A Columbus Day story.....

[Bob Wright]

Recent thread on Columbus Day reminds me of a story.................
("What doesn't," you say?)

Maybe around 1991 or so, Nita and I were in Study Butte, Texas. It was Friday and the following Monday was observed as Columbus Day. I needed some cash, so thought maybe I should cash a traveler's cheque. (I never knew why, but travelers insruments were always spelled "cheque.")

I asked the clerk at the motel we were staying in if the banks were open on Columbus Day.

"Banks? We ain't got no banks!" was his response, "What do you want a bank for?"

"I want to cash a traveler's cheque," I told him.

"Oh, that," he replied. "We use the restaurant for that. They'll be open."

I was later told that the nearest bank was in Alpine, some ninety miles away. Last time I was in Study Butte, they had an ATM installed.

Bob Wright

 

[Kevin]

Bob, I think this is a repeat. I remember you telling this story before.

But what’s the rest of the story? What vehicle did you drive out to Texas? Was it a long trip?

In 1991, places would have been using credit cards. I would think in some back of beyond parts in Texas people might view a Traveller’s Cheque as some sort of foreign denomination.

But good memories just the same. Back then in the early 1990’s we would go down to Big Bend in March and go floating down the river. We couldn’t afford the hotel there in the Basin, so we camped in the campground right there as well as the other campground across from Boquillias, Mexico.

Did you wade across the river into Mexico when you went there?

 

[Bob Wright]

Bob, I think this is a repeat. I remember you telling this story before.

But what’s the rest of the story? What vehicle did you drive out to Texas? Was it a long trip?

In 1991, places would have been using credit cards. I would think in some back of beyond parts in Texas people might view a Traveller’s Cheque as some sort of foreign denomination.

But good memories just the same. Back then in the early 1990’s we would go down to Big Bend in March and go floating down the river. We couldn’t afford the hotel there in the Basin, so we camped in the campground right there as well as the other campground across from Boquillias, Mexico.

Did you wade across the river into Mexico when you went there?

We crossed the Rio Grande in a leaky rowboat. The Mexican crew gave each of us a tin can to bail with. Seems beaching on the rocky banks had ventilated the bow of the boat.

As to Traveler's Cheques, we never encountered any problem.

As to rehashing this story, my apologies. Memory ain't what it used to be.

Bob Wright

 

[Kevin]

As to rehashing this story, my apologies. Memory ain't what it used to be.

No apology necessary. Good memories are worth repeating. I’m glad you had a nice time in Texas.

I just went out to NC for the East Coast Gathering. So I drove through LA, MS, AL, GA, and NC. Finally as I was driving home after entering TX at Shreveport, I realized how much I like Texas, and how it feels like home. It is nice…