Las Cruces, New Mexico

Rio Grande at Las Cruces

 We explored the city of La Cruces along the Rio Grande. I was surprised to find out after a visit to the Mesilla Bosque State Park, the river is dry during the winter months at this location. Up river dams are collecting water to irrigate spring crops.
Without control the Rio Grande would wander back and forth, a wide yet shallow river.



A visit to Old Mesilla Village took us back in time with old adobe homes turned into shops and restuarants.





La Posta Restuarant, a true gem with multiple rooms decorated in quaint historic fashion.

Dining Rooms

Embellishments

Mel, local artisian who creates the finishes

I had the pleasure of talking with Mel who was working on redoing one of fireplaces. He does some beautiful work.

La Posta Bar

Of course we stayed for a margarita too at the bar.

Stores in Old Mesilla Village

Green Chili Fries at High Dessert Brewery

We made sure to find the local brew houses along the way. Green Chili's a local harvest here is offered on everything. 


Even met some green and gold Packers fans. Where else, catching a brew flight at 11 in the morning. Be sure to note there's an hour time difference. Not that it matters if you're from Wisconsin.

Saturday Market

A final stop at the farmers market, complete with food trucks.

 Tomorrow Arizona

Marfa Lights

From Big Bend, our next stop was Marfa, Texas to view the lights. An unusual town, with unusual history, that doesn't really offer a lot except on weekends.

We checked into the Tumble In through the self serve retro trailer in the middle of the desert.







Marfa has a special viewing area along the roadside just for the lights. Other travelers joined in to catch the mysterious lights that dance around in the distance appearing at dusk to dawn.


We saw nothing.

So here's a few photos of the full moon on our last night in Big Bend, so you are not as disappointed as I was.
.

One of the big draws in Marfa is the El Paisano Hotel. Georgeous hotel that has a history of hollywood visitors.












I guess Marfa is a big draw for movies the most famous being Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, rock Hudson and James Dean. Of course they all stayed at the El Paisano



































We decided to join the celebrity status with a margarita at the bar.

Even just outside of town are large billboard style murals of the stars.





















So our trip through Marfa was brief. Recommend only going on a weekend. 



Even though our stop was a bit empty you gotta give them credit for having a Prada store.


Cheryl you didn't miss much.

Terlingua Ghost Town

Cemetery

 We stopped at the closet town to Big Bend a little town called Terlingua. I think there are more people buried here than residences.







We stopped by a little art shop and bought the only rain chain. A superb deal at $20. I guess they don't really have a big need for them here.

Miners homes

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Just another quirky town

Big Bend Fossils and Finds

Fossil Discover Exhibit

Stopped at the wayside exhibits. This one was still open since it was open air.

















They've found many fossils here since  it was once a shallow sea bed.

Original Settlers Homesteads

Other evidence of original residence of Big Bend.















Can't imagine farming and ranching in this desert.

Flora and Fauna

Not a lot of blooms, but a few.

My first sighting of a road runner.

Road runner

Other Special Finds

Can't beat RV neighbors

Big Bend Boquillas Canyon Trail

Entering the Canyon

 A hike into a beautiful canyon on the Rio Grande River.

Canyon trail

You can barely see the canoeist in the distance, really giving you the size of the cliff walls.

Canoeist on the Rio Grande River

Just across the river Mexican Nationalists

Trail side gift shop

Just across the river is the Mexican town Bosquillas. Usually open as a port of entry to visit this small village. They transport you across by boat for $5 and then you can get a donkey ride for the last mile into town.












Because of the border closing they often sneak over and set up shop on the honor system. Selling trinkets and walking sticks. If you get caught by border patrol with these goods you have to give them up.

Too bad for this small town that relies on tourists. I also can't imagine a wall along the Rio Grande.

Big Bend Hot Springs Trail

Trail view to Hot Springs

 Our longest hike 6 miles round trip from Rio Grande Village to Hot Springs Spa was almost too much for us.

Up and over

It was up and over several mountains but richly rewarded with a nice muscle relaxing spa.

and over

Hot Springs Spa time

We only had a few options for trails that didn't require primitive road access. We couldn't even do the roads to trails on our bikes.

So we made lots of stops at vistas and exhibits along the way.

Big Bend

Chihuahua Desert

We arrived at the Rio Grande Village RV Park for a week at Big Bend National Park. Despite the partial government shutdown our reservations still held since they are with a concessionaire in the park.  Fortunately this park remains open for day use so we are allowed to camp.

Unfortunately for others there is no camping and we are also missing out on the Nature Centers and Ranger Programs.

Lots of news about abuse in the parks and unsanitary conditions while the staff has been put on furlough, fortunately Big Bend has a lot of fans and volunteers that have managed to keep many bathrooms open and there was no garbage piling up as we had feared.

Road to Rio Grande Village

It was a bit of a challenge figuring out what trails suited us since information was scarce. One book store station reopened with the Big Bend Historical group who could give us a map. Good apps like Alltrails and Pinterest were helpful as well as talking with RV neighbors. Besides those in the lodge there were only us 25 RV's staying in the park. Kinda nice to have a quiet park.

Chiso Basin-The Window View

At about 60 miles wide and long it takes some time to travel through the park. Going from desert to many different mountain ranges and mesas. Lots of big long views.



Chiso Mountain, the volcanic heart of the area had cabins and lodge. The tallest point about 5000 feet gave some terrific views, unfortunately our days visit was a bit cloudy.

Chiso Village Resort Restuarant

Texas

Lake Arrowhead State Park

We made the Wisconsin escape a little early giving us a few extra days in Texas. We decided to stay at some of their State Parks, so we invested in the annual pass at $70, which gave us entry for a year at any state park and some discounts on second day stays. Most camping fees are between $15 and $20 a night with water and electric. For a week at four different state parks it was worth it.

Our first stay, Lake Arrowhead, right out of Wichita Falls, Texas was a blessing. The Park Superintendent was more than accommodating. Keith set us up at a site by the Prairie Dogs. With over 400 in the park they were fun to watch. Plus he called ahead for availability since we weren't able to make online reservations. They were approaching a blackout since they are converting their reservation system to Reserve America.




He also came through with setting us up with his dentist, since I had a crown pop off. It was the perfect start to our trip.

Oil everywhere

The only thing I didn't care for in the park was the oil rig. I could hear it at night and it sounded like a heart beat but just a little faster, to make you anxious.

Great Horned Owl?

My new camera came in handy for a long shot of an owl.













Next stop Copper Breaks State Park. Canyon like terrain with beautiful red soils and small lakes.

Trail by group site

They have a half dozen long horned cattle from the original stock in Texas. They even let you feed them. Ranger Edwin led us to the coral and called them using his car horn. They eagerly arrived ready for some treats.

Cedar Breaks campground

Here's the campground shelters. Very common, shelters for shade in the hot summer months. Each site has one, in this case they were a modern tepee.





 This park had nice dark skies for star gazing.

CCC pool house in park

A little further south we camped at Abilene State Park.

We hiked and biked and made it into Ablene for some provisions and a little lunch.

Lake Abiliene 

We also found out you don't need a fishing license with your park admission fee.

Chicken Fried Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato.

Wind Farms in an Oil State

Lunch in Abilene














On our way to our next stop, Monahan's Sandhills State Park, it was a little windy.

We saw hundreds of windmills.











The sand dunes stretch from Texas to New Mexico,

Dunes

It made for a different kind of hiking and sliding.

A group getting ready to slide

They rent out discs for sliding down the dunes.

Great sunsets

First drawing of the trip. Ta Da

So we've completed our first 1500 miles arriving in Big Bend National Park, after 4 Texas State Parks, 450 photos and 3 hours on this blog with slow internet.


I think I'll wait til the next stop for blogging. This place is beautiful. Hope you are surviving winter. Our low temperature  here is someone elses high.