Viva Terlingua .... Otra Vez !

26-feb-2018 

Presidio Texas

Big Bend National Park

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive

Another good sleep in the gunship at the Chisos (not cheese) Basin Campground 

Off we went around the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive.

A collection of short hikes and  interpretive sites was the bill of fare.

We’ve been treated to a few raptor sightings in the park, mostly Swanson’s Hawks.

However at a parking lot at Santa Elena we saw a full on ornithological event.

A pair of Peregrine falcons were trying desperately to catch a little swallow.

One of the falcons would dive on the sparrow who would evade only to have the other falcon take a swipe at it.

Finally, after about 4 or 5 attempts by the pair, the swallow found escape.

The falcons immediately rose high circling on the thermals.

Then one sighted another pair of falcons and off they went.

We got a few glimpses of the 4 tussling but then they flew beyond the canyon wall 

Of course no photos were taken.

Afterwards we drove back into Terlingua and had ourselves some grub at the Sierra High Restaurant.

Grub is what people here call food. Food however is not the word for the insect grub.. Go figure.

After grub and some potables we hopped back in the gunship and pointed out of the parking lot.

A local Illuminary of somewhat older vintage than us was backing out also.

I laid on the horn but he slammed into the gunship without hesitation.

He got out and said he didn’t hear the horn because he was about deaf and had the radio up too loud.

Anyway I got $100 (cash) from him and made him pose for a picture.’

Apparently his name is Davis and his family was a bunch of Texas outlaws. Check it out... I didn’t 

He was a decent guy. Maybe I could have asked $200.

All good

We rolled on down the road toward the State of Texas version of Big Bend Park.

It is a huge place with many, many trails.

We followed it along the Rio Grande but elected to keep on chooglin.

We encountered a family of javelina (collared peccary) along the way.

We arrived in Presidio a little after dark and slept (with the permission of the sheriff) at the public library.

We watched Netflix in the gunship courtesy of the open WiFi from the library.

Thank you.... Presidio is a nice town.. Good food at the Bean Cafe.

Mr Davis points to the Gunship Damage

Javelina

Sunset fades in Big Bend Country on the Rio Grande Texas

Mountains Made of Cheese?

25-Feb-2015

Big Bend National Park

Los Chisos Mountains

Texas USA

Sometimes in Mexico if you-re not careful

Turns out Chisos is not the Spanish word for Cheese.

So these are not mountains made of cheese.

Apparently its volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago

If you’re into all that stuff

Sitting in High Sierra Restaurant in Terlingua Texas eating and drinking.

Trying to catch up on the blog.’

We spent 2 days around the Chisos Basin and made a few hikes.

Had a few cocktails ..... took a nap in the gunship in the parking lot after a lunch with too many cocktails.

Pretty much another outstanding  couple of days on the trails.

The sites were good in the Chisos- a mish mash of sedimentary and pyroclastic activity.

And fossils

Big Bend Day 1 ..... Banos Tamales

2/23/2018

Big Bend Park

Boquillas De Carmen

We rolled into the park after quite possibly the worst breakfast buffet in Texas.... or anywhere.

Be careful where you eat in Terlingua. I don’t think you’re going to die, some of the stuff just isn’t what I would call flavorful.

We hit a trail down near the east end of the park and the Rio Grande.

Bob,contrary to the wants of our president and the security our our nation, swam across the Rio Grande and entered into Mexico without a passport and returned without filling out any forms whatsoever. He also swam back

Anyway it was fun swimming across the Rio Grande and invading Mexico...

Viva Terlingua!!

Day 4

523 Miles

Terlingua Tx

A person has to want to get to this place.

We rolled out of Austin with 41 degree temp and rain figuring there was no reason to stay.

It was a bit of a ride till we found clearing weather but as we did the temps started rising.

We made Terlingua near the entrance to Big Bend Park late afternoon with the temp nearing 70.

Its 2200+ miles from Hatteras but its got the perfect mix of natural beauty and Mad Max wasteland.

Break the Deal Face The wheel.

We ate some red meat, drank some gin and repaired to a night in a hotel and a hot shower

Tomorrow we hit the park

Recto! Recto ! Recto !!

Day 3

421 Miles

Austin Tx

We had to abandon our time on the big 2-0 westward as we encountered torrential downpours in Louisiana

We stopped at Shanes in Bossier City and devoured 5lbs of freshly steamed crawfish, frog legs, hush puppies and tamales.

The influence of our Hermanos from the south is kicking that already fine Cajun food up another notch.

A couple hours west of Shreveport we headed a bit south and re-aligned the gunships sights on Austin

Good thing we did as apparently mother natur was whipping ice and slush all over Dallas

We arrived Austin right in the middle of a traffic jam, which is apparently what Austin is all about these days.

We bailed found some good margaritas and tamales and waited it out.

While nursing cocktails and reading the Austin City paper I found a guitar hero favorite of mine, Redd Volkaert was playing in town.

We confirmed the gig, fired up the gunship and arrived 30 minutes later at Evangeline’s Cafe.

There he was in all his glory, the mighty Redd himself. With a hot shot piano player they were laying it down.

No cover!!!

Bartender bought me a beer and I caught a nice set, had a nice chat with Redd himself and we slept the night right there in the parking Lot of Evangelines in the Gunship

Crawfish, Frogs Legs, Hush Puppies and Tamales at Shanes in Bossier City La

Redd Volkaert and Co. in Austin Texas

Grant us a Yodel

Day2

603 Miles

Ruston La

We kept dogging the ole 2-0  in a westward fashion, perambulating as we went.

We stopped in Meridian Ms long enough for a whoppin plate full of soul food and a trip to the Jimmie Rodgers Museum.

The food  (fried porkchop, okra, black eyed peas, cornbread, iced tea) was truly memorable.

Jimmie Rodgers “the singing brakeman” himself was born in Meridian.

Clearly the whole train thing took him somewhere else.]

Anyway we took a tour of the museum (with a docent chock-full-of-stories) bought a t shirt and got back on the big 20. West

Arrived in Vicksburg at the Battle Memorial Center in time to get the full 20 minute movie at the visitor center. We then got a laser LED presentation of the siege and battle happenings & we were off for the memorial tour. Its about 20 miles long with plenty of stops and some interesting information.

No big changes on the outcome.  Grant & Sherman prevailed, the Union was preserved, and we toddled off to a local brew pub for one of the Local IPA’s

Tomorrow is starting to look like Texas

Oxford Soul food

She’s Long She’s Tall She’s Six feet from the ground

She’s tailor-made, she ain’t no hand me down

Laying Siege

The Gunship...... surrounded by ........ GUNS!!!!

President Grant.... before election

Miss the Mississippi

Blowing by Buckhead

Day 1

749 Miles

Oxford Alabama

Rolled out of Avon on a cloudy day and hit rain before we hit the fall line. Decided to modify the course and head south down the big 95 to South of The Border (hey Pedro!). From there we took 20 through the pines and sand to Atlanta.

Outside Atlanta we stopped near the end of the day for a little hike at the Davidson Arabia Park. Formerly a granit quarry where lots of “tidal grey” curbstone,  the Brooklyn Bridge, West Point,  The Naval Academy, the Rayburn Office building in DC , and lots of other stuff comes from.

We hiked around a little bit, found a pond with some peepers in in and then found some ribs at D’s near the stadium.  The food was good, the sides were yummy and the service was great . They  may be advertised the best ribs in Atlanta but I still prefer Joes in KC

After dinner we hit the road and rolled on to a rest stop on 20 somewhere outside of Oxford Alabama

The Gunship.... packed and primed

Here we Go Again......The Big Bender!!!

15-Feb-2017

The Gunship is completing drydock operations undergoing the necessary retrofit's and upgrades necessary for our most recent assignment. Propulsion and weapon systems have received major upgrades.

Translation: we took all the crap out of the back, swept it out, vacuumed a little and put the bed frame back.

We have no new weapons.

Carol did got the brakes done, a tune up, and fluids changed and or verified.
Fluids......yeah 
I added some more music to my travelling usb stick.
Check out Ted Kooshian, Lucho Azcarraga  or Julian Lage if you need some new tunes.

Anyway its a late start for our winter trek- this will be a month long blow southwest.
Our major destination is Big Bend National Park in texas.
We hope to visit a few friends.
Hope to make a few new friends.

As always, we hope not to kill each other.

Here is the imagined route