2018-19 Southwest2

Part 2
Updates will come when we have the time and connectivity.
Sometimes we are in places with no connectivity for days.

12-30-18

Driving West towards Langtry, Texas I found a road that took us down to where the Pecos
and Rio Grande rivers meet.

This is South of the new bridge built in 1957

Here we get to see another view of the new bridge from a different vantage point.

In Langtry, Texas we saw this really cool overlanding vehicle.
Really different.

Langtry, Texas..........lot's of history here.

The windmill and desert cactus display here is really cool.
All of this is free to see thanks to the state of Texas.

However the best and biggest cactus was across the street in someone's back yard !!!!

Short Video

We ended up in Sanderson Texas at this campground and stayed there 2 days.
We spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how to see Big Bend......as it was shut down still.
I've stayed at at motel in this town at least a couple of times..........an old motel...with outside
doors and a dirt bike welded to the neon sign post out front. Sadly the bike was gone.

We really enoyed all the cactus plants we were seeing everywhere----Debi had never seen
anything like this before as she's never been to the Southwest.

12-31-18
News Years Eve
We left Sanderson, Texas and holed up in Marathon and went in the historic Gage Hotel----it was amazing.
Then decided what the heck and headed South Towards Big Bend knowing it's all shut down.
And it was----so right before entering the park I had heard of a campground 6 miles down and old
road that sounded pretty cool. And it was.
The Stillwell store and campground-------down a road that dead ended at the RioGrande
river and the Mexico border.

I was itchin' to get my bike out and did--------and rode 20 miles Southwest all the way to
the Mexico border on this dead end road-------it was a super nice road.
I never understood why they built such a nice road that dead ended.
And where it ended was just amazing.

This bridge crosses the Rio Grande
I guess it used to be a border crossing---the town of La Linda was on the other side and I was told
all the buildings there were abandone and no one lived there.
Looks like Trump had started his wall here !!!!!

A 90 year old man with one leg could walk down the bank and cross the trickle of water
called a river and be on the other side.

The area I was riding thru is called Black Gap -------well..........read the sign !!!!

Back at the campground I found 2 old coots on rat bikes.

A TW 200----------I want one.

Hell it's New Years Eve and me and Debi don't want to spoil our tradition of sleeping thru it.
Good nite Debi. It's 8:30 and past my bedtime. ZZZZZZZzzzzzzz

A Short Video

January 1st

We headed South to Big Bend National Park
And the electronic sign said----no camping----park closed.
Thanks for your tax dollars to build the park---but keep out.

There were actually 2 things open in the park that were privately operated.
A campground right on the Rio Grande river South of Panther Junction and the Chiso Basin Lodge
which stays booked solid year round.
I had an idea.

Heading South toward the Rio Grande Village Campground.
Debi was awestruck by the beauty of this place.

We went into the campground office knowing the CG was full---------and it was.
While picking up a few things in the store the very nice man working there got my attention
and said a site just opened up and we took it. Not like the other campground down here which
was closed and nicely wooded-------this would do. We met some nice people and did some
cool stuff. The biker hooligans next door made it all special---they had dual-sports, road bike,
and loved to hike.

It wasn't too late in the day for a short hike and off me and Debi went.

The Rio Grande River right before we got on the hot springs trail that goes over the mountain.

From this trailhead it was a 6 mile ruff hike over the mountain to the hot spring pool.
We hiked a bit of it----but it was way to late in the day to do the hike and poor Debi's
knee was really killing her---and had been since we left home.

The trail went right up over that mountain.

The views looking back towards camp from the trail.
The area you are looking at used to be a farm.

Back at camp we got cozied up and had a nice dinner.
It was unusually cold down here but we made the best of it.
We saw coyotes on the prowl and had to watch our little dog DiDi.

January 2nd
I was going to ride my motorcycle to near the hot springs and hike back there---a short distance.

But my new buddies camped next to us invited me to go with them in their car to the
parking area and we would hike from there--------------it was cold remember.
On the hike Mexicans had come over the river and laid out some of their crafts to sell.
Nobody there mind you----you were on your honor to take items and pay for them.
Then later they would sneak over and take the money and go back across the border.
It was some really nice stuff.

One of my buddies had a blow out on his sandal and Dave found a repair on the trail.

It was a very short hike to the hot spring and we shed our clothes and dove in.
Lot's of people here having a great time.
I wish Debi could have come but she was afraid it was much too cold for her.

The water was just right

Several of us stepped out into the Rio Grande which was cold of course.
Really weird-------none of this bothered me and I was never cold even getting out.

Heading back

Debi's an artist and has been gathering rocks along the way of our trip
and spent the day relaxing and painting them.

After the hot spring hike my new found buds invited me to go on a hike....I had no idea what I was in for.
It was after noon......the hike was long....the hike was hard and the start was 45 miles away.
Could we do this and get it done before sunset ????

Below----my new found friend Dave-------------who I started calling "Burt"......as in Burt Reynolds.
Cause this little excursion somehow felt like the movie "Deliverance" without the squealing pig part.
He was the ram-rod and new this trail well and coached me expertly how to prepare for this hike.
Without him I'd a never made it.

He told me it was a 6 miles hike going up on top of the Chiso Moutains and I would encounter cold,
high wind, and being hot and to layer my clothing as conditions would change continually on the high
hike---he also said we would be above he clouds--------and by god he was right. I would need water
and energy bars also----------he got me all ready. He was so patient and nice and looked after me.
His buddies were all lifelong friends and pretty well knew all this stuff. I was the slow one of the bunch.

So up the mountain we go---in no time I was hot and started shedding layers.
On the way to the trailhead in the car we drove thru the clouds and the moisture was
frozen on the vegetation-----------beautiful it was.

The climb was very rocky
Oh...........by the way this is the "Lost Mine Trail"
We never found it either.

One of many rest stops for me.

"Burt" was right---we were above the clouds.
Best picture I ever took.

We are on our way down now

My new buddies.......left to right.
David (Burt Reynolds), John Hall, AJ and Greg Richards.
All longtime childhood friends who let me in on their fun.

Finished with the hike we drove further up the road to the Lodge and they bought me dinner.
I was wore out and my legs were like rubber.

Short Video

January 3rd, 2019

So-----we relunctantly leave our campground in Big Bend National Park and head North, then
Southwest, then West, then North........confused ????........yeh me too.
We were so lucky to have enjoyed the park as much as we did during the Guvment shutdown.
I knew Debi would enjoy the town of Terlingua---so I relaxed while she poked around
at all the stuff in the little ghost town.

My buddies that I had hiked with wanted me and Debi to be here for dinner at 6PM.
And said I'd have to secure a reservation or not eat as this place is a mad house.
I don't wait in lines or do reservations so that was a no go for me.

Debi had so much fun here and opened up the bar.

The ghost town of Terlingua

The paved road North east towards Presidio is in my top 10 scenic, curvy roads I've ever been on.
I've been on it many times but not in the motorhome. We went slow and saw things I had missed
all those years. The scenery was just over the top.

So-------we ended up passing thru Marfa, Texas and drove the 8 miles East of town
to the site of the viewing area of the Marfa lights.
When it gets dark the boogie man comes out and all these strange lights appear on the horizon.
It's a sight that no scientest has ever been able to explain.
So........google Marfa lights and read all about it.
Debi loves this stuff.
We boondocked here tonight in our motorhome.
What's boondocking you ask???? Free camping------it froze that night but we were snug as a bug in
a rug in our camper. Many people came out to view the lites----and about 3 boondocked with us.
And as a bonus----after midnight there was a meteor shower---and right before dawn we saw
a falling star. I'm not making this stuff up------it was awesome.

January 4th, 2019

The next day I told Debi she'd been cookin' enough and took her to a fancy place, which is really not like me.
The Historic Paizano Hotel -----------we had the nicest breakfast here.
Yes it froze last nite.............again. Look at the ice on the fountain.

So I order the finest thing on the menu---again not like me.
A Burrito !!!!! She couldn't have been happier.

If you look up in the dictionary................"Smug Look"
This is what you'll see.
I could do no wrong today.

We took the time to look everything over in the Hotel where the stars in the movie "Giant" stayed
during the filming. Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean were in that movie.

Debi found stuff to buy and a place to warm her butt.

I've been to Marfa a few times and had always heard the view from the top of the Courthouse
was a sight to behold. I never took the time to climb the stairs up there---but today "we" took the time.

We were at the top of this building.

Back at the "Tumble In" campground I was ready for a nap.....but Nooooope.
Debi unloaded her bad motor scooter and we went for a ride.

I took Debi out in the boonies to one of my favorite places.
A sign where the Stardust Motel..............use to be. I luv this stuff.

We had met this young couple at the campground. And became immediate friends.
Meet Evan and Grace----full time RV'ing.

Me and Debi fell in love with these two----big happy smiles having the time of their lives.
They had a Harley on the bike and I envisioned us doing some riding but they were moving
on down the road.

Southwest Of Marfa
We took a lonely road Southwest Of Marfa

This place is a famous eatery in Marfa
You can eat in the old Blue Bird Bus if you want.
These are the same buses that made into huge Motor homes called the Wanderlodge.
You can see many of these still on the road. We see them most every day on our trip.
These were the biggest and baddest back in their day---and most expensive.

I guess the biggest thing Marfa is famous for is that the film Giant was filmed there.
And since the original "Reata" house has been carried away piece by piece by movie goers.
Now this has been built in it's place and it's really cool.

The original "Reata" was just a facade........and so is this.

ShortVideo

On the way I wanted Debi to see the Aerostat floating in the air above this site.

Some sort of border wall spy device----------google it.
It's tethered to the ground by a huge cable.

Back at our favorite campground in Marfa the "Tumble In"
We wanted to get some neat night photos of the place---------it's just a cool little campground.
This is an old Shasta camper and that's where you check in------you check yourself in.

These are next to the campground and are so cool.
They are about 9ft. tall and 4ft. in diamater and light up every nite.
They look so neat from the highway out front.

Fort Davis, Texas
1-6-19

Debi had been cooking enough and I took here in here where we had breakfast.

Fort Davis State Park
A favorite of mine----and it became a favorite of Debi's
Mountains all around---it's a beautiful place.

We rolled out the scooter and went for a 100 mile ride in the mountains.

The McDonald Observatory is a favorite place for people to visit who come to the area.
And the ride there is just awesome.

We've been doing a lot of hiking......a girl who waited on us back in town told us that this was
here favorite hike in the area. We found the trailhead and will come back and camp here
in a couple days hopefully.

I thought I'd ridden all the roads in this area before..............but I don't remember this
pile of rocks.

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