Since we rolled into the RV park reasonably early, we thought we'd get some exploring in today. "RV park" may be using the term loosely, but one has to understand where we are... remote would be putting it lightly. We are staying in a park just a couple miles from the National Park. There is only one campground in Big Bend that has RV hookups, and it was full... and at the far entrance from where we knew we'd be arriving. Also, the description of the RV park in the National Park made it pretty clear that IF a site did become available, it likely wouldn't accommodate a 40' coach... and our length all up is 63'.
So, this is where we are...
It is kinda sorta as bleak as it looks, but there are full hookups and nothing to get in the way of our satellite TV reception. ;-) Joan said, "Look - we are the only site in this row that gets out own tree!" That whispy little thing isn't going to provide any shade. When we drove around town (?), there are a couple other RV parks, and they aren't as nice as this one. Yes, really.
Once set up, we decided to look around town (?) to find a place to eat. "Why the question mark after town? Twice?" you ask. Thanks for asking. There isn't much of a town. We couldn't find a restaurant or food truck that was open... the season here is winding down. The RV park is listed as being in Terlingua, Texas. The sign here says...
... "Ghost Town." That is pretty close. This place looked like a possible candidate for lunch...
Yeah, it says "Theatre" up there, but it is a bar and grill. Any eatery in town seems to be a bar and grill. This one doesn't open until 5:00. They do have some interesting seating outside...
Cue the music: I like big butts, and I cannot lie! For the record, that is the back side of a bar stool, and I am not a fan of big butts.
There is a tourist stuff shop next door, so we went in. Nothing we needed, but... we were there, it was there. Some interesting stuff...
I mentioned that the season is winding down - much of the park closes in the summer, because... it gets damn hot here in the summer. Even though the elevation of the park is mostly above 4,000'. Thus, the "Ski Terlingua" t-shirt.
With no food places to be found, we went back to the coach, Joan made lunch, and we headed for Big Bend...
The park headquarters is at Panther Junction, about 26 miles into the park - we decided to head that way. Plenty of beautiful, rugged views to take in...
The entrance gate wasn't being manned, so we checked in at the park headquarters - with my Geezer Pass! My buddy Mark and his wife Dianna are avid birders - there are over 450 species of birds here in the park. One bird they weren't able to find: a warbler. And there, right there near the Visitors Center...
Like it was posing for me. ;-) We walked around a bit...
Then, back to the car to check out another part of the park, and the pretty views along the way...
We stopped at the store at the next area for an ice cream treat. Heading back to the main road...
Yes, there are black bears in this park; estimates are a couple dozen that have migrated up from Mexico. There are also about the same number of mountain lions in the park. Glad to not be in a tent in one of those campgrounds. ;-) Speaking of campgrounds, we drove through one of the dry camping campgrounds - they recommend no trailer longer than 20' for the road into it. The road seemed fine, but the campground itself is small and tight... and not level. A guarantee that the Aspect would never fit into one of the sites, and by that, I mean: any of the sites.
Heading back to the main park road to head for home...
We had seen plenty of cacti in bloom as we drove along the main road; I looked for a pullout to get a photo. Joan took this...
Cropping and some "sprucing up"...
That's a bit more pleasing to the eye. ;-)
We stopped for gas for the Honda on the way back to the coach; Joan said, "Just pump it, don't look at the price." She went inside to get a bag of ice for the cooler for tomorrow's outing. OMG - $2.79 per gallon! Because we are way out in the boonies and right next to a National Park; and because they can, since it is the only gas station in town (?).
We settled in for adult beverages and some music, under the awning, on the patio...
Little Izzy got totally relaxed, no adult beverage necessary...
She likes the music.
After we settled in for the evening, Joan said, "Nice sky out there..."
It has taken us a lot of years to finally get to Big Bend - we'll be down for a few days to take it all in. With the brief overview today, I can definitively say that the park is ruggedly beautiful; I would not care to live in this area. It is more along the lines of every caricature of a grizzled old hermit living out in the desert... with his burro.
;-)
2 comments:
Well I like the park, shows you how my tastes run. On the way to the back do not miss the hot springs just off the road. You gotta look for it hard to find. Nice view of the road while soaking. Also do not miss the Boquillas Canyon Trail. Follow the Rio Grande until it narrows so much you may get concerned about falling rocks. You are not afraid of falling rocks are you? If you go in on the scoots, there is a short cut back to Terlingua only about 10 miles of really dustry rough road. We have some of our old BMW MC riding pals that retired there, Paul and Voni Glaves. She is the ladies long distance champ rider in RED leathers. Look them up if you have time and say HI from Herb and Willie.
Hi Herb. We like Big Bend! The RV park where we are staying is a bit... barren. We are planning to head to Boquillas Canyon tomorrow, and check out the hot springs while there. The info says it runs 105º... after hiking today, I soaked my feel in some ice water... shockingly cold, but it felt good afterwards.
If we run across your friends, we'll tell 'em you said, "Hi!" It takes a special personality to want to live this far from civilization. I'm not to that point. Yet. ;-)
Hugs to you two!
Post a Comment