A 400 mile drive towards the border

Up early, not difficult with paper thin walls in our budget motel! 150 miles by 9.30 with a breakfast stop in the middle of the desert and refuel. Avery pretty desert, not what we expected, across a limestone plateau rather like parts of menorca. On to Fort Stockton, a last outpost before the mountains of Big Bend. More fuel and a shop as we have no idea what will be available in the park. Arrive at our Motel about 1pm to a pleasant surprise. Adobe courtyard with fire pit, clean wooden cabin, paradise until the first freight train with whistle blowing for the crossing over the road passes! We then notice the earplugs, by courtesy, next to the bed. The trains are about half a mile long and run all night. Trip down to a small park by an old fort built to stop Apache attacks on the settlers, banded kingfisher and gold chested woodpeckers by the spring. Mexican local diner in Marathon, the 'town' with smoked pulled brisket, BBQ sauce home made, home grown salad and home made salsa. Superb food washed down with 2 really good margaritas. The waitress is doing a PHD in conflict and peace based on research in Fiji! Back to motel for sunset across the Marathon plain, 4400 feet up with views to the mountains, idyllic until we notice the windmill behind our cabin which has a metallic knock every time the bore lifts the water! Another glass of wine... all good intentions out of the noise!