Big Bend Ranch State Park/Big Bend National Park

[Txn2daBone]

Well this was my first camping trip with the SMB. By trial and error I learned what I should have taken with me...what I could have taken with me and what I will take with me next time.

I left San Antonio on Tuesday the 9th knowing full well that I'd be running head on into a cold front that would make it's way through Texas later that day. I arrived in Del Rio about noon and stopped for lunch...it was sunny and 75. Two hours later I hit the gusty winds...the temperature dropped rapidly and then came the rain which turned to this...

From Alpine to within a few miles of the Sauceda Ranger station in the park it snowed. I arrived in the parking lot about 10:30 that evening. The next morning I got my permit and snapped a few pictures of the surroundings...This is the Sauceda Ranger Station

Here's the corral behind the station. A Ranger informed that there are two Vaquero's that have worked this ranch for over fifty years now...

After checking out everything I headed for the road to the Guale Mesa campsite. The snowfall made for a visually pleasing drive...

Now the physical part of the drive wasn't so comfy. I didn't have the luxury of airing down(no onboard air...FYI, Santa has already been notified of my deep desire to correct this inconvenience) :a1: The road was very rough so it was slow going for me. Here's just a few more pictures of the landscape....

After a while I came up on this guy...

After a few minutes of doing my best wild burro calls to try and lure it closer for a better picture I think it got more annoyed than anything and spun around to show me the business end....

as if to say...KISS THIS!

more to come...

 

[Txn2daBone]

After stopping to take numerous pictures and the slow going I finally reached the campsite about 2pm...and what a view it was!

By the time I set up camp and got situated...

I noticed the moon was already out by 4pm...I kinda figured I was in for a chilly night.

It was dark about 6:15 so I fixed me a bite to eat and then kicked back to watch a couple of DVD's. I got kinda restless about 2am so I tried my hand at taking some night shots...this is really the only one worth showing.

The next morning....Spam! It's what's for breakfast.

 

[Greg In Austin]

Txn2,

That looks familiar! ...and we can't wait to get back there.

 

[Txn2daBone]

I hear ya Greg. I'm already planning next year for a trip back.

 

[Txn2daBone]

When I made my reservations I was told that parts of the park were access restricted because of a hunt that was going on for 5 days there. I got up nice and early to make the hike to the Guale Trailhead and it was very hard to keep from stepping on my tongue since it was dragging the ground the whole way there....I couldn't believe my eyes! These guys were everywhere.....

Here's a few shots from the trailhead...

The rest of the day was spent hiking and relaxing and just trying to absorb the sights as much as I could before I left the next morning. At the end of the day I was treated to a very cool sunset....

I loaded up the next morning and headed out. The two and a half days I was there I never saw another person on the way up to the campsite...while I was at the campsite or on the way down....but, these guys were there to see me off....

I left Big Bend Ranch State Park and headed to Big Bend National Park.

 

[geoffff]

Well this was my first camping trip with the SMB.

What a way to start!

Those are some fantastic photos!

 

[Txn2daBone]

Well thanks geoffff...but here's two pictures I wish I hadn't taken...Mother Nature's calling card....

I cringed everytime I heard a branch or thorn bush scrape down the side... but actually it all cleaned up pretty well.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Desert pin-striping. I remember that from my days in AZ. Love the night shot (shadows caused by the moon?), and the reflected sunset shot.


Herb

 

[Txn2daBone]

Thanks Herb,

I think that night shot is my favorite. I took about 20 pictures most of which were too dark so I tweaked the camera settings and that one came out just right...and I've got one more of the reflected shots coming up.

Ric

 

[Txn2daBone]

On my way to Big Bend National Park on FM 170 you pass through Terlingua, Tx...words escape me as how to accurately describe this little desert town. It's geared for tourists...lot's of small RV Parks...desert attractions...trading posts...mom and pop greasy spoons...and very creative folks such as this....

On the right you have a submarine surfacing from the sand and to the left you can make out some type of ship that's being lived in.

It was suggested to me by a member on this forum(and I won't mention that it was Greg in Austin) to stop by "La Kiva" for some liquid refreshment while passing through....so I did. I mingled with the locals there Friday night...and...um....what goes on in La Kiva...stays in La Kiva! :a5:

Here's a few shots of Big Bend National Park...
Santa Elena Canyon

Probably the most recognizable landmark there...Mule Ears

My campsite....I'm that small dot in the center

 

[Greg In Austin]

It is amazing to see the changes that have come to Terlingua (and LaJitas). Terlingua used to literally be a ghost town. That whole area had been a thiving community until late in the first half of the 20th century, but then the populations started disappearing.

Even back in the 1980s Terlingua had only a couple of part-time businesses (one being an office for Far Flung Adventures) and no real residents. There were folks from Far Flung that would spend part of the year residing in some of the tiny out buildings dotting the area, but none of them could be considered homes; there was no electricity or water or facilities.

Now look at the place ! Quite the revitlization.

I remember a trip quite some time back when we were out there for a few days and one evening, returning to La Kiva from some kayaking around Teepees, we suddenly realized that we were running with more trafic than we had ever seen out there. Once we passed Lajitas the traffic running with us was gone and were were going against traffic. We quickly cleand up and ate dinner because we had to find out waht was going on.

It turned out that the Lajitas trading post had a band from Austin playing a free concert that night. It was a mad house. ...and the vehicles in the parking lot were all kinds of crazy.

A good time was had by all.

The next day we talked to some staff at La Kiva, folks that had been working and living in the area for years. They told us that there are a bunch of folks living out in the desert that just never get seen by anyone, but that event brought them all in. They said they had never seen a gathering of locals like that; some folks had not been seen in years.

It was amazing, but back to normal the next day. The same band played dow the road for a charge the next night, but the crowd was nothing close to the same.

...and La Kiva itself... well, there are a lot of stories there.

I wonder if the laundry and bath house is still standing? or if it has really been rebuilt....?

We will have to head down that way in the Spring.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Isn't Terlingua's claim to fame an annual chili festival?


Herb

 

[Txn2daBone]

You're correct about that Herb...It's held every November. Seems like every place I walked into there had a wall devoted to the past and present winners.
I'm not sure about the laundry and bath house at La Kiva Greg. One thing is for sure...The Infamous Urinal is still there. Maybe you've heard the phrase "Don't have a pot to pee in" well, here you've actually got a pot to pee in! For anyone interested in men's urinals :a2: if you go to La Kiva.net and scroll down to the Infamous Urinal Link you'll see what it's all about.

 

[Txn2daBone]

A few more photos from the trip...

Every morning and evening in Big Bend I was treated to views like these...

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Those sunsets make me miss living in the desert. Sunsets and thunderstoms were some of the best things about living in AZ.


Herb

 

[jage]

Great photos, good to get me inspired for my Christmas trip!

 

[Txn2daBone]

Well glad I could help jage...Have a great trip!

 

[Txn2daBone]

And here are just a few of the critters I ran across in both the national and state park...

and last but not least...Let's not forget Ranger BOB...Out to make his rounds? or out to save a damsel in distress? you decide.

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

...and the horse you rode in on.