Dunes, Caves and Big Bend

Western Diamondback -  Big Bend National Park

It was always the wrong time of the year, not enough time, out of the way to where I was headed, to long of a drive, or some other lame excuse.  I now realize, after spending the past week in Big Bend National Park and the surrounding area, this procrastination was a mistake.  The area has it all....vast open spaces, few people, wildlife and night skies second to none. It's an area I'll be back to as I didn't scratch the surface.  Being in the Chinook there were many areas that I couldn't, or wouldn't attempt, and to really get the full effect of the area an off-road motorcycle or four-wheel drive is required.   Both of which I've got so I have no reason not to return.   I did unhook the trailer and leave it at a service area inside the park but didn't venture too far off the pavement, even without the trailer.  Damn trailer is like dragging an anchor around with you.  En-route to Texas and Big Bend National Park, I checked out White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns  Both areas one can easily see in a day. Although I camped in the White Sands area for a few nights there really isn't much to see in the area other than the dunes.  It's pretty, but it basically all looks the same. Miles and miles of white dunes.  You do get some nice sunsets, sunrises and lighting off the dunes so it's certainly worth the stop.  Caverns in Carlsbad are........caverns. Hike down about 800 ft under the surface, hike around in the caverns and hump back out of the hole.  Caverns are worth a stop but I couldn't spend more than a day here. I guess if you're really into spelunking you could spend more time here but I'm not, so I hit it early in the morning and was back on the road by 11:00. 

 Entrance access by foot into Carlsbad Caverns.  You can take an elevator down (over 800 ft down) which 99.9 % of the masses do, but I didn't want to stand in the line with screaming kids so I hiked in and hiked out.  It's a hump coming out.

White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.  No camping in the National Monument so I ended up staying on Holloman Air Force Base about 7 miles up the road.  Drive into the Monument every morning for sunrise and then again in the evenings for photo hikes with Petey. 

Finally got into Texas and headed into the Davis Mountain area for a couple of nights camping.  Also spent a few hours touring Fort Davis, an old military fort that was established during the Indian Wars.  Interesting touring the grounds and old structures.

Next stop was the highlight of the trip so far.  Big Bend National Park but first I had to stop and check out the old ghost town of Terlinqua.  The locals like to call it a ghost town but there are actually people, although not many, living here along with some small funky/artsy businesses.  I'm assuming the designation of ghost town brings in the tourist. The central point in town is an old mercantile store and bar with a large porch.  Everyone seems to gather here, tourists and locals alike, along with their dogs, to hang out, drink and shoot the shit.  Quite a place to kill an afternoon.  You can certainly meet some characters here with a few hours to kill.  Day I hung out here the temps peaked around 100 degrees so the shaded porch was a welcome relief.

 Terlinqua local

Terlinqua Cemetery

After spending a day and night in Terlinqua it was on to Big Bend National Park where I spent four nights.  Having been to many of our National Parks I'd have to rate this one in the top three.  It's got remote off-road camping, vast open spaces, is not overrun with people, with lots to explore.  Most of our National Parks are now overrun with people, bus tours, damn gift shops and are set up to herd the people from one exhibit to the next.  Don't even get me started on what tourist traps are jammed up right next to the parks.  Due to this many are no longer enjoyable, at least to me, to visit during the peak season.  Big Bend is one of those areas where it's a little bit of work to even get to so it keeps the hordes away. There's no Disney Land, fancy restaurants or mall nearby so the masses see no reason to come.  The pictures below give a small sampling of what can be found.

 Saint Elena Canyon - Mexico on the right with the USA on the left.  You could wade across here so I made my first illegal crossing into Mexico.

  Chiso Basin "The Window"

Rio Grande River

 Cross country hike one evening near Cottonwood Springs

Chiso Basin area

 Great Horned Owl above camp one afternoon

Old homestead on the Rio Grande.  Bluffs in the foreground are in Mexico.

 Javelina

Wish we could have stayed longer but we're working our way towards Dallas/Forth Worth for the next tradeshow.  More later.

Back on the Road

Home for the next five months.

The five-month trip finally got under way after some mechanical issues which included the meeting and ride along with not one, but two tow truck drivers.  All in one afternoon.  A few days before the trip after doing some rewiring the Chinook decided not to start.  I couldn't trace the problem so had the rig towed to a car stereo place to remove the after market alarm system.  With the system twenty years old I'd been having some trouble with it recently and made the assumption, incorrectly, that this was the problem.  After determining that the alarm system wasn't the problem another tow was in order to the Ford dealership. Was a short of some type in the fuse box!  I'd checked and re-checked but didn't locate it.  I didn't get to talk with the actual mechanic but $284 dollars to Ford and two tows later.... I was back in business.  Tiffany was riding south with me for the first leg of the trip where we were headed to the Bay area for the first show. After my first trade show, I now have a completely different outlook on what happens at a trade show from the vendors perspective.  It's a lot of work!

Tiffany of Totally-Tiffany

After the first show, we were scheduled to be in Albuquerque in a week.  Next stop was Vegas where Tiffany would fly out en-route to Tampa where she'd be appearing on the Home Shopping Network Channel.  After Tampa, she'd fly back to Albuquerque where we'd meet up again.  In between Vegas and Albuquerque I'd be free to do what Petey and I signed up for.....roam about. While in Vegas though....we got married in true Vegas style, at a drive-thru chapel.  Just like going to McDonald's with a different outcome.  Can you believe someone would actually go through with it and marry me?  Go figure.  After 9 years together it was time.  Following day Petey and I were solo again with a week to roam.

Petey....somewhere in Arizona.

While out walking around ducked into this beautiful church during mass.

Petrified National Park....Arizona.

Next stop was somewhere I'd wanted to check out on previous trips to the Southwest but never seemed to make it happen.  Chaco Canyon ruins in New Mexico.  I should have come in here earlier while either on the motorcycle or with the truck camper.  This is not a road to be pulling a loaded trailer down as it's about 20 miles of rough dirt road getting here from the south.  The problem I had, and one I heard about, later on, was that all the product for the next trade show was covered in dust.  In forty miles you can pick up a lot of dust! Everything had to be wiped down.  I've promised the boss that this will be my last extended dirt road trip pulling her product.  The site is well worth visiting if you're into old Indian ruins and culture.  The sites are amazing and they have a nice primitive style campground nearby.

It was on to another show in Albequrque where we checked out the Old Town District one night.

After four days in Albequrque, I dropped Tiffany back off at the airport where she'd fly home before meeting me in Dallas at the end of March.  With over two weeks to kill, Petey and I were back in roam about mode.

My kind of establishment.

Posting outside the No Scum Allowed Saloon.  

Wonder if he lost it while inside drinking?

Lots of open country in New Mexico.

 Late night shot from an old cemetery where we camped for the night.

Spent a few hours checking out the tombstones and came across this.

 Currently in White Sands National Monument.

 Petey and I have been hiking and exploring the dunes most evenings.

After a long hike, Petey likes to nap on the way back to camp.

We'll be leaving here soon, en-route to God knows where, Carlsbad Caverns and Big Bend National Park before the next show in Dallas.