January 11, 2006

January 11, 2006

Van Horn to Big Bend National Park, Texas

YEAR 2 DAY 208

 

Today was sunny and warm. We realized today that we haven't experienced rain since Oregon, or maybe Northern California. That was 2 months ago.

This morning we prepared for departure and left El Campo RV Park ... & Chapel ! DARN ! First thing I noticed this morning was that one of the two chrome wheel trim rings I bought yesterday was missing. DARN ! It seemed to fit properly, and I thought I had installed it securely on the trailer wheel. We went down the road a few blocks to fill up with diesel at Love's, then drove back into the small village of Van Horn to buy a few items at Dollar General. There were 2 things noticeable about the village of Van Horn. There was a visible, obvious religious influence, and the town was dying. Much of the "downtown" was boarded up, and what wasn't boarded up were self proclaimed churches, missions, shelters, chapels, etc.. Strange little town.

We headed southeast on Hwy. 90 through the desolate west Texas desert. Useless desert lands with long distances between towns. Last year we ran out of gas in west Texas ... twice. This year we're a little paranoid about filling up with diesel to avoid that happening again. We stopped at Marfa for some luncheon meats for lunch. Marfa is a non-descript little town whose claim to fame is the mystery lights in the vicinity. We're not clear on all the details, but it's something about inexplicable mystery lights out in the desert at night. Shortly after Marfa, out in the middle of nowhere, we passed some kind of a research establishment with a large blimp tethered to a tower, and satellite dishes all around. A few miles later we stopped at a road side rest area for lunch. I could see the blimp was now high in the sky, but not going anywhere, so I don't know if it was still tethered, or flying freely. On the desert ground at the rest area there was a perfectly laid out small animal skeleton. It was the size of a small dog. At first I didn't know what it was. Then a short distance away, I saw a carcass of a large jackrabbit, so I guess the skeleton was also a jackrabbit. The desert is unforgiving.

As I'm typing this late in the evening, Bo and Teddy are lying together cuddled on the sofa. Teddy is licking Bo's head, and Bo seems to be quite enjoying it. Odd couple !

After lunch we continued southeast on Hwy. 90. A few miles later there was another research establishment, with a whole bunch of satellite dishes. A few miles later a military fighter jet flew over us at high speed, low altitude. Strange things going on in the desert !

Joanne drove from the rest area to Marathon. At the town of Marathon we stopped and refilled with diesel again. At Marathon we turned south onto Hwy. 385 leading into Big Bend National Park, and there are no towns or services for a very long distance. We entered Big Bend National Park, and about an hour later arrived at the only serviced campground in the park, at Rio Grande Village. There isn't really a village. It's a small campground, and a small store.

Behind our campsite is the Rio Grande River. Across the river is Mexico. The park is named after the "big bend" in the river. We're deep in the trough of the "U" shaped "big bend", and so Mexico is actually to the east of us. There are unusual "cautions" here in the campground. It is illegal to wade across the Rio Grande to purchase anything from Mexicans on the other side of the river trying to sell stuff. If they wade across the Rio Grande to sell stuff on this side, the goods are illegal. Don't leave cats or dogs tied up in your campsite. They will be eaten by coyotes or javelinas. SHEESH !

We got set up in our site, then took Bo for a short obedience walk. I took Teddy out for a short walk also. For the last month, he has wanted to come outside many times a day, for a few minutes, to do "floppies" in the desert. He flops over onto his back, and squirms around, like a dog doing a "happy dance". He's like a chinchilla taking a dust bath. He started this when we got to Yuma.

I barbecued for supper. The evening here is warmer than the last few nights in New Mexico. I did today's accounting, and journal entry, while Joanne did dishes and planned our exploration of Big Bend National Park tomorrow. It's currently 9:35 P.M., Teddy and Bo have both gone to sleep, and Joanne and I are having difficulty keeping our eyes open. Guess it's going to be an early night tonight.

DSK