One thing Texas has is a lot of road side rest areas.
We stopped in Del Rio for the night...with hundreds of thousands of Monarch Butterflies... which was amazing to see and learn about there migration.
This won was stuck in Lexi's engine compartment.
This time through this little town we only stayed one night but in the past we spent some time at the National Wild Life ......which was a beautiful spot and the first place we used our Senior Pass which gives us a 50% discount at most National Parks and Federal Recreational Land.
Our next stop... the small town of Marathon on 90 before heading south into the park. Spelled the same as the gasoline but pronounced "Marthin" and now we will listed as a point of interest not just an over night spot.
After all the barren landscape while we drive along this place was a welcome change and a great place to spend a couple days.
There are two main places to stay in this town...The Marathon Motel / RV Park (above) and The Gage Hotel...Both very nice with the latter being more upscale with fine dinning at the "12 Gage" and a specialty drink at the "White Buffalo" western style tavern.
We asked the bartender if a millionaire bought and restored the hotel...and he said a billionaire...This is a very rare White Buffalo and insured for 3 million.
Someone has a good since of humor...
Not only a great hotel but a beautiful flower garden...with an extensive vegetable growing area that helps supply the 12 Gage Restaurant and the only grocery store in town which we believe is also operated by the same company...Very Impressive!
And the garden wouldn't be complete without this panted cow!
Marathon also has the rare distinction of being an established functional community under a "CLASS 1 DARK SKY" (dark as it gets) right in town! Its remote geographic location, elevation and size contribute to enhancing this natural resource. A neat place to visit ...and stay a couple days!
Hot Springs...at a consistent 105 degrees...
Then it was south to Big Bend...a National Park so big it could only be found in Texas. We camped three nights in the park and visited a number of attractions like the Natural Hot Springs along the Rio Grande River...but the most interesting was our trip across the river ...by rowboat to Mexico.... YES MEXICO!!!
Our walk to the river
The Catholic Church
Our view of the Rio Grande River with the United States in the background from our seat at one of the two restaurants in this little town.
The restaurant along with roadside stands had a variety of things for sale along with little kids that would come out of everywhere to sell little trinkets.
Back across the river and our walk up to the Ranger/Customs station.
We first went through the Customs Check Point "in the park" ...then down to the river bank where a Mexican would come and bring you across in a rowboat. Then you had a choice of transportation into town...(about 1 1/2 miles)...by mule, horse, the back of a pick-up or walk. You also had a guide included in the $5 cost of the round trip rowboat ride. We decided to walk.. for free.. which didn't make our overweight guide "Eger" very happy, but after walking up a small hill to town and checking into the Mexican Boarder Officials we dismissed him... because we could find our way back ourselves.
Both interesting and depressing at the same time...like going back in time except for all the little kids trying to sell you there home made trinkets.
On return to the "GOOD OLD U.S.A." we had to go through a video phone interview with an Homeland Security person stationed in El Paso.
This was one of the interesting characters we ran across while traveling through the Beg Bend area...2/3 BW Beatle...1/3 Harley.
This is the Texas we have never seen or expected.
After winding through the park on some very scenic roadways we ended up in Lajitas and stayed at the very nice Lajitas Golf Resort, Spa and RV Park. The Black Jack's Crossing Golf Course looked like a great challenge but at a cost of $130 a round we decided to move on.
The roads in this area of the state are among some of the highest and most challenging for us because of some of the elevation changes like from...2,300 ft. to 4,500 ft. in a short distance BUT Lexi got us through even when pulling a 3,700 lb. Jeep!
Our last looks at the Rio Grande before heading north.
Our toughest climb...over 3,000 ft. without a break or flat space.
These signs are next to the roads in low areas in the south west to help worn people about flash floods.
The weather in our immediate future and planned route slowed us down by a couple of days so we stayed out of the rain and away from any Flash Flooding ... (which is a real problem and concern in the south west) and can happen far away from were it rains and far after the rain stops. Fort Davis at the State Park was a good choice and while there we went to the world renounced McDonald Observation complex for a special TWILIGHT and STAR PARTY which was very interesting and put on by some of the best presenters we have ever listened to...This place was amazing!!!...check it out!
As the weather breaks we get on our way north into New Mexico...so until then...
LIVE
LAUGH
LOVE
SanTony
No comments:
Post a Comment