I think its safe to say the chili cook off is over. This morning 118 is as busy as most super highways with all the people headed north from the cook off. I hear the DPS troopers have been even worse this time and evidently harassment is foremost on their minds. They stopped my neighbor's wife yesterday when she was coming home from work at the BBMI. Worst than that she wasn't doing anything wrong, the car was totally legal and she is a preacher's wife. They made her stand between the cars while they searched her car. Now I ask... Where is the
Probable Cause here? I'm not a big fan of the
ACLU, but think they might actually be able to do some good in this case. So far I've seen NO troopers headed North just one more headed South. I figure since a lot of people hold over a few days to give the heat time to leave the area then the heat has decided to stick around to? From the information I got yesterday the troopers are headquartering at the Baptist Church in Study Butte? One woman and man said that was where most of the troopers were when they went by there.
State trooper headed south this morning. Night before last I saw one pull someone over on 118 out here.
Sort of reminds me of the Hippie days.
The red lines point out all of the vehicles headed North in that one picture
Its been like that all morning with drove after drove of people heading out.
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Wonder how many miles it's backed up at the Border Patrol post?
ReplyDeleteMan, that's crazy! Hopefully in a coupla days all will be back to normal out there. Hope Allen Hare and his wife are OK too. No burnin' rubber with the Falcon on 118 for a few days either, Mr t. And keep your camera at the ready for any further photo opportunities for us followers. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteYep, I was thinking the same thing as Abby. They must be backed up for miles. The last time I went through the check point there was only one officer on duty.
ReplyDeleteAbby & DD, that is an interesting question that I hadn't thought about. I bet they were really backed up. For now the traffic has slowed down a good bit, but I still haven't seen any DPS troopers headed north. I did see several sheriff's vehicles pulling trailers up north so I guess they are pulling out. Maybe governor Rick Perry's Gestapo will be leaving tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteLast few times I was going through the checkpoint there were at least 2 to 3 border patrol guys outside and with a drug sniffing dog to.
The DPS shows up all over the state in force when there is a party. They are at Ren Faire and Octoberfest in Garden City. Can't have people having a good time! Just found out my SS Disability was approved! Yahoo!!! See ya soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's great news, Fran! Hope you see your first check soon! :)
ReplyDeleteFrann, that reinforces my theory on the police state. :(
ReplyDeleteAt least you had some good news to pass on. Glad to hear it!
I was in that traffic this morning. However the check point was not bad at all. When I pulled up they had opened another lane. They had like 6 parked vehicles to the left of the check point (in case you wanted to make a run for it? ) There were two officers manning each lane including a drug sniffing dog.
ReplyDeleteI was camped near that hippy bus. Wanted to take its picture but unfortunately my camera bit the dust mid week and they did not show up till Friday.
MsB, you bad! Didn't even stop by and say Hi. :( I can tell right now you don't love me no more. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo how was the cook off?
I still love you Mr. Smith :-)
ReplyDeleteMy van is not working but was able to borrow a vehicle. I got a very late start last Sunday and was suprised I actually was able to see your house from the road. If it had not been so late I would have stopped but I can not see well at night and with all the deer in the area I could not chance it on a vehicle that did not belong to me.
Cook off was great specially seeing all the people I have come to know over the years (I missed last year for the first time since 1996).
I camp in the quiet side. However in the Crazy Flats area I hear they arrested 31 people including 4 guys who supposedly raped a drunk girl in their RV.
MsB, good to know you still love me. ;)
ReplyDeleteHopefully those 4 guys won't ever be able to make it to a chili cook off again.
That's why the cops show up at these events. That and all the drunk drivers blather'n through their mouth say'n "I ain't drunk".
ReplyDeleteThe other side of the story.....Thanks to the efforts of these contagious officers, no one was killed by a drunk driver.
Evidently the Gestapo has left the area. Didn't see any sign of them while I was going in to, while I was there or coming back from SB.
ReplyDeleteBB, pulling over drunks is one thing, but pulling over people who have not been drinking, Don't even drive like they've been drinking, who are driving totally legal vehicles, not breaking any laws and then harassing them when they do pull them over for no reason is BS! If they didn't do that then maybe they could get even more drunks off the road.
In reality Billy Bob most people come pretty much with everything they need so they do not have a need to go into town. Beer and groceries costs an arm and a leg in Study Butte, Lajitas even for that matter in Alpine.
ReplyDeleteI drove into town a couple of times with some of my campmates since they were running low on the only thing that you can not carry enough of...WATER (they are a big camp and take daily showers) and I can tell you I did not see any drunk drivers.
David I hope these guys get what they deserve as well.
We have never been to the CASI event, and will never go there, either. The Tolbert Chili Cook-Off behind the store is for folks like us. We never felt intimidated leaving or returning to the Chili Cook-Off during the daylight hours. We left every day for one thing or another, and were always back before sundown. Didn't see any law enforcement at all, except Border Patrol. At night,from our campsite on the hill we could see the cop lights about every ten or fifteen minutes as they pulled another one over. For the Chili Cook-Off, everyone down here shares in the infusion of money, even the law. I guess it's to be expected.
ReplyDeleteDave, sorry we haven't made it back out to visit you. We've been playing in Big Bend Park every day, and don't get back 'til late. We did get up to see John Wells twice, but he was not home one of the times. Will try to stop by your place on our way out tomorrow morning.
Nice to hear things are getting back to normal down there. Your report of the preacher's wife's stop made me see red. I have lots of LEOs in my family and they are appalled at the troopers' behavior. Well, if it continues or gets worse I'll have to relocate somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteHey Dave - want to take this Veterans Day opportunity to sincerely thank you for your service.
ReplyDeleteMr Smith, I just wanted also thank you for your service contribution. I do wish I could have stopped down for the event and holiday. Life(work)just seems to get in the way.
ReplyDeleteEchos of thanks from me as well, David.
ReplyDeleteAllen, good to see you and Ok Hwa again, but I got the impression she was more interested in getting to Alpine to eat than seeing me. ;) Hope your trip back to the DFW Metroplex was a good one, but I sure don't envy you that drive!
ReplyDeleteD-Rose, I'm glad that only happens once a year or I'd be looking for somewhere else to go myself. BTW I met one of your friends at the legion the other day. Can't remember her name, but I have trouble remembering mine some times to. :(
Andy, Scavenger and D-Rose, thanks for the thanks, but I actually joined and I'd say the thinks would be better served going to those who didn't join, got drafted and went to war anyway. Worst part was those who didn't return alive.