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"Yeah,
I know Toyahvale. There's snakes
down there that never have seen civilization!"
"Balmorhea?
Yeah, That's a pretty nice place down there too. Real close to Toyahvale.
I used to be Sheriff down there - or was that Ballinger?
Yeah, that big pool down there. That's right. That's something.
The water tempertures the same summer or winter. It's like them
office buildings in Houston.
I heard one of them oilmen used to call the state
park (Balmorhea) every day and have his people set the thermostat
in his building the same temperture as the water in the Balmorhea
pool. You believe that? I don't.
Ain't no crowds, there neither. Never was. I hate crowds ever since
that hangin' in Gainesville. Ruined my brand new boots.
Oh, yeah. What
was I sayin? Oh, yeah, Balmorhea.
Since that water stays the same - that means that the crowds that
don't show up in summer don't show up in winter either. Think about
that. I remember back in '51 the water got up to 78 degrees and
people was afraida goin' in. The fish was floatin' to the top it
was so hot.
Now, most people going to El
Paso or further west sometimes forget to bring their swimsuits,
cause they think it's all desert out there. 'course them people
goin' on to California don't never need no swimsuits. They're wild
that way in California - all them hot tubs. Seen it on TV.
Oh, yeah, Balmorhea.
That pool's so big that swimmers get fascinated by what's underwater
and want to explore beneath the surface. You know, to see what's
biting them. Now them little fish - those tetrons or whatever (Tetras)
- they just nibble on you. Won't hurt you none. But back in 1954
there was big-un that stayed in the shadow under the diving board
and that bad boy could draw blood. We shot him with a .22 and ate
him for Thanksgiving dinner.
I heard they had lobsters in there, too. Some old boy said they
used to ship 'em by the carload back to Boston, but he was lyin'.
The only thing they sent out of West Texas in boxcars was snakes
an' them Pecos cantelopes. Now Pecos,
that's a whole 'nother story. I was sheriff there in '49, or was
it '39? I know it had a nine in it…."
See Balmorhea,
Texas
Toyahvale, Texas
Balmorhea
State Park
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
Pecos
Hotels
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Stockton Hotels
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June 2002
© John Troesser
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Brewster Hudspeth
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