This is third night in Davis Mountains State Park. Quite lovely here, the mountains range up to allmost 7,000'. Not high compared to Colorado but beautiful all the same. Again, this is high desert, very dry, scrub oak, juniper, pinon, agave, yucca and cactus. The first day we spent looking around Ft Davis. Went into a Thrift shop to benefit the Humane Society and, alas, found just the right coffee pot. A black/decker all plactic that brews 2 cups at a time for only $3.50! Works perfect in the Casita. Then I stopped by a broom shop where the guy makes hand made 1800 brooms. Of course I bought two. Not because I intend to use them but only because they looked good!
Yesterday I spent three hours at the observatory learning about the sun. Also, saw the sun in real time through the telescope, sunflares and sun spots. Very interesting. We then visited the two large telescopes one with a 9' mirror. Very impressive. Last evening I went back for what they call a Star Party. Wow! I saw the moon and venus. The moon was beautiful and I could see the craters quite distinctly. Also saw the Orien Nubula and Star cluster 52. The night sky was heavy with stars. No city lights for many miles and the sky was really dark. The moon was just a sliver with Venus almost right next to it. Stunningly beautiful.
On the way back to the Casita I saw several Javelina. Really ugly little creatures. Fox was ready to chase them when I took him out before bed. One came right in camp and didn't seem to care whether Fox saw him or not. It was 28 this am and is supposed to be 20 in the morning. I am going Van Horn then on to El Paso on Tuesday. It is getting quite cold now. . . almost sundown. Guess I'll take the Fox out one more time.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Alpine, TX
I had quite a break there due to absence of service in the Big Bend area. Spent one night in Marathon getting ready for the trip into Big Bend National Park, TX. Marathon is a small town about 69 miles from the Park Hdqs, Panther Junction. I stayed at a pretty nice RC/Motel combo park. It had been beautiful all day, clear skies and warm. The mesquite trees slowly disappeared the further I traveled from Sonora and the Juniper shriveled to about two feet tall. Clearly, we were entering the desert. The temp read 18 the next morning and my water had frozen. Fortunately, you can't do much to damage these Casitas and all was well; although, it took me quite a while to unhook the hose. Had to use pliers. I just put the two ends of the hose together and stuck it inside the Casita to thaw.
The trip to Big Bend was just lovely. There we were on the Chihuahuan desert. No trees, just huge yucca like plants with gigantic blooms, prickly pear cactus, walking stick cactus, and all manner of vegetation adorned with spikes, needles and burrs. The prickly pear was fascinating because as it dies it turns various shades of purple, orange, red and pink. This past year has been very dry so many cacti have passed on to "higher prickly grounds". I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road.
Just picture these desert plants with a back drop of ragged, jagged spiraling mountains, many of which were volcanoes. You find a mix of jagged red/orange hills next to volcanic ash that has turned into white rock with age. Better than science fiction. When I stopped at a scenic overlook and got out of the car I was hit by the silence, shocking. And, no wind at all. At first glance you get the feeling that nothing could live out here. Wrong, coyotes, javelena, cougar, bear and smaller critters. Simply amazing.
Fox and I stayed at Cottonwood Campground by the Rio Grande River. No hookups and no generators allowed. People are encouraged to camp quietly. The first night we camped under this yellow flowering tree. The fragrance was delicate and just strong enough to leave you with pleasant feeling instead of a headache. That night a group of us watched a big horned owl in one of the tall cottonwoods. I met two gals, Carol and Robin, with two dogs, JJ and Todd. We hit it off and I spent the next 2 days hiking with them. They were camping in a '66 Airstream. . . really nice inside. As it turns out they are from Eureka Spgs, AK where I bought my Casita. They had called on the Casita the day after I bought it. Small world.
Carol is an artist and quite a good one. We showed each other our work and had a grand time talking art. Our first hike was to Saint Elena Canyon. Wow!! The Rio goes right through the canyon with rock walls jutting up 300-4000ft on both sides. It was magnificent with the sun hitting the river and walls. That was a fairly easy hike. The next day we hiked 4 miles to an oasis. Talk about hot and tiring. Of course, all is worth it when you see such spectacular country. The Javelena came into our campground. They are pretty interesting, eat anything and look like pigs, although, they are not related to the pig family. Also got to see two great horned owls mate. What a sight! The owls are huge and I kept my eye on the Fox.
At first, I was a bit cautious about camping so close to the Mexican border; however, the cliffs on the other side were so tall and steep that no one could come over them. I should say, though, border patrol were everywhere so I felt pretty safe. Coming out of Big Bend this morning I was stopped at a border inspection station. The officer just asked me if I was a US citizen and if I had come from the park. Then he wished me well and off I went.
I pulled into Alpine around 2pm. This is not a pretty place. Looks rather shabby and run down. Tomorrow I will look around town, get groceries and check out Marfa 35 miles down the road. It is supposed to be somewhat of an artist community. Today I spent my time doing the laundry and taking a shower. Man did I feel dirty after 4 days in the park with no shower and a lot of dust. Had eggs for supper and a frozen McDonald's hot fudge sundae I bought when I pulled into town. I stuck it in the freezer for a treat after dinner. It is dark and I can feel it cooling off. I sure will sleep well tonight after my household chores. Onward tomorrow. Oh, I should say that I am really enjoying staying in the National and State Parks. Cost me $7 to camp! The US is one beautiful place and I love the stark, expanse of the west. . . astonishingly magnificent.
The trip to Big Bend was just lovely. There we were on the Chihuahuan desert. No trees, just huge yucca like plants with gigantic blooms, prickly pear cactus, walking stick cactus, and all manner of vegetation adorned with spikes, needles and burrs. The prickly pear was fascinating because as it dies it turns various shades of purple, orange, red and pink. This past year has been very dry so many cacti have passed on to "higher prickly grounds". I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road.
Just picture these desert plants with a back drop of ragged, jagged spiraling mountains, many of which were volcanoes. You find a mix of jagged red/orange hills next to volcanic ash that has turned into white rock with age. Better than science fiction. When I stopped at a scenic overlook and got out of the car I was hit by the silence, shocking. And, no wind at all. At first glance you get the feeling that nothing could live out here. Wrong, coyotes, javelena, cougar, bear and smaller critters. Simply amazing.
Fox and I stayed at Cottonwood Campground by the Rio Grande River. No hookups and no generators allowed. People are encouraged to camp quietly. The first night we camped under this yellow flowering tree. The fragrance was delicate and just strong enough to leave you with pleasant feeling instead of a headache. That night a group of us watched a big horned owl in one of the tall cottonwoods. I met two gals, Carol and Robin, with two dogs, JJ and Todd. We hit it off and I spent the next 2 days hiking with them. They were camping in a '66 Airstream. . . really nice inside. As it turns out they are from Eureka Spgs, AK where I bought my Casita. They had called on the Casita the day after I bought it. Small world.
Carol is an artist and quite a good one. We showed each other our work and had a grand time talking art. Our first hike was to Saint Elena Canyon. Wow!! The Rio goes right through the canyon with rock walls jutting up 300-4000ft on both sides. It was magnificent with the sun hitting the river and walls. That was a fairly easy hike. The next day we hiked 4 miles to an oasis. Talk about hot and tiring. Of course, all is worth it when you see such spectacular country. The Javelena came into our campground. They are pretty interesting, eat anything and look like pigs, although, they are not related to the pig family. Also got to see two great horned owls mate. What a sight! The owls are huge and I kept my eye on the Fox.
At first, I was a bit cautious about camping so close to the Mexican border; however, the cliffs on the other side were so tall and steep that no one could come over them. I should say, though, border patrol were everywhere so I felt pretty safe. Coming out of Big Bend this morning I was stopped at a border inspection station. The officer just asked me if I was a US citizen and if I had come from the park. Then he wished me well and off I went.
I pulled into Alpine around 2pm. This is not a pretty place. Looks rather shabby and run down. Tomorrow I will look around town, get groceries and check out Marfa 35 miles down the road. It is supposed to be somewhat of an artist community. Today I spent my time doing the laundry and taking a shower. Man did I feel dirty after 4 days in the park with no shower and a lot of dust. Had eggs for supper and a frozen McDonald's hot fudge sundae I bought when I pulled into town. I stuck it in the freezer for a treat after dinner. It is dark and I can feel it cooling off. I sure will sleep well tonight after my household chores. Onward tomorrow. Oh, I should say that I am really enjoying staying in the National and State Parks. Cost me $7 to camp! The US is one beautiful place and I love the stark, expanse of the west. . . astonishingly magnificent.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Caverns of Senora
We are outside of Senora, TX camped in the Caverns RV Park,, beautiful spot. Lots of large mesquite trees and juniper, rocky ground. I say large mesquite because as I leave the Hill Country for dryer parts of Texas the mesquite gets smaller and smaller and it reminds you of scrub oak. This spot is in the middle of nowhere, very quiet and should be very dark tonight. Chance to peruse the universe. . .always a delightful passtime of mine. I think I will take a tour of the caverns tomorrow morning.
This morning I joined some Casita friends and chatted more about life in the EGG. Very nice people. Then I went on to Fredreicksburg and stopped at the Trade market outside of town. Lots and lots of vendors with mostly antiques. I did eat some Texas bar-be-qued brisket and a piece of fudge. Found a little daschie yard decor made out of something rusted. Of course, I had to have it. As it turned out, she was also selling fudge, lucky for me! While I was talking to her she asked me the name of my dog and I told her. She said "well Foxy is one of those names that you can't tell what gender it is, kinda like "Pat". With that we both had a good laugh. I told her that was the funniest thing I had heard all day. Anyone who watched SNL knows why that is funny.
Driving on HWY 10 to Junction and Senora you mostly see rolling hills that tend to get flater as you go west. Flater also = not much water and shorter trees and taller cacti. Really rugged. I had the country 'n western music blaring. . . songs like "singing the blues" and "She got the mine and I got the Shaft" Great songs!!! I continue to develop my Texas twang.
I am going to fix a little dinner and prepare for it to get dark so I can look at the stars and listen to the coyotes. Life is good.
This morning I joined some Casita friends and chatted more about life in the EGG. Very nice people. Then I went on to Fredreicksburg and stopped at the Trade market outside of town. Lots and lots of vendors with mostly antiques. I did eat some Texas bar-be-qued brisket and a piece of fudge. Found a little daschie yard decor made out of something rusted. Of course, I had to have it. As it turned out, she was also selling fudge, lucky for me! While I was talking to her she asked me the name of my dog and I told her. She said "well Foxy is one of those names that you can't tell what gender it is, kinda like "Pat". With that we both had a good laugh. I told her that was the funniest thing I had heard all day. Anyone who watched SNL knows why that is funny.
Driving on HWY 10 to Junction and Senora you mostly see rolling hills that tend to get flater as you go west. Flater also = not much water and shorter trees and taller cacti. Really rugged. I had the country 'n western music blaring. . . songs like "singing the blues" and "She got the mine and I got the Shaft" Great songs!!! I continue to develop my Texas twang.
I am going to fix a little dinner and prepare for it to get dark so I can look at the stars and listen to the coyotes. Life is good.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Back In The Texas Hill Country
Finally, I am back on Blog duty. Took quit a break after Palo Duro Club. From there I went on to McKinney, TX to visit good friend, Jill Ellen. We spent the weekend at her lake cabin in Bonham, TX. Very restful and lovely to just relax and catch up on old and new times. She has 3 Italian greyhounds, they and Foxy got along just great. He had such fun running around Jill's property. Reminded me so much of Palo Duro Club, even the coyotes were singing. When I get pics ready I will load a few.
From McKinney I went to Dallas and stayed with Nancy and Carl Klinke for a couple of days. Nance and I went to Kimbel Museum in Ft. Worth and the Museum of Modern Art. Both were wonderful but I was quite taken with the Modern Art Museuem, beautiful stainless steel sculpture outside by the Japanese pool titled "Conjoined" . The piece looked like two stainless trees reaching out to one another. Fab!! The next day we went to the Museum of Modern Art in Dallas. What a wonderful two days. Then Nancy took me to the airport to fly to Ft. Myers, FL to see Mom. I left my Casita on the lake at jill's place and my car at Nancy's.
Fox and I spent 5 weeks in FL with Mom. Had a very restful time but the weather was cold so I only made the beach twice. We did play golf and I took Fox to the Doggy Park everyday to play with his friends. Mom and I went to a dance for the Golf Scramble folks. Guess it is the big event for the year. I actually danced with real live men. Also played in the Scramble a couple of times. Did manage to visit the Edison/Ford summer estates. WOW, what a couple of magnificant minds. I can only imagine their dinner conversation! I should mention that Fox managed to eat a stick of butter off the dinning table when our backs were turned! Ugh! He was up all night with the Fox Trots! I put beach towels down all over the carpet in my bedroom. Not a pleasant event but the towels saved the day. Haley came to visit us in FL for 4 days. During that time her Dad and his wife Mary also visited. We all went out to lunch. It had been almost 15 years since Mom had seen Clay. It seemed like a life time to me.
I made my way back to Dallas on Feb 12. Went to the Lake to spend a couple of days and pick up the Casita. Jill is a Nurse Prac. with her own clinic so I got some free meds, shingle shot and VB12 shot! Whoopie, I feel great now. Except for a humungus bruise from the shingle shot. I had a reaction so had to take allergy meds. Jill had day off on Monday so she went with me to drop off Casita at the factory for minor repairs and dinette conversion. I got rid of the captains chairs and put in a booth dinette so I could have a twin bed for company. It looks great. I picked it up Wed and headed to Waco.
Spent last night in Reynolds Creek Park run by the Corps of Engineers. Only cost me $10 for the hookups and the place was georgous! The lots were on Lake Waco and each one at least 1/2 acre! I was so tired when I arrived that I didn't have the energy to blog. We got on the road about 10am and I decided to go through Crawford. Nice little town but the Bush's weren't home so I didn't stop. Then went on to Gatesville and ended up in Johnson City. I noticed on Casitaclub.com that there was a Casita rally here at the Miller RV park so I decided to stop on the chance they had some extra spots. Sure enough I got one. Fox and I walked around and met quite a few nice folks. Most of them do rallies every 2 months or so. Boy did they have their Casita's in great shape with all kinds of bells and such. I will leave in the am for somewhere. Haven't decided yet.
Have to say that I felt right at home here in the Hill Country. I had forgotten how much I liked Texans and the countryside is lovely. Rolling hills of cedar trees and mesquite. Saw a ranch with ostrich and Greater Kudu grazing (they kindof look like gazelles but have 3' horns that are swirled). I haven't seen those animals since I left Africa 35 years ago. Game meat must be big business here.
This was a short blog for 6wks worth, but now I feel caught up. I am sure I will be filling in as I go along.
From McKinney I went to Dallas and stayed with Nancy and Carl Klinke for a couple of days. Nance and I went to Kimbel Museum in Ft. Worth and the Museum of Modern Art. Both were wonderful but I was quite taken with the Modern Art Museuem, beautiful stainless steel sculpture outside by the Japanese pool titled "Conjoined" . The piece looked like two stainless trees reaching out to one another. Fab!! The next day we went to the Museum of Modern Art in Dallas. What a wonderful two days. Then Nancy took me to the airport to fly to Ft. Myers, FL to see Mom. I left my Casita on the lake at jill's place and my car at Nancy's.
Fox and I spent 5 weeks in FL with Mom. Had a very restful time but the weather was cold so I only made the beach twice. We did play golf and I took Fox to the Doggy Park everyday to play with his friends. Mom and I went to a dance for the Golf Scramble folks. Guess it is the big event for the year. I actually danced with real live men. Also played in the Scramble a couple of times. Did manage to visit the Edison/Ford summer estates. WOW, what a couple of magnificant minds. I can only imagine their dinner conversation! I should mention that Fox managed to eat a stick of butter off the dinning table when our backs were turned! Ugh! He was up all night with the Fox Trots! I put beach towels down all over the carpet in my bedroom. Not a pleasant event but the towels saved the day. Haley came to visit us in FL for 4 days. During that time her Dad and his wife Mary also visited. We all went out to lunch. It had been almost 15 years since Mom had seen Clay. It seemed like a life time to me.
I made my way back to Dallas on Feb 12. Went to the Lake to spend a couple of days and pick up the Casita. Jill is a Nurse Prac. with her own clinic so I got some free meds, shingle shot and VB12 shot! Whoopie, I feel great now. Except for a humungus bruise from the shingle shot. I had a reaction so had to take allergy meds. Jill had day off on Monday so she went with me to drop off Casita at the factory for minor repairs and dinette conversion. I got rid of the captains chairs and put in a booth dinette so I could have a twin bed for company. It looks great. I picked it up Wed and headed to Waco.
Spent last night in Reynolds Creek Park run by the Corps of Engineers. Only cost me $10 for the hookups and the place was georgous! The lots were on Lake Waco and each one at least 1/2 acre! I was so tired when I arrived that I didn't have the energy to blog. We got on the road about 10am and I decided to go through Crawford. Nice little town but the Bush's weren't home so I didn't stop. Then went on to Gatesville and ended up in Johnson City. I noticed on Casitaclub.com that there was a Casita rally here at the Miller RV park so I decided to stop on the chance they had some extra spots. Sure enough I got one. Fox and I walked around and met quite a few nice folks. Most of them do rallies every 2 months or so. Boy did they have their Casita's in great shape with all kinds of bells and such. I will leave in the am for somewhere. Haven't decided yet.
Have to say that I felt right at home here in the Hill Country. I had forgotten how much I liked Texans and the countryside is lovely. Rolling hills of cedar trees and mesquite. Saw a ranch with ostrich and Greater Kudu grazing (they kindof look like gazelles but have 3' horns that are swirled). I haven't seen those animals since I left Africa 35 years ago. Game meat must be big business here.
This was a short blog for 6wks worth, but now I feel caught up. I am sure I will be filling in as I go along.
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