historic site. Fort Davis was staffed by buffalo
soldiers (mostly freed black slaves) after the civil
war to protect settlers and mail carriers from
Indians. Interesting idea if you think about it.
The video at the visitor's center was narrated by
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar (former college and pro basketball
star for all you athletically challenged types) who is
very interested in the history of the buffalo soldier.
The first black graduate of West Point chose to
command the Fort Davis troops. He was court-martialed
in a kangaroo trial by white officers about a year
after he got there. And the Fort Davis Buffalo
soldiers were themselves successful in destroying one
of the last tribes of Apache holdouts who refused to
go to a reservation. Confusing thing, history.
I was going to continue on today but a 30 mph wind
was blowing from the west and I didn't think I would
make much progress with the trailer and everything up
on the roof. So I unloaded the car and went back to
Alpine to buy a new camera. Found a cheapie Olympus.
It takes good pictures but has no viewfinder, only the
screen on the back. That will take some getting used
to. Tried to get into the tomato growing operation on
the way back but they don't give tours.
The couple that went on the tour of Turlingha Abajo
are here. Stopped to talk to them. He is a retired
physician, she a nurse, from Minnesota. He plays the
nykelharpe, a 13 string Swedish instrument, a cross
between a violin, autoharp and accordian. You bow it
but change string length with buttons. There are four
strings and a drone that are bowed and 9 resonating
strings. It has an eerie sound. He belongs to a
nykelharpe band in Minneapolis and they get gigs.
She plays violin but a swedish style one: the standard
4 strings but with two added resonators.
A warning for those of delicate sensitivities, the
following is a little clinical. As many of you may
know, men of a certain age begin to need a trip or two
to the john during the night. At home this is no
problem, just sleepwalk to the bathroom and back. But
in a campground there are some challenges that require
deliberation and planning. Of course, you could get
dressed and hike to the toilet, but after a few nights
of two dark voyages you've become a daytime zombie.
So, here are step by step directions for how to solve
this highly personal yet desperately vital problem:
1. Choose a campsite as far from others as possible.
2. Orient the door of the trailer away from the
closest neighbor.
3. Place the trailer so the door opens onto the most
absorbent surface: grass better than gravel, gravel
better than asphalt.
Now I think further description is unneccessary.
However, let's say a) that no amount of trailer
placement provides sufficient privacy or b) there is
no adequately absorbent surface. Then one must revert
to the tried and true pee bottle. And this has it's
own set of considerations:
1. Bottle must have an opening of sufficient size.
2. Bottle must have a very tight fitting top.
3. Bottle must not be opaque as carrying it to the
camp restroom in the morning in full sight of other
campers could be embarrasing if it looks like you're
delivering a urine sample.
I think I've about covered it. But if any of you (of
either sex) has any suggestions or other thoughts,
please let me know. This is important stuff.
The wind has died down this evening and the temp is
fine. I've got the trailer door open. I'll make my
nightly cup of decaf and sip it out under the stars.
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