Finally in Texas! The sun was out, but wow was it getting cooler out there. We camped in Guadalupe National Park, and set out to get some exploring done. Unfortunately, we missed the brilliant fall colors, so the most exciting part of our walks was making sure we were not treading on any of the poisonous snakes that could be out, trying to absorb warmth from the rocks on and around the trails.
Even so, the view out the back door of our camper was incredible, and we enjoyed relaxing in such a beautiful setting.
The next National Park on our list was Big Bend, and we had quite a drive to get there. We made a few stops to try some local food, get some laundry done, take a nap, and sometimes do nothing more than simply take in the scenery.
We learned about Cow Dog, and that our rule still holds true: If you see a line of people at a food truck, you really have to stop and eat whatever they are having. This was just the delicious meal we needed to power through a mountain of laundry.
We also made a side trip to Terlingua, which I wanted to see because one of my brothers had spent a fair amount of time in the area as a river guide. As with so many places from our youth, some of that area seemed like nothing had changed in centuries, while others were too new for our walk down memory lane.
Once we made it to Big Bend National Park, we set off to find a campsite. The park was pretty busy, and the rangers made a recommended a campground that should still have some vacancies. Unfortunately, there was nothing available, but because we have a small and fully self contained set up, they were able to find a very primitive spot for us to camp, rather than send us on a long and windy drive to the next campground. The host called where they put us the campground’s “eyebrow”, and it was basically an small pullout in one of the loops. It was level and we fit perfectly.
The view was awesome, and we were grateful for the hospitality. We were excited to be in this southern park during the off season, when the sun was shining bright, but the temperatures were cooler so we could explore to our hearts’ content without getting overheated. We made our plans for the next day and went to bed.
That night, and next morning, mother nature reminded us who is really in charge. In came the winds, the fog, and some rain. It was such a strong system that the only visitor center with power was the one with an emergency generator. There was to be no hiking in the cold and soggy weather. It was hard to believe this was the same sunny park we drove into the day before.
It seemed the cold weather was making more progress than we were, so we decided to keep moving. We said good by to the soggy park, and hit the road again.
Traveling Team Fischer 