Brewster County Facts: Largest county in the Texas, larger than Connecticut and Delaware combined. Longest mail route in the country with fewest stops, over 300 miles. The longest school bus route in the country, at least 120 miles round trip each day. Some of the children get up as early as 3 am to be driven many miles to the first pick-up point.
One morning we awoke to 28 degrees. This, we are told, is about as cold as it gets here. All were amazed that we slept in our tent. We were offered space inside, but refused. We will be colder crossing the continental divide, if the winter keeps going the way it is starting. We just snuggle a little tighter, keep each other warm.
One day we rode to Alpine with WT on his weekly beer run for the store. The color was still early morning warm and the landscape was spectacular. We just can’t get enough of looking. We saw a herd of about 50 pronghorns a few miles from the ranch, more than in all of Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
We discovered WT likes big band music as well as we do (he was in the Pacific in World War II and in Korea) and we played his tapes the 70 some miles each way. Claire dazzled him with her knowledge of big band leaders and players. We laughed and talked all the way. Two fringe travelers and an old cowboy — who would have thought.
After we loaded the beer and ran some other errands, had lunch at a great Mexican place, perhaps the best so far, he took us to the house they own in Alpine. There he showed us the room where their daughter’s things have been stored in boxes since she died last summer. I’m not sure why he shares the things with us that he does, but we do feel honored by it. He is a strong and sweet man who has known much pain, and at 69 is facing failing health. Cowboys don’t cry, but like all of us, they need to talk about the things that hurt.
We will miss WT, Earl and Sandra and Stillwell Ranch. Sometimes trouble can come just at the right place and the right time.
Our last at the Stillwell Ranch, we walked a mile or so into the Chihuahuan desert before the moon came up, to experience the darkness and the silence. The silence was nearly complete except for a slight hum of some insects; even they were subdued. While absorbing the spectacular clarity of the stars, we saw a huge fireball descend, slowly it seemed, toward the eastern mountains, before extinguishing.
The coyotes were quiet, waiting for the moon. We lay on the cooling desert rocks under starlight, and listened. We spoke seldom, and then quietly, as if in a cathedral during prayers.
Which is exactly where we were.
We met Bob and Claire on the Team Northwest Tandemonium ride over Sauvie Island mentioned on page 92.
Thanks for the memories, and the update on your own adventures. That last few days back to Sequim was bitter-sweet after more than a year on the road. We’ve never been the same; a good thing.
What a marvelous and beautifully descriptive article about a simply amazing woman – Karen Landis. I’ve had had the serendipitous experience to create and nurture a friendship with Karen after I underwent a hip replacement and three hip fractures and realized I needed to request the local “Meals on Wheels” service. And of course, if she didn’t have enough on her plate, Karen serves the Chino Valley community two days a week by delivering meals to people in my circumstance.
I loved Karen the first moment I met her. And when we started chatting I knew I had met a soul mate. I’ve been looking all my life for a role model, a hero, an amazing example of humankind. I don’t know if she realizes what an outstanding example she is of a strong, independent, intelligent, talented woman. Sometimes as women, we have a dentency to undervalue ourselves. But Karen, I want you to know you are the real deal. You are just so beautiful in your authenticity. And I a so appreciative of the value you have added to our environment by caring for the land and the animals under your watchful care. Your abilities and strength simply boggle my mind. And thank you for your loving service to me these past four months. You rock girl!