I was stuck .
The Marfa airport manager overheard all this and jumped in to help . That ’ s what I like about Texas . He found some numbers to call . There was nothing available in Marfa , but I had an airplane . Flying is not free . It ’ s a pretty big airplane , and it would burn 30 gallons of expensive fuel , but it was a way to get to Alpine . The manager found some transportation there . I called . The people in Alpine were helpful , too .
I untied the plane . The wind was blowing hard like it does in West Texas , and I got ready to start up and take off quickly . As I sat in the cockpit the guy from Austin called , finally with some help . The governor had extended registrations because of COVID , so I was legal to drive back to Alpine . The manager helped me tie the airplane down again .
I have spent enough time in Texas to know that you don ’ t just drive away . The airport manager was inside watching a movie , so I sat down in a comfy chair across the room and we had a visit while watching . It ’ s easy to make friends in Texas . We talked about all kinds of things , but if you want to find out what was on our minds you ’ d have to come visit us yourself .
After the visit I drove back to Alpine . It was getting late , and things were pretty much closed . I had noticed at the Amtrak station that the Sunset Limited was due to pass through at 8:45 that night , and watching a long – haul train is plenty of entertainment for me .
The train was already in the station when I arrived . I ate my take-out and wandered up to the platform . The conductor was standing there , looking a little bored .
“ Are you early ?” I asked . “ Waaaaaay early ,” he replied .
“ Are you going to wait for the schedule to leave ?”
“ Yeah , we have to .” That made sense to me . It means a lot that Alpine has a longhaul passenger train . My town in Idaho does not , and we have to fly or drive everywhere . We have a freight yard and see plenty of hobos , but I ’ m too old for that , and it ’ s not travel . I love airplanes but I also like to hang out in small towns and visit . That rail that runs through Alpine connects it both to New Orleans and to Los Angeles .
The train can ’ t fly over Alpine ; it has to stop and wait . Passengers get out on the platform and if the train is early enough , they can walk across the street and buy a snack or souvenir , or just breathe the local air . They are really in Alpine , not at some big airport .
I stood on the platform and listened to the conversations . Departure time came , a whistle blew , and the lights running along the train turned green . Another conductor , a woman , sang out : “ ’ Board !” and looked at me .
“ You coming with us , hon ?” “ No , I like trains , I ’ m just here to watch .”
“ Great ! Thanks ! Good night !”
“ Have a good trip .” They like being appreciated .
I spent a few days in Alpine while my passengers had a successful hunt . I can ’ t explore as much as I used to because of COVID , but someday I ’ ll come down to Marfa to fly gliders . You can bet I ’ ll visit Alpine again . And I look forward to visiting with you .
Cenizo Spring 2021
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