October 12-13, El Paso, TX to San Antonio, TX

Ysleta Mission

Socorro Mission

 Saturday morning before leaving El Paso we drove down the El Paso Mission Trail on which are the three oldest Spanish missions that are still active today. Ysleta Mission is thr oldest continuously active parish in the state of Texas, and the community of Ysleta is the oldest town in Texas.

San Elizario

  When an expedition of 500 Spanish colonists came up from Mexico and arrived in the vicinity of present-day San Elizario on April 30, 1598, their leader called for a rest and celebration. The Spanish were joined by local Manso Indians. Together they held a Mass and enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast. This celebration took place in an area that today the United States, twenty-three years before the Pilgrims feast at Plymouth, Massachusetts.



We had planned to go to Fort Davis next, but they were closed because of the government shutdown, so we drove east on Hwy 10 toward our next planned stop of San Antonio. It was another long day of driving through desert, prairie and mountains. It is so isolated the speed limit was 80 mph most of the way, though we didn't try to go that fast with the camper. The mountains in TX were prettier and more varied than yesterday in AZ and NM.

 

We stopped at a campground in a small community called Ozona about sunset. 

This morning we broke camp and headed to the next town and stopped for Sunday school and church at First Baptist of Sonora. It was a vibrant friendly country church. We had our first significant rain today; much needed around here. We got to San Antonio late afternoon and were able to get a campsite at the Army base. Roger set up camp in a drizzle while I set up inside and started dinner. Since it is still raining, we did some laundry and have been hanging out in the camper.