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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…."
© John Troesser June 2002
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