Willie, Lay Off The Pipe

The Second Essential Scary Truth

Sierra Blanca, Texas is 66 miles due west from the middle of nowhere. The only item that may interest the average punter about this west Texas burg is a border stop. At first the placement of a border stop approximately 40 miles from the Mexican border seems odd. However, Sierra Blanca is the nearest population center with the ability to house any illegals, drug dealers and wankers helpers who forgot to put out their joints and air out the car as they cruised through construction signs and warning signs of a check point that started 3 miles before.

TC and I were through that same checkpoint in September. Two small beige buildings cover I-10. After driving through a snake like “construction” area, you are in the checkpoint being questioned by a border guard: who are you, where are you from, where are you going etc. While the interrogation is ongoing, another guard walks a dog around the car. If for any reason, the dog gets excited, the car is pulled off into another lane and a for a through search. If all goes well during this inspection, off you go towards Van Horn, Texas, which, despite it’s lovely 2 star restaurant and brilliantly restored railroad hotel, is the middle of nowhere.

However, in order to leave the state of Texas from Austin, San Antonio or Midland by car, you have to drive through the checkpoint at Sierra Blanca. TC and I were caught by surprise but frequent travelers would know what was ahead when Sierra Blanca first hit the distance markers some 300 miles earlier. No one travels the highways of the US more than a musician on tour. And earlier today one Willie Nelson drove up to the checkpoint 66 miles due west of the middle of nowhere. Willie’s stop didn’t go smoothly at all.

(Fox News via the AP) SIERRA BLANCA, Texas — A U.S. Border Patrol spokesman says country singer Willie Nelson was charged with marijuana possession after 6 ounces was found aboard his tour bus in Texas.

Patrol spokesman Bill Brooks says the bus pulled into the Sierra Blanca, Texas, checkpoint about 9 a.m. Friday. Brooks says an officer smelled pot when a door was opened and a search turned up marijuana.

Brooks says the Hudspeth County sheriff was contacted and Nelson was among three people arrested.

Sheriff Arvin West didn’t immediately return a phone message left at his home Friday, but he told the El Paso Times that Nelson claimed the marijuana was his. The singer was held briefly a $2,500 bond before being released.

Nelson spokeswoman Elaine Schock declined to comment when contacted via e-mail by The Associated Press.

It appears as though Willie Nelson, a resident of Austin and frequent traveler of I-10 through west Texas needs to lay off the pipe.  Nelson has proved there is no such thing as higher intelligence through chemistry.