I left Wichita Falls the morning of 5 July about 0930 heading to San Angelo for my first stop going to Big Bend National Park. It was fun traveling over some old familiar roads from my youth, but sad too to see all the abandoned buildings along the way. One in particular I remember from visiting some of my parents friends that lived in Dundee, TX. The old store was just across the highway and I remember going to get candy and soda pop from it. Here is a picture of that store now. Memories are photographs in time.
I traveled on through Seymour where my mother grew up and found this old Catholic Church abandoned in the middle of the prairie.
It was about this time I looked up above my visor and saw mother’s handicap placard. Well, I felt like a fool and so I did the sonly thing and turned around to take it back to mom. I told mother it was because I just wanted to have lunch one more time with her. So the first 150 miles was seeing the same scenery three times. LOL.
After lunch, I headed back out on the road. I was glad I chose a fairly short travel day since it was now about 1200. In Stamford, TX, I came across this old Texaco Station.
I finally made it to San Angelo about 1700 (5:00pm) and stayed in the San Angelo State Park. It was nice with covered shelters, and a full bath house. There are not many trees, just low scrub brush. I set up camp for the night and decided to sit back and relax. There was a nice breeze blowing, in fact I had to stake down the tent to keep it from blowing away. I then watched the sunset over the prairie with Butch.
Up the next morning, made breakfast and hit the road about 0800 to Big Bend. The drive was across some very empty prairie and long distances between towns. Had to make sure and keep an eye on the gas gauge.
Finally arrived at Big Bend National Park about 1300. Butch had to celebrate and sit on the sign. Bad Boy!
I finally stayed in Cottonwood Campground. It is more primitive than the Chico Basin Campground. I check Chico out, and thought it was a little packed together, with campsites practically sitting on top of each other. At Cottonwood, as the name implies, there was plenty of cottonwood trees and no other camper. In fact for the three day I was there I was the only camper. I had many people drive by looking for the Rio Grande River, and a few picnickers, but no one else overnighted. The campground was pretty nice for a primitive campground. There was non-potable water for about every five sites, two pit toilets that were exceptionally clean, and one potable water at the entrance. And lots of shade! It was hot and there was not much of a breeze since I was in the river valley. But the evenings cooled down to 70 from the day time high of 101+.
I finally stayed in Cottonwood Campground. It is more primitive than the Chico Basin Campground. I check Chico out, and thought it was a little packed together, with campsites practically sitting on top of each other. At Cottonwood, as the name implies, there was plenty of cottonwood trees and no other camper. In fact for the three day I was there I was the only camper. I had many people drive by looking for the Rio Grande River, and a few picnickers, but no one else overnighted. The campground was pretty nice for a primitive campground. There was non-potable water for about every five sites, two pit toilets that were exceptionally clean, and one potable water at the entrance. And lots of shade! It was hot and there was not much of a breeze since I was in the river valley. But the evenings cooled down to 70 from the day time high of 101+.
I went hiking along the Upper Burro Mesa Downpour trail. It followed an arroyo to where it broke through a high cliff and poured down the mountain side for about 150 feet. Of course it was dry this time of year. It was a moderate hike, with lots of scampering over rocks and the last was a climb down of about 15 feet of smooth granite. Got back to camp and grabbed a bucket to rinse myself off from the sweat and dirt. That would be my primitive shower until I left.
Sunsets were beautiful.
Every morning I normally had company for breakfast - Javelinas. You definitely had to keep a clean camp to keep them out of things.
I left Big Bend on 8 July heading on a short drive to Marfa, TX. I got to Marfa about 1200 and immediately stopped at El Cosmico to get lodging. It is a real neat place that has taken old trailers and made them into “rooms”. I will also be staying in a teepee and a Safari Tent. But the first night was in Little Pinky. First real shower since San Angelo State Park.
Allen
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