If it wasn't for bad luck I would have no luck at all

Post for Friday - November 4, 2016

I was supposed to leave for my second leg of the trip to the cook-off on Friday morning but due to circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to do so until Saturday.  I barely slept the night before so like it or not I bought a 30 oz coffee refill to keep me wide awake as I made my way back to my favorite desert in the midst of light drizzle.

Just as I was about to enter Sanderson, Texas and stop at Stripes to use the facilities, traffic came to a halt.  After about ten minutes I decided to turn the car off.  Some people from the back of the line went to go find out what was going on. I was informed that two eighteen wheelers had jackknifed and it would be a while before tow trucks could arrive.

Did I mention I had drank 30 oz, of coffee?  Dang, that is when you wish you were a man as I watched the guy in front of me relieve himself...grrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Decided to put on make-up to kill time as well as re-arrange my trunk and back seat.  After nearly an hour the road was once again opened to traffic.  As I entered Sanderson I saw a restaurant to the left with five DPS (Department of Public Safety) vehicles and multiple bikes.  Could it be that the DPS that swarm the cook-off decided to leave early or was it just wishful thinking on my part? Actually,  I have no idea when they leave.

Reached Stripes just in time, as on my way out, the line of waiting cars decided to descend on the store perhaps for the same reason as I.

Right after you get through all the hills and winding turns leading from Alpine and it turns to flat desert land I did not notice a DPS unit.  The flashing red and blue lights brought me back to reality.  I sat in my car for about five minutes before the officer approached me.

"Hello Ma'am, do you know what rate of speed you were traveling at?"  Me "No, Sir."  He told me the alleged speed and said he was going to have to issue me a citation.  Takes my driver's license and insurance card and goes off for another ten minutes but not before eyeballing my car. Thanks to the extra time I had at the accident, all I had on the front passenger side was four gallons of water and my wash bucket. In the back seat, I only had my sleeping bag.

I thought it rather odd that he approached me from the passenger side and not the driver's side. Oh well, what does it matter...a ticket is a ticket.  What really pissed me off is that I know better! How many times have I warned my readers about all the heat (law enforcement) during the cook-off.  Need to take my own advice. I go into a lot of detail so I can re-read this before I head out to next year's event, if I am still alive and kicking. Note to self:  Use your cruise control.

I had never come so late on Saturday before, there was a lot of traffic heading back to Alpine. Trailer after trailer that was obviously coming from the cook-off.  Glad they got an early start so the line won't be so long at the Border Patrol Checkpoint for those that head out on Sunday.

Stopped by the side of the road to take a picture of the "other" chili cook-off.  This is the Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Championship Chili Cook-off...better known as the cook-off behind the store.

Sorry, it is not a very good picture.

Finally made it to the cook-off and got to spend time with my two dearest friends.  One I had not seen since 2012 and the other since 2014 and both times it was in Terlingua instead of Houston. More than close friends they are my sisters, family of my own choosing.

My friends new trailer and their truck

This evening I said goodbye to my diet and indulged in all the food set out before me.  I had real homemade potato salad, beef ribs, fajitas, borracho beans, sausage, shrimp, jalapenos wrapped in bacon and I served myself seconds, thirds and why not even fourths...as I washed it down with several cold beverages...:D

Its first two bumper stickers

Then we danced the night away and enjoyed a big roaring fire even though this year it was not cold at all. Thank you guys for all the food, ambiance, hospitality, but most importantly your friendship. It doesn't all end with this post, I stayed until Monday so stay tuned for more posts from the desert and pictures to back it up.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

First leg of the trip to the 2016 CASI Chili Cook-off

This year as in 2014, I had to make two trips in order to be able to attend the Chili Cook-off.

I had expected to leave at the latest by Friday, October 28th.  However, I had ordered an Instant Canopy that was supposed to arrive by October 25th and never did.  It was a small 7 x 5 canopy that I could put up by myself as the larger ones would have required assistance. Before I left, I had to do early voting amongst many other things that delayed my departure.

I did not arrive until Sunday, October 30th and by that time it was too late to get my favorite camping spot. The people that got my space had arrived on Thursday, October 27th.  Seems that each year chiliheads get there earlier and earlier to secure their prime piece of real estate.  Even the Guys camp that traditionally arrive the Sunday before decided to come a day early.

The Guy's camp was very popular this year as they had a big screen TV with the Cowboy's game and later the World Series.  It may not be politically correct to say that baseball bores me...but it does...I actually fell asleep during the transmission of the last game...and I welcomed the sleep even in the mist of all the hollering.

This year I once again decided to car camp as I never did find my tent, only the poles, and rainfly.  I did, however, take my shower tent, my folding four-foot table, and one chair.

MsBelinda's 2016 camp. Photo courtesy of Frann.

I have been known to misplace keys, cameras amongst other items.  Most I find, others not so much. This year I misplaced my camera so I lost a lot of photo opportunities.

Monday, October 31st was Halloween but there were not as many Trick or Treaters as in prior years. The locals bring their children as there are more people here than in Terlingua, Lajitas or Study Butte combined.

I had to return home so I was unable to attend El Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Terlingua Cemetery.  Frann, a well-known area resident was kind enough to share her pictures with me so I could post them on my blog.

In a way, it was a good thing the canopy I ordered did not arrive and that I never was able to find my tent.  The night of the Day of the Dead celebration a fierce storm took place complete with lightning, severe winds and flash flooding.  I do not think either one would have survived.

I am told that everyone was running for cover to their vehicles and all you could hear was car doors opening and closing.  The next day there were a lot of destroyed canopy and shade shelters along with some ripped tents stacked by the trash bins.

Back in 2013 we also had a rain event and I remember getting water inside of my cheap tent. This year it rained a lot more and in a shorter amount of time.  Another one of my friends said it was ankle deep and she barely had time to react. She grabbed her little dog and sought shelter in her car.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.