Big Day at Big Bend!

Okay - total change of plans!!

We uprooted ourselves yesterday midday from Caverns at Sonora when the rain finally broke.  The Tamiful was working enough for Rob to want to get on the road so we decided to take the local’s recommendation of a major detour from our plans ending up in Marathon, TX.

Gage gardens in Marathon, TX - bulls are big here!

We pulled into the Marathon Motel and RV Park (yup, it was exactly like you’d expect!)  In a gravel site a stone’s throw from the railroad tracks.  We rolled our eyes and settled in.  Rob was completely spent and went face down in bed while I grabbed a bag of ice and a couple six packs and went to make friends.  It was the first experience of RV socializing we – well I at this point – have had.  By the end of the night there were 15 of us gathered around a small lantern. 

The RV ringleaders were a couple, Scott and Liz, who were major investors in the Lazarus Brewery in Austin – funny how fate works.  We had a lot of fun talking beer and they LOVED Holy City’s brews that we shared.  Liz was quite the hostess and was serving food nonstop through the night from lasagna to fresh baked cookies and then sent homemade chicken noodle soup back with me for Rob.

Rob got a decent night’s sleep and wrapped up the RV while I headed out for a walk to check out the town.  Shortly thereafter, we hit the road for the one park we had decided was too far out of the way to go to!  With the detour the previous day, we were only 70 miles from Big Bend National Park.  We arrived by 10am and enjoyed the visitor center and the film and then headed into the park.

Rob was still not up for any serious activity but we stopped on the side of the road for lunch and I was able to hike through the cacti and get some good shots.  Since activity wasn’t in the cards, we opted to drive through the park and then follow Hwy 170 along the Rio Grande for 100 miles or so. 

It’s hard to describe exactly how majestic the scene here is.  No matter how I try – or anyone, for that matter – it is quite impossible to put into words the grandeur of mountain ranges, deep cut canyons, lush flowing rivers all teaming wildlife.   And to experience how drastically the scenery can change around one turn is fascinating.  It’s a pretty awesome distraction to hours on the road!

It was crazy to see the river winding below us knowing that just on the other side was another country, in many places just a few steps across the river.  I talked Rob into pulling over where we could get to the river and I waded in.  Right as I was looking for a good spot to rock hop to the other side, the dastardly park ranger (Texas state park at this point) came up announcing the $5000 fine for crossing the river.  DANG, I was almost a fugitive!

Tonight we’ll be in Marfa, TX home of the infamous “Marfa Lights” and weekend star parties.  We weren’t able to score a star party reservation but I’m going to shoot for a waiting list spot.  After simply looking up from our campsite last night and seeing the endless starry depth of the night sky, I’m sure we can make our own star party! All in all it should be an interesting night one way or another.