Fort Stockton, Texas to Ingram – 10 February 2023

This was one of the longest trips we have had to date as we ended up in the car for about 5 hours. It seemed that Hammer (the RV recommended route) and Siri were in conflict. To be on the safe side, Derek went with the Hammer recommended route but it added on about 45 mins to the trip. We drove for miles along deserted roads passing one ranch after another but none of them seemed to have animals or anything else we could see. We also went over several bridges over the Guadeloupe river which stretched for miles.

Eventually we arrived at the Hill Country Arts Foundation – our harvest host for the evening.

Stopped overnight at the Hill Country Arts Foundation Point Theatre, in Ingram, Texas. It’s mission is to sustain a center for the visual and performing arts that promotes education and a public interest in the arts. We were fortunate to be given a wonderful spot overlooking the Guadeloupe river on two sides. Best of all we had the place all to ourselves.

The following day we walked around the property checking out their artwork and admiring the Stonehenge II display. In 1989, one of the residents Al Sheppard, was left with an extra large limestone slab after building his patio. He gave it to his friend who stood it upright in his garden and built an arch around it. The 13 – foot arch reminded them of Stonehenge in England. So they decided to build their own Stonehenge, which took about 9 months to complete. They fabricated the stones from steel, metal lathe, and plaster and anchored each with cement. Stonehenge II is 90% as wide and 60% as tall as the original. Later, after visiting Easter Island off the coast of Chile, Sheppard was inspired to add two 13 – foot tall Moai head statues to the collection. After Sheppard passed away in 1994 his family donated Stonehenge II and the Moai to the HCAF in memory of Al, a long-time supporter of the organization.