Marathon, TX

The day before going into Big Bend was chore day. We did grocery shopping in Alpine, then drove to the motel/RV park in Marathon for laundry. A nice surprise when we got there was the request to keep light use minimal at night since they are a dark sky park. That night two guys were giving an informal star party. We got to look at Jupiter and Saturn through a 20 inch telescope, which was pretty spectacular. 

McDonald Observatory, Dude Ranch

Leaving Guadalupe Mts we drove through a very empty part of Texas, going more than 35 miles without seeing another car. We did see a coyote cross the road. In the afternoon we visited the McDonald Observatory. It was very cold and windy up on top of the mountains. 

That evening we stayed at a historic dude ranch.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Beautiful desert scenery, the campground is in a dramatic canyon. We had Thanksgiving spaghetti dinner and a great hike the next day. 

Carlsbad Caverns

We got to Carlsbad caverns the day before Thanksgiving. Normally reservations are required, which had been filled ahead of time, but there were cancelations that let us go in. We spent a great afternoon walking 2 1/2 miles and descending the equivalent of 80 stories underground. Phone photos don't do it justice, but here are a few. In the entrance, look for people on the left for scale. 

Leaving White Sands

White Sands was the farthest west point of this trip. It is a large flat basin between two mountain ranges. As we climbed up out, there were views back across. If you look closely at the gap between the hills you can see the white sand,  and very faintly, the mountains beyond. 

Alamogordo and White Sands

Sunrise at the campground: 

White Sands National Park: the sand is gypsum, and really bright white. It's big enough to be seen from space. 

It's also on a missile range, apparently they sometimes shut down the park road and highway 70:

Also in Alamogordo is the world's largest pistachio:

We stopped for a wine tasting and pistachios. 

Roswell, NM

Texas, part 1

Metal hitchhiker in Benjamin, TX

We spent three days driving across north TX. One night in a county park near Bowie, and one in a city park in Levelland. Not much stopping for sightseeing. Saw lots more wind turbines than oil rigs. The land has started to open up, dry out, and look western. 

Arkansas and Oklahoma

Since I last had wifi we've taken highway 70 across southwestern AR (hilly and very rural) and extreme southeastern OK.

Taxidermy in the convenience store in Dierks, AR:

Roadside signs in OK: 

The view from our state park campsite near Fort Towson, OK. It was 79 degrees that afternoon, then dropped 30 degrees overnight. 

Sunrise at Raymond Gary state park: 

Then we crossed the Red River into TX. More to come. 

On the road again

Well, we're off! It's been a long time since I've posted. Just getting started, so no great pictures yet, but here's our little camper in the midst of large ones at a rest area. 

It's always a special day for me when I see the Mississippi River,  but when we crossed it yesterday, you could only see a little strip of blue from the I-55 Bridge.

We're just outside of Hot Springs AR tonight,  heading for Oklahoma tomorrow. More to come ...