March 29: Fort Davis to Marathon, TX

At map meeting, Carol indicated that the route was not difficult today, so Donna and I decided to make an early stop at the Fort Davis Historical Site. Originally established in 1854, the fort protected settlers along the San Antonio-El Paso Road from Indians. After the Civil War, black infantry regiments were assigned to the Fort, sometimes called ‘Buffalo Soldiers’, as the Indians compared their hair to that of the buffalo.

Fort Davis one of the best remaining examples of a frontier military post, including barracks, a commissary, a post hospital, lieutenants’ quarters and commanding officer’s quarters. The introductory movie was helpful in explaining the history of the area.

Looking at Officers’ Row

Enlisted Men’s Barracks

Commanding Officer’s Quarters

Donna and I spent close to an hour at the Fort before continuing on our route. We biked though the town of Fort Davis, past the local bank (closed for Good Friday) and the Jeff Davis County Courthouse.

We had to bike past the Chihuahuan Desert exhibit as there just aren’t enough hours in the day.

As we entered the town of Alpine, I asked a local where to eat and he recommended Reata’s, just next door – a great selection. Not only was the food excellent, we enjoyed the great decor both inside and outside, inspired by the movie ‘Giant.’

Alpine is the home of Sul Ross State University and also Hoss Cartright of Bonanza fame.

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Leaving town the mileage sign not only showed the distance to tonight’s location, but also to tomorrow’s destination.

The road from Alpine to Marathon is quite straight, with occasional curves.

We are staying at the historic Gage Hotel tonight – our room is an adobe casita.

Here are some photos of the hotel, courtyard and pool.

Linda, our cook, got to use a real kitchen tonight and we ate outside the Celaya House that is part of the hotel – yummy food as always, and a delightful outdoors.

My roommate tonight is Brenda Mamer from Wisconsin. She is a piano tuner back home and also likes to hike. She has a daughter studying linguistics in Germany and a son studying hydro geology in Buffalo, NY.

Total 62 miles today, average 11.8 mph.