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Just like before in the Gulf of Mexico, we have resumed our fairly quick pace across Central and West Texas. Almost every stop was two nights which gave us a single full day to see the sights of our new location. Semi-tragic in some cases because there were some beautiful things to see and amazing things to do.
Just like before in the Gulf of Mexico, we have resumed our fairly quick pace across Central and West Texas. Almost every stop was two nights which gave us a single full day to see the sights of our new location. Semi-tragic in some cases because there were some beautiful things to see and amazing things to do.
6/9/2019 Big Thicket National Preserve. This is a little-known National Park just inside the Texas state line after you cross in from Louisiana.
6/9/2019 Big Thicket National Preserve. This is a little-known National Park just inside the Texas state line after you cross in from Louisiana.
Never seen a caterpillar like this in my life…..not even in pictures.
Never seen a caterpillar like this in my life…..not even in pictures.
They found something on the ground…….I think.
They found something on the ground…….I think.
We were getting absolutely destroyed by mosquitoes. Even with bug spray on, they would not leave us alone.
We were getting absolutely destroyed by mosquitoes. Even with bug spray on, they would not leave us alone.
Ooooph, those oranges in the evening are just amazing!
Ooooph, those oranges in the evening are just amazing!
6/11/2019 Lyndon B Johnson National Park. This park and this area of Texas (known as “Texas Hill Country”) snuck up on us a little bit. After driving across central Texas for a few hours (from the East), this area appears like an oasis and you have to rub your eyes to believe what you are seeing. Stunning rolling hills and green lush landscapes surround you. The temperature cools off dramatically and it’s about as picturesque as anything you can imagine.
6/11/2019 Lyndon B Johnson National Park. This park and this area of Texas (known as “Texas Hill Country”) snuck up on us a little bit. After driving across central Texas for a few hours (from the East), this area appears like an oasis and you have to rub your eyes to believe what you are seeing. Stunning rolling hills and green lush landscapes surround you. The temperature cools off dramatically and it’s about as picturesque as anything you can imagine.
The LBJ National Park is actually 2 parks in one…..sort of. One side of the river is the Texas State park which is home to the birth place of LBJ and the surrounding ranch of family and friends. The other side of the river is the National Park and home to his personal ranch and the “Texas White House”. It’s a full day, but VERY worth it!
The LBJ National Park is actually 2 parks in one…..sort of. One side of the river is the Texas State park which is home to the birth place of LBJ and the surrounding ranch of family and friends. The other side of the river is the National Park and home to his personal ranch and the “Texas White House”. It’s a full day, but VERY worth it!
Yeah, they have found something on the ground to poke at…..again!
Yeah, they have found something on the ground to poke at…..again!
The State Park side was A LOT more “active” than the National Park side. There was sheep being sheered, chickens roaming free, live blacksmith demonstrations, people cooking period correct food with ingredients that were obtained directly from the property. It was great!
The State Park side was A LOT more “active” than the National Park side. There was sheep being sheered, chickens roaming free, live blacksmith demonstrations, people cooking period correct food with ingredients that were obtained directly from the property. It was great!
I have no idea what this is, but I like it! It would be right at home on the Aspen trees back in Colorado.
I have no idea what this is, but I like it! It would be right at home on the Aspen trees back in Colorado.
Notice the engraved “LBJ” in the horn. It would appear that a good chunk of the cattle that freely roam the LBJ National Park are direct descendants from LBJ’s personal cattle.
Notice the engraved “LBJ” in the horn. It would appear that a good chunk of the cattle that freely roam the LBJ National Park are direct descendants from LBJ’s personal cattle.
They have LBJ’s private plane that was used to fly from DC to Texas. He called it “Air Force One Half”.
They have LBJ’s private plane that was used to fly from DC to Texas. He called it “Air Force One Half”.
6/13/19 Amistad National Recreation Area. This is another one of those stops where we needed somewhere to break up a long drive across Texas, so why not make it a national park, see something new and different and earn another Junior Ranger Badge with the kids. As a result, we had no idea what to expect. It’s a LARGE reservoir and is popular with boaters and Scuba divers for its underwater caves. People like us though? Activities are somewhat scarce, but we made the most of it.
6/13/19 Amistad National Recreation Area. This is another one of those stops where we needed somewhere to break up a long drive across Texas, so why not make it a national park, see something new and different and earn another Junior Ranger Badge with the kids. As a result, we had no idea what to expect. It’s a LARGE reservoir and is popular with boaters and Scuba divers for its underwater caves. People like us though? Activities are somewhat scarce, but we made the most of it.
Here’s one thing I have come to learn about myself; If it was announced that Tarantulas were the friendliest spiders on earth and were, in fact, the key to world peace, I would still be terrified of them every time I see one!
Here’s one thing I have come to learn about myself; If it was announced that Tarantulas were the friendliest spiders on earth and were, in fact, the key to world peace, I would still be terrified of them every time I see one!
I saw this guy on the ground as we were backing the Motorhome out of our camping spot. I thought it was a piece of cactus or something…..and then it moved.
I saw this guy on the ground as we were backing the Motorhome out of our camping spot. I thought it was a piece of cactus or something…..and then it moved.
6/14/19 Big Bend National Park. This was a “destination” for us for a long time. It’s a remote park on the western edge of Texas and as you are driving there and staring at flat terrain and scrub brush for hours on end, you start to wonder why there is a national park out here and why are you going there! Then the Chisos Mountain Range erupts out of nowhere. You instantly forget about the hours and hours of baron wasteland that you just endured. I’m here to tell you, it is truly amazing to be on the floor of a desert and looking up at 7,000ft. mountains!
6/14/19 Big Bend National Park. This was a “destination” for us for a long time. It’s a remote park on the western edge of Texas and as you are driving there and staring at flat terrain and scrub brush for hours on end, you start to wonder why there is a national park out here and why are you going there! Then the Chisos Mountain Range erupts out of nowhere. You instantly forget about the hours and hours of baron wasteland that you just endured. I’m here to tell you, it is truly amazing to be on the floor of a desert and looking up at 7,000ft. mountains!
After we got to our campsite and set up, we turned back around and went for the nearest hiking path we could find. We only had two days here and wanted to make the most of our visit. That hike ended up being the Boquillas Canyon Trail.
After we got to our campsite and set up, we turned back around and went for the nearest hiking path we could find. We only had two days here and wanted to make the most of our visit. That hike ended up being the Boquillas Canyon Trail.
It’s also important to be mindful of just how close you are to Mexico when you are here. This canyon was cut by the mighty Rio Grande and I probably don’t need to tell you that when you are in West Texas, the Rio Grande is also the border.
It’s also important to be mindful of just how close you are to Mexico when you are here. This canyon was cut by the mighty Rio Grande and I probably don’t need to tell you that when you are in West Texas, the Rio Grande is also the border.
Also turns out we have showed up for a very rare event! This is a “Desert Millipede” and reportedly live up to 10 years, but spend nearly 90% of that time below ground. They come out when it’s rainy and when it’s time to mate. I found this one straight away after we set up camp and I went out to walk Bear. HOWEVER, after seeing this one, we starting seeing more of them…..and then more…and then they were everywhere! At times, it almost looked like the roads were “alive” because there was so many of them!
Also turns out we have showed up for a very rare event! This is a “Desert Millipede” and reportedly live up to 10 years, but spend nearly 90% of that time below ground. They come out when it’s rainy and when it’s time to mate. I found this one straight away after we set up camp and I went out to walk Bear. HOWEVER, after seeing this one, we starting seeing more of them…..and then more…and then they were everywhere! At times, it almost looked like the roads were “alive” because there was so many of them!
6/15/19 Big Bend National Park. Here’s how things work in this area of the world in mid-June; You get up early to do something you want to do, you then go back to the closest place that has AC, wait out the heat and then you go do something else you want to do in the late afternoon. Short version: it’s REALLY hot during the day! In the morning, we did the “Hot Springs” hike which is a very pretty hike the follows the Rio Grande past, you guessed it, a hot spring that feeds the Rio Grande and was also a commercial visitor attraction in the late 20’s.
6/15/19 Big Bend National Park. Here’s how things work in this area of the world in mid-June; You get up early to do something you want to do, you then go back to the closest place that has AC, wait out the heat and then you go do something else you want to do in the late afternoon. Short version: it’s REALLY hot during the day! In the morning, we did the “Hot Springs” hike which is a very pretty hike the follows the Rio Grande past, you guessed it, a hot spring that feeds the Rio Grande and was also a commercial visitor attraction in the late 20’s.
Unbelievable sedimentary rock formations tower over-head at the beginning of this trail.
Unbelievable sedimentary rock formations tower over-head at the beginning of this trail.
Cicada are not something I am used to seeing or hearing. They are shockingly loud and borderline annoying at times, but fascinating to look at. Mother Nature really cooked up something strange with these creatures. Those clear wings look like something straight out of a comic book.
Cicada are not something I am used to seeing or hearing. They are shockingly loud and borderline annoying at times, but fascinating to look at. Mother Nature really cooked up something strange with these creatures. Those clear wings look like something straight out of a comic book.
Fossil of an Ammonite along the trail! This was about the size of a dinner plate!
Fossil of an Ammonite along the trail! This was about the size of a dinner plate!
I wouldn’t have guessed it, but cactus and cactus flowers have a unique beauty to them.
I wouldn’t have guessed it, but cactus and cactus flowers have a unique beauty to them.
Why wildlife lets me get this close, I’ll never know! …..and how an animal that is this colorful and iridescent survives without getting picked off by a predator, I’ll never know.
Why wildlife lets me get this close, I’ll never know! …..and how an animal that is this colorful and iridescent survives without getting picked off by a predator, I’ll never know.
After escaping back to the RV for some quality time with the air conditioning, we have cooked up another way to beat the heat, head UP in elevation. Here at Big Bend, that equates to going into the Chisos Mountain. The Chisos Basin Visitor’s Center is a 45 minute drive from our campground and at 5,400ft above sea level, it is 3,500ft higher than where we are staying….in other words, it’s going to be cooler!
After escaping back to the RV for some quality time with the air conditioning, we have cooked up another way to beat the heat, head UP in elevation. Here at Big Bend, that equates to going into the Chisos Mountain. The Chisos Basin Visitor’s Center is a 45 minute drive from our campground and at 5,400ft above sea level, it is 3,500ft higher than where we are staying….in other words, it’s going to be cooler!
On the climb up the mountains, we spotted several of these flowering Agave plants. Significance you ask? We had learned that they can live anywhere from 20 to 40 years, BUT they only flower ONCE in their lifetime. On top of that, once they flower, they die. I don’t know that this makes them “rare”, but we certainly enjoyed the opportunity to see one. This one, in particular, was remarkable as It was easily 15-16ft tall.
On the climb up the mountains, we spotted several of these flowering Agave plants. Significance you ask? We had learned that they can live anywhere from 20 to 40 years, BUT they only flower ONCE in their lifetime. On top of that, once they flower, they die. I don’t know that this makes them “rare”, but we certainly enjoyed the opportunity to see one. This one, in particular, was remarkable as It was easily 15-16ft tall.
After earning our Junior Ranger badges, we closed down another National Park with some flag folding.
After earning our Junior Ranger badges, we closed down another National Park with some flag folding.
The “Crown Jewel” of this area of the park is something they call “The Window”. When you come to this Visitor Center, you are in the bottom of a basin and surrounded on all sides by towering mountains, but this “Window” is a natural break that allows you to see out into the rest of the park and the other peaks and plateaus. It really is quite a sight.
The “Crown Jewel” of this area of the park is something they call “The Window”. When you come to this Visitor Center, you are in the bottom of a basin and surrounded on all sides by towering mountains, but this “Window” is a natural break that allows you to see out into the rest of the park and the other peaks and plateaus. It really is quite a sight.
Here’s a little better shot of what that view looks like….
Here’s a little better shot of what that view looks like….
Here’s a fun fact about me; I am not good at selfies. I don’t know where to look. I don’t know how to smile. They just confuse me and I am 100% okay with that. Here’s what it looks like when I even attempt it…...
Here’s a fun fact about me; I am not good at selfies. I don’t know where to look. I don’t know how to smile. They just confuse me and I am 100% okay with that. Here’s what it looks like when I even attempt it…...
We ended up giving the camera to Grace and while it seems to have mostly worked out, the whole idea was to be able to see “The Window” in the picture. Oh well, at least I got a kiss out of the deal.
We ended up giving the camera to Grace and while it seems to have mostly worked out, the whole idea was to be able to see “The Window” in the picture. Oh well, at least I got a kiss out of the deal.
6/17/2019 Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The previous evening, Dylan had proposed going on a hike as a fun activity, but it was just a tad too late to get started on something like that. Alternative plan; wake up early before it gets too hot!
6/17/2019 Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The previous evening, Dylan had proposed going on a hike as a fun activity, but it was just a tad too late to get started on something like that. Alternative plan; wake up early before it gets too hot!
We have selected to hike to a place called “Devil’s Hall”. It’s a moderately easy hike that ranges from simply walking up a sandy wash to scurrying up some large rocks.
We have selected to hike to a place called “Devil’s Hall”. It’s a moderately easy hike that ranges from simply walking up a sandy wash to scurrying up some large rocks.
It was a great morning. The air was pretty cool and there was some low hanging fog in some places. Looking back down the wash, we all thought this looked like scene from the movie Avatar.
It was a great morning. The air was pretty cool and there was some low hanging fog in some places. Looking back down the wash, we all thought this looked like scene from the movie Avatar.
Remember the giant flowering Agave plant from our visit to Big Bend? Look, there’s another one WAAAAAY up there!
Remember the giant flowering Agave plant from our visit to Big Bend? Look, there’s another one WAAAAAY up there!
This is the natural “staircase” that leads you into Devil’s Hall
This is the natural “staircase” that leads you into Devil’s Hall
We’ve made it! Devil’s Hall is this crazy perfect slice through a ridge that is almost too perfect. Hiking the wash to get here is a series to twists and turns that was clearly created by running water, but this is a perfectly straight cut though the ridge.
We’ve made it! Devil’s Hall is this crazy perfect slice through a ridge that is almost too perfect. Hiking the wash to get here is a series to twists and turns that was clearly created by running water, but this is a perfectly straight cut though the ridge.
Here’s a Google Earth image that really highlights just how straight it is. (I’ve added the yellow arrow)
Here’s a Google Earth image that really highlights just how straight it is. (I’ve added the yellow arrow)
On the return hike back home, we found this blue-bellied guy!
On the return hike back home, we found this blue-bellied guy!
Later that evening, we were sitting inside and I noticed that it had gotten a tad too dark, a tad too fast. I looked out a window and virtually everyone in the campground was outside staring at the sky. Reason? There was a GIANT storm cloud building out of nowhere!
Later that evening, we were sitting inside and I noticed that it had gotten a tad too dark, a tad too fast. I looked out a window and virtually everyone in the campground was outside staring at the sky. Reason? There was a GIANT storm cloud building out of nowhere!
……and it was really amazing to watch it build and change shape!!!
……and it was really amazing to watch it build and change shape!!!
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