the local folks probably would prefer to use smoke signals, 

but I guess modern conveniences have taken over.

Gosh darn...looks like I am at the top of a Mayan temple. 

 I have read stories about those guys.  

Not a friendly bunch.  

I was as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

All goes well until Vannie spots a pack of dangerous wolves on the horizon...or was it coyotes.  

We didn't wait around to discover who or what the angry visitors were.  

We hightailed it down the road lickety split.  

Those varmints were eatin' our dust.  

We just missed the bank robbers at the old Muleshoe Bank.  

They were packin' pistols and holdin' hostages.  

Probably Jesse James and his band of outlaws.  

In fact, the old Santa Fe engine blocked the exit of Jesse James and his gang, 

and we assisted the sheriff and his posse in arresting the bank robbers.

Whew, what a day.!!!

We were delighted to head on down the trail enjoying blue skies and 

white clouds and some peace and quiet.

Texico, NM...pit stop

Out of Texas...finally.

That place is some big.

Following the trail, we rode into a small desert town.

It was suspiciously empty, devoid of any life and activity.

As we moseyed through town, we could almost hear the sounds of long ago, and could almost see the people that once lived there.  

Spooky...

 V and D said, "Come on Gypsy, let's get the hell out of Dodge. 

This place gives us the creeps."

Route 66

We were traveling the Mother of all Trails.

Rambling Rose RV Park

Roses were rambling all over the place.

Kind of dusty and not much folks around, and the train tracks were close by,

but we slept like babies.

Word had spread about our adventures.  

The town sheriff met up with us at Cline's Corner, NM and awarded us with an honorary badge.

  We were some happy folks.

Vannie said, "Come on, Old Girl, not much further." 

The West has been Won.

We arrived to our destination.

Our special spot...

Our home away from home for the next 4 months.

Gonzales RV in Questa, NM

You know, life don't git much better'n this.!!!

PS...Gypsy has a special request.  Bloggers like long lists of followers...so if you have not already done so, please sign up.  It doesn't take long, and it would make her very happy.