February 28, 2017 More From the Road

One of the stops going north to Big Bend last Friday was in Langtry, a Texas Information stop, and home of Judge Roy Bean.

Judge Bean was known as "the Hanging Judge", enamored with Lili Langtry, a famous singer.   He never met "Jersey Lily", but named his saloon after her.

Order in the Court!

I'll have a sarsaparilla!

Part of the cacti garden at the Visitor Center

A giant saguaro in the yard next door to the Visitor Center

A carved piece of granite, depicting the location of Langtry!

Saturday and Sunday were rest days from the long day of travel.

Today Glen and Jeff went fishing, bringing home five crappie.  Fred was also fishing for crappie in the same area and brought in the limit of 25 crappie.  

It's Monday night which means "Jam Session" at Amigo Inn, nearby motel/RV park, where Fred and Gay spend the winter.  Good music, as usual!

We made plans for a fish fry here Wednesday late afternoon.  Details later.

February 25, 2017 Page 2 of Big Bend Adventure (Click to enlarge pictures)

We are on Wednesday's adventure in Big Bend!

These Big Bend bluebonnets were growing along the road where they received moisture from rains.

There were abandoned ranch buildings throughout the park.  How  anyone thought  they could make a living here is  out of reach in my imagination.  Cotton was the crop of choice as well as sheep and goats.

Santa Elene canyon in the distance

Glen and Gayla: "Mule Ears" hills in the background

Rio Grande River as it runs out of Santa Elena Canyon

After exploring Santa Elena Canyon there were two choices: return the way we arrived; or, adventure down a 13-mile dirt road.  Glen chose the more adventuresome route.

Click to read the details

This is Luna's Jacal--home where he raised his family

Thursday Jeff and Marcella did another three hour hike.  We stayed at the RV during their adventure.

After the hike we visited the Boquillas crossing.  The Border Patrol building had some interesting art/decoration.

Sunset on another adventure!!

We gave some thought to staying overnight on the return trip to Zapata.  Glen was not overly tired so----we drove through the day and arrived last night about eight o'clock.

We stopped briefly in Laredo to pick up prescriptions at Walmart.  It was much too late last night to  engage my brain for this blog.

Big Bend thoughts:

• it is a l-o-n-g way there
• but, it is worth it
• my pre-conceived ideas weren't big enough for the diversity and desolate beauty of the park
• make reservations early

Sorry for the length of this!

February 25, 2017 Big Bend National Park Adventure

This adventure begins on Monday, Feb 20, and ends Friday Feb 24.

It is a LONG way too Big Bend National Park:  close to 500 miles one way, 10 hours with few stops! It is in the middle of nowhere!

Several months ago Marcella made reservations for us in the only RV park with full hook ups.  Hurray for Marcella!

Temps started in the upper 30's each morning and reached into the upper 90's each afternoon!  June, July, August temperatures will reach over 110 degrees.

There are three distinct areas to the 800,00-plus acres--The River (Rio Grande, of course), the Desert--Chihuahuan, and the Mountains--the Chisos!

The lower areas of the park receive 5-10 inches of rain per year; the mountains up to 20 inches.  It is HOT and DRY!

Over 450 species of birds have been found in Big Bend NP.  Spring migration in late April/May brings the biggest numbers.  The mountains are home to 20-30 black bears that have crossed the river from Mexico (illegals!!) as well as two dozen or so mountain lions.  Alas, we didn't see either of these!  In fact, jack rabbits were the only mammals spotted.  Ok--we did see a dead fox and a dead skunk on the highway, but does that really count?

Tuesday
Jeff and Marcella are hikers!  We are not!  They chose a three mile hike along the River that ended near a hot springs.  We met them at the end of the hike.  We then explored the area around Rio Grande Village which is in the southeast corner of the park.

One of the attractions is the border crossing of Boquillas.  After checking into the Border Patrol station one walks to the River's edge, hires a boat to cross.  Once on the Mexican side one can hire for $5 a horse, burro, or truck to go the three-quarters of a mile into the village of Boquillas, population 200.

Boquillas just nine months ago got electricity throughout the village.  It is home to two very small restaurants, and a few shops that sells trinkets.  It is located in a protected area similar to a national park, and is three hours from the nearest city.

This welcome sign is 60 miles from the location of our RV park.

Did you ever imagine mountains in Texas?

The Rio Grand River

Jeff and Marcella overlooking the Boquillas Canyon

This display of trinkets for sale are brought over early each morning from  the other side of the river.  The Border Patrol  officially ignores the display.  

 Wednesday

 The four of us explored the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive which ends at the Santa Elena Canyon Overlook and River Access.  We viewed many miles of cacti, cresote bushes, ocotillo, and  hills decorated with an array of geologic layers and colors.

At Santa Elena Canyon, there is  a hike that takes one to the 1500-foot tall canyon walls with the Rio Grande River pouring out.  At some points the canyon is only 30 feet across.  Go to downtheroadwego.weebly.com  to read Marcella's description and see pictures of their hike to the mouth of the canyon.

This will be continued on another page as I have just used up all the space!!

February 19, 2017 Sunday Funday!

We are OFF!!

In the morning at 7:30 we are going "on vacation!"  Marcella and Jeff, Glen and I will be going in our RV's to Big Bend National Park.  It is about a 9 hour trip.

We received word today that there is a water shortage in the park.  Bring your own water!!

We will return to Zapata Friday evening.

A word of caution:  we have no idea whether there will be cell phone service there.  Big Bend is in the middle of the boonies!   cacti, mesquite, 30 miles from the nearest village!  If no cell or internet service, you will hear from us Friday as we return to civilization!

February 18, 2017 More Music

Jeff captained his fishing boat with me as the passenger this morning.  Our quest?  finding the crappie!  🎣🐟

As there was a bass tournament going on today and parking was limited at the County Park launch Glen drove the truck/trailer to the launch; and returned home after we were on the boat.

Prior to today I had only fished for crappie using minnows and a bobber!  Fishing in Falcon Lake it is recommended that the lure of choice is a crappie jig.  I actually felt a couple of bites, but no success in bringing anything into the boat.  Until.....

we had called Glen to come pick us up.  Jeff said 'while we are waiting for Glen, we will try one more place!'  I caught one there.  At least I wasn't 'skunked'!!

Jeff's total catch for the day was six.  

It seems to be always windy on the waters of Falcon Lake, which makes for a rocky, unsteady boat!  

Glen and Jeff did the filleting when we returned.

After lunch we prepared for an informal Jam Session at our place.  In addition to Glen and Marcella there were six other musicians.

Marcella, Glen, Harold (from Missouri), Walt (from Arkansas)

Harold, Walt, Leroy and Sylvia (from Missouri)

Gay and Fred (from Oklahoma)

Marcella and Glen

Leroy and Sylvia (from Missouri)

The session lasted about two and half hours!  Of course we were outdoors under the barn!  There was a nice breeze, much needed, as it was 93 degrees but 15 percent humidity!

February 17, 2017 Friday: A Mexican Cruise (Still in Zapata)

The week started with, guess?  

Second Sunday of the month Gospel Jam!  Glen and Marcella both participated!  There were eleven on stage.

Most of the songs fall into the southern gospel genre, with a few from the hymnal.

I can't remember if Jeff fished any day other than today.  The total count today was 27 crappie in the 16" range.  I have never seen such consistently large crappie.  

Jeff fried 12 fillets tonight for supper!  Oh, my! delicious.  Marcella prepared fried potatoes and a salad.

Yesterday, Thursday, we were included in a group from Amigo Inn Motel/RV Park where Fred and Gay are parked that met at the Riverside Club, Mission, TX.

The group boarded a 32-35' pontoon for a one-hour cruise down the Rio Grande River.  The captain was informative regarding the Mexican side of the river, the Wall, a local dam.

Remember you can click on each picture to enlarge.

Bridge over Rio Grand River at Roma, TX, leading to the Mexican city of Cuidad Miguel Aleman

City of Roma, founded 1765; famous for the setting of the John Wayne movie, "Viva Zapata!"

Jeff and Marcella at the Riverside Club, Mission, TX

Gay and Fred Vaughan, best friends from OK

Border Patrol at work

Privately owned party location on the Mexican side of the river.

A section of "The Wall" built several years ago, south of Mission.  It took nearly ten years to do an environmental study; then ten million dollars a mile to build. This section is 18' high with 8' of barbed wire on top.

Dam built in the 1960's to collect water for irrigation.  Name escapes me right now.

Flags of two nations; border between Mexico/US

Portable Border Patrol observation tower along the river

Susan and Robert, hosts from Amigo Inn

Glen

Long-time readers may thinks these photos look familiar.  We first went on this cruise three or four years ago!

Last night and tonight Fred and Gay came over for visiting and card games! Several years ago Gary and Evelyn taught us to play "19-point pitch" which is for six people.

A final thought:  you may wonder if we are ever concerned about our safety.  The short and final answer is "NO!". There are an abundance of border patrol and highway patrolmen patrolling the highways between Laredo and Brownsville.  Yes, they occasionally find vehicles loaded with bales of marijuana.  Those "bad guys" are arrested.  We never see "illegals" or "wet backs".  The "bad guys" are not interested in small-town activities.  They are on the big highways headed to other places.