Big Bend 8, the State Park

 When we got up this morning we checked all the weather conditions for West Texas and NM; and decided to stay put until Winter Storm Fern blows over.  That means leaving Monday.  By the forecast we could have made it to Van Horn TX and left Sat. before the bad weather hit.  Assuming  the weather followed the forecast precisely.  Yeah.  Sure.  Snow and freezing rain always happens exactly as predicted.  We stayed here.

It just started raining here at 7 PM, lasting a few minutes.  And some rumbles of thunder! It should go from light rain to heavy rain tomorrow but it’ll all be over Sunday afternoon in West Texas.  The cool weather will keep on for days, but we know how to handle that.

So, after that decision we had another decision to make, what to do today.  I found some trails in Lajitas, a town about 15 miles west.  Nice little town, we have been tourists there before.  Since these were trails at the edge of the village we brought Skye with us.  Drive over and find out that the first trail is posted and the second half is now a golf course.  Back to the map!  Another 8 miles west are more trails.  This time they are real trails in the Big Bend Ranch State Park.  BBRSP is 300,000 acres, when considered together with the Nat. Park they are twice the size of Rhodesia Island.  Spell check can be so funny that I left it in.  Obviously it is Rhode Island.  

We followed the Fresno Divide Trail for a 3.6 mile round trip. We didn’t see the “no pets” sign.  It was a pretty flat trail.  The storm was pushing some moisture our way so the humidity was up and we were sweating actual liquid sweat in the 70º sun.  Later it started to be overcast and was pretty pleasant for the trip back to the truck.

This bike repair station was near the gate to the trails

Complete with tools secured to cables

Interesting split rock, without the aid of ice!

Our turn around point was here where the map said there is a building ruin.

Supposedly across the wash, thus it is in this photo.  Someplace.

So many varieties of Prickly Pear 

This one is a rosy color with very long spines

Ocotillo

A close look at an older Ocotillo

Very close Ocotillo

A young and small Cholla

Managing clouds at camp

But due West it is still somewhat clear

Pooped pup after a hike on a hot day  

Big Bend 7

 It is 10:45 PM and Dan, the repair guy, just left.  He still has 80 miles to go home.  Says he works this late most days but enjoys what he’s doing.  He is nearing 60 and has retired twice but has to make ends meet.

We knew he would come late today so we went for a hike on the Ward Spring Trail in the park.  Very nice 3+ mile round trip with a 500’ rise; so a nice hike.  We saw a big squirrel at the spring and heard several birds.  Carlene told me what some of them were, but that was then.  She’s asleep now.

Tomorrow morning we’ll decide whether to push on or to wait out the winter storm here in Terlingua.  It’s either Friday or Monday.  

Squirrel

The closer you look the bigger it gets

My hand on the squirrel rock for scale

The fix

Big Bend 6? Unplanned

 It turns out that we are staying in Terlingua for a bit longer.  

During my walk-around of the trailer before departing this morning I found a broken part in the suspension.  I have contacted a RV repair guy who thinks he has the parts and will come install them.  So we reset the camper and will be here until it is repaired.  His base is in Alpine, that’s 80 miles north, but that’s next door in these parts.  I’ve sent him numerous photos of the problem and he still thinks he has all the parts.  He may be here tomorrow.  

There are a lot less pleasant places to be stuck!!!

It is turning out to be a relaxing day. A lot of sitting around enjoying the sun on a warm day.  We put out the awning but the sun will be below that by 1 pm. For all the rain and cold in the weather prediction this is probably the best place to be anyway. Only the fringe of that storm will come near here.  It is not yet clear how this will play out. Stay tuned!

Today is Skye’s fourth birthday!  She had one of her favorite treats this afternoon and a hamburger birthday “cake” after supper.  She’s a happy dog!

What it’s supposed to look like

What the other side looks like

Sunset

Moonset

This camper next door was interesting. 

They had a pop up tent on top of the teardrop camper

I missed getting a shot when it was open, but it looked like the photo below.  

Skye’s bully stick treat

Happy Fourth Birthday!

Such a soft mouth, raw burger fed by fingertips.