The drive from San Antonio to Alpine, Texas took us from ten-lane highways, non-stop strip malls and bumper-to-bumper traffic first to a divided four-lane Interstate with sparse traffic (sometimes no more than one or two cars in sight) and nearly empty range land.
The landscape along I-10 was periodically interrupted by an occasional oil pumper, old wooden oil derrick, small herds of grazing cattle (some pure white others all black), sheep, goats (for what purpose we’re not certain) and a few horses.
In the distance, mesas rose steeply from the desert floor, many of which east of Fort Stockton were populated with scores, if not hundreds, of modern wind turbines.
Turning south from Fort Stockton, we were on a two-lane road even more devoid of traffic and off of which ran dirt roads which seem to go on forever with no sign of life at the end. 
Arriving in Alpine, we found a very rural town with many closed businesses, decaying buildings, fancy gates to unseen ranch houses and more than a few mobile homes set back from the road. At the same time, there is a brand new college campus with traditional brick buildings which would blend in on many New England campuses and a brand new hospital.
Again, our campground exceeded expectations, although the winds were gusting at over 35 MPH.
