Those who think Texas is uniformly flat, are in for a reality check at both the north and south ends of the Hill Country.  The southern segment throws the landscape into even higher relief.  It looks like the water has had longer to erode the surrounding terrain more deeply here.

I started the afternoon buzzing through Carrizo Springs, an oil boom town northwest of Laredo.  The area is quite arid, but riparian enough to support a  great deal of greenery.

This was taken just west of the Border Patrol check station, just outside Carrizo.

Crystal Springs is a funky little town about forty minutes west of Carrizo Springs.  It has an artistic flair, as one might gather from the following four photos.

Above is a shrine to unborn children.

Uvalde, about twenty miles further west, has wide streets and very stately architecture downtown.  It was also home to U.S. Vice President John Nance Garner, who served during FDR’s third term.

Near the Garner House is Uvalde Grand Opera House.  Country folk provided their own refinement, by and large.

Once outside Uvalde, the Hill Country’s rugged character takes back over.  One may either head north, towards Junction or west, towards Del Rio.  I chose north, this time.

This is a view from the Frio Canyon overlook off Hwy. 281. I encountered a couple whose car was overheating.  They had a family member coming from Junction, about forty minutes away from the overlook, so I enjoyed the view and moved on.

I pulled into Junction, TX, which brought me to I-10, around 6 P.M.  Junction has several amenities for hunters and fishermen, and is generally a pleasant-looking town.  The South Llano River runs through Junction.

Junction’s Chamber of Commerce has a good sense of humour.

I continued on, into the Chihuahuan Desert, spending the night at the very pleasant Town & Country Motel, in Fort Stockton.

Next:  Day 10- Chihuahuan Desert scenes, El Paso and a New Mexico Driving Break.