cactus

view into a canyon

Here are some of the pictures of Big Bend National Park. We are outside El Paso, Texas. We will at the campground for a week. Having some work done on motor coach at Camping World. Thought I would post some of the views from this national park. There are a few main roads

Thumper and I

one of many mountain ranges

Skip and Thumper by Rio Grande
in Castelon area of park

one of the dirt trails 

view leaving Rio Grande Campground

for driving. Lots of trails for hiking.

container for food on sites at campgrounds
protection from animals

These pictures are a glimpse of an area created many millions of years ago.  The park is over 800,000 acres and is made up of dry desert, mountains, canyons, and the Rio Grande, along with animals that as you are told by rangers can "bite, sting, and scratch" so be careful. Hope you all enjoy!! We certainly did!!!!!  

Big Bend National Park
  We were told about this national park from a fellow Texan while camping in San Antonio. Skip and I had never heard of this national park. The park in over 800,000 acres of desert, mountains, canyons and the Rio Grande. We spent a couple of days in Turlinga, TX (outside the park). Turlinga was an old mining town; now has a few galleries, restaurants. There is also horse backing riding right down the road from our campsite. This area is mountainous desert all around.  

me and Candy

campsite in Terlingua, TX

how far Lasistas, TX is from urban cities

We took a ride to the town of Lasitas which is on the Rio Grande. As you can see the Rio Grande is not so grandee in parts.

Skip in front of Rio Grande. Mexico behind him

view of Rio Rio Grande

 After a few days we left for the Rio GrandeVillage RV Resort which is located within the national park. The park contains coyotes, javelinas (wild pigs), roadrunners, mountain lions, bears, snakes and scorpions. Due to winter weather, snakes and scorpions were hibernating. We did not see any mountain lions or bears, but did see coyotes, roadrunner, and javelinas.

Reminder

coyote - must like the aroma of my cooking

 

Roadrunner

After being out of cell phone range and having some internet, we are back. It is hard to believe how much we depend on cell phones and quick internet service. Spent a few days in Fort Stockton due to snow storm (their second biggest 4-6 inches). Since the town has no snow plows, you carefully drove on I-10 and into town. Went to the Visitor's Center where you are greeted by these metal sculptures depicting the Indians and   cavalry from the 1800's.  You also get to meet the town mascot - Paisano Pete - the largest roadrunner in the world.

Paisano Pete

Sculptures 

The Annie Riggs Museum in town (used to be a hotel/rooming house in 1899) was fun to go through giving you  a glimpse of the early years in Pecos County. Walk through the entrance the first thing you see in the old desk that belonged to the sheriff until his murder in 1894.

Sheriff's desk

kitchen of rooming house

good Mexican food

Thumper staying warm

There is another museum called the Grey Mule Saloon which is now a wine tasting room. Muscato wine is made in Texas so Skip was delighted.

campground from I-10

  After a few days and the weather cleared we are heading to Big Bend National Park. From Fort Stockton, it is about 120 miles southwest.

riding along I-10W

dog needs a break

warming up after playing in snow

We stopped in Fort Stockton, TX for the night. The trip across I-10W was pleasant and easy for Skip to drive. The scenery is definitely different from eastern Texas.

Mesa along I-10

  In fact, as we pulled into the Fort Stockton RV Park it started snowing. No joke!!! Skip kept saying on the drive west, that it felt like snow. By Friday morning, 6 inches fell. Since there are no snow plows you make your own path on the roads or wait for snow to melt. Have to make sure Thumper stays on leash. With regards to animals, per the locals, too cold for snakes or coyotes, but there are wild pigs (boars) that will go after animals.  In fact, one of the guys here at campground saw a wild pig early in the morning.

What we woke up to!!!

Decided to stay a few days before heading to Big Bend National Park

Thought we were back north

Happy New Year to everyone!!!!
    Spent New Year's Eve at campground. It was rainy and cold. We could see the fireworks from Hemisphere Park in San Antonio. Watching the celebration from New York and waiting an hour for New Year's to arrive in central time zone was strange. Anyway, before we left, we were downtown and took some photos before we left.

front of The Alamo

Christmas Tree in Alamo Plaza

 With the Alamo Bowl game, there were plenty of tourists and fans around town. The Texas Longhorns beat the Oregon Beavers. In fact, according to the news, the Bowl game brought in around $39,000,000.00 in revenue. We saw lots of fans on both sides walking around the downtown area. Skip and I took a walk up to the Cathedral from River Walk.

Skip with Crockett, Bowie, Travis

Altar in cathedral

  Afterwards, we headed back and stopped for drinks before leaving San Antonio the next day. A good margarita is a must at the end of the day!!!!!!!

We are leaving San Antonio and heading to Big Bend National Park. Will stop overnight somewhere. This area of Texas is approximately 410 miles heading southwest from San Antonio.

Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!

We have been in San Antonio for the past week. We spent Christmas and will spend New Year's here. Before leaving Austin, Thumper and his friend Noah played together.

We drove into town and went to River Walk area. It was fun to see it lit up for the holidays. Also, the bowl game is this Saturday between Texas (Longhorns) and Oregon (Beavers). Both schools bands and players were on the river boats and the bands entertained everyone during their ride. An added treat for all the revelers in the area last night.

Oregon Beavers

Texax Longhorns

Skip's cousin, Gary LeRow and his wife, Lynn, live in San Antonio. We met Gary for lunch in the El Mercado (Mexican shopping area) of San Antonio, and visited he and his wife at their home that evening. We had not seen them since we were at the LeRow family reunion a few years ago.

We are enjoying our stay in San Antonio.

We are leaving Austin tomorrow and heading to San Antonio, TX. We will there be for Christmas and leave after a few days after the new year.  On Friday we took a ride out to the Lake Travis area of Austin. Traffic was heavy so it took about 40 minutes to get there. The ride over was interesting. ON the side of the highway were trees decorated for Christmas. It looks like school children decorate various trees.

some of the decorated trees

Lake Travis

Lake Travis is in serious drought!! It is down 40 feet! A few residents told us they have never seen it this low. The lake is feed by the Colorado River. We had lunch at The Oasis. This restaurant has tiered seating outside so diners can enjoy the view. Unfortunately, it was too cold for us to sit outside. We still got a view.

Outside The Oasis Restaurant

Saturday we took a ride to Lockhart, TX (approx 30 miles due south of Austin). Lockhart is known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas. This small town has 4 well known barbecue restaurants. We ate at Black's. Food was great. Their brisket was the best we have tasted to far.

Skip enjoying barbecue