On our way to Big Bend National Park in Texas

After leaving our cruise ship in Galveston, we headed west for Big Bend.  We made several stops along the way. Visited an aunt in Houston, a friend in San Antonio, then stopped for a couple of days in Del Rio.  We checked out the Whitehead Memorial Museum, which had a exhibit on Judge Roy Bean and the Amistad National Recreation Area..  The next stop was Marathon (wasn't much to do there with a population of 500), Langtry, than on to Big Bend.  The next post will be from Big Bend.

Didn't know at first that this was a replica of the Judge's saloon in Del Rio.  His real saloon is about 50 miles SE in Langtry(coming up below). 

But he is buried in Del Rio at the Whitehead Museaum.

Also at the museum was this collection of barbed wire - over 300 different types.  I thought barbed wire was barbed wire !!

Our first glimpse of the Rio Grande was also in Del Rio; through the 'fence.' 

I thought it was solid metal.

Maybe 15' tall ?

A few miles west of Del Rio, a dam was build on the Rio Grande; it was a joint effort between the U.S. and Mexico, creating Lake Amistad (Offically: Lake Amistad National Recreation Area).

A view of the Rio Grande past the dam.  The border goes down the middle of the dam, so we just stayed on our side.

Another view from the dam.

Along the road on US 90.

There is lots of prickly pear cactus in Texas.

Most of west Texas looks like this, but this was at the Seminole Canyon State Park, where we stopped for lunch.

Lunch in the park.

The 'real' saloon of Judge Roy Bean in Langtry.

The judges bench !!

Upper left photo is the judge.

Our last stop before Big Bend; the Marathon Motel.  Yes, it was time for happy hour !