I is for Inspiring - Big Bend Part Two

December 29, 2018
Terlingua, Texas

Photo overload warning!

Bill wins "said it first" this morning - Happy Anniversary to us! Family and friends check in all day, making it even more special.

It's cloudy and very cold when we head out for nearby Big Bend Ranch State Park. We expect to see more people here on this Saturday with the national park shutdown of services and campgrounds. The ranger at the small visitor center tells a couple hikers that they are "trying to accommodate as many as possible" which seems to support our expectation. 

The reality is that we see very few people, none of the campgrounds are full, and no one is out on the dirt roads. It means another wonderful day to ourselves in another beautiful place.

Foliage and geology compete for best color.

More beautiful views along the Rio Grande River.

Love this dark red arch over the monuments.

Interesting formations

The cliffs here look hand-scraped (by really big hands!).

A soft spot among all the heavy brush and rocky hills.

On loan from Utah.....

Small hoodoos along the river.

Whatever made these claw marks - I'm glad it's moved one!

A loop that becomes more of a sunburst, having to make several attempts to find and stay on the trail.

Petrified sand dunes.

Before you get close enough to see it's a cement mixer, this abandoned space craft is very interesting!

We get home with lots of "desert pinstriping".

Worth a few challenges to get here.

The long views at the top of the off-road loop are inspiring, even under the clouds. I have to turn around a couple times in large rocks and thick brush, but most of the return is easier to follow. Bill's good about how he pushes my comfort level. As evidenced by his still being alive - it's our anniversary after all :-)

A much steeper angle than this shows.

 

A thin (comparatively) layer of basalt peeks out above the slope.

We continue outside the park to the sad little border town of Presidio, Texas. Maybe 5% of the businesses remain open - strangely this includes a Payless Shoe Source. We enjoy some tasty tacos at the only eatery before returning to Terlingua. 

Only the fanciest places for our anniversary!

There's always new views to enjoy in the other direction!

I continue to mourn the potential loss of all this natural beauty should that stupid wall be approved.

It only looks like it's snowing, but it's still very cold!

The sun is setting when we tuck in at home. It was a great day. I highly recommend visiting the state park when you're here to see Big Bend. There are several hiking trails, campgrounds for smaller units, and a few 4x4 roads - something for everyone!

We wrap up 2018 and our time in Big Bend in the next post.

Before Uncle Jeff returned to Seattle after spending a year in SoCal, Ezra took his family to play in the snow.