Weekly Update Archive

Spring Break - March 14-23, 2009

Enjoy the updates these days because time is so short now, it's difficult to make them happen these days.  I am glad to say that our trip to theGuadalupe Mountains finally took place.  This carefully planned trip was knocked out last year by hurricane IKE, and we decided to make it happen during Spring Break. Unfortunately, some of our family did not make it that were slated to go when I had to cancel because of the hurricane.  My cousin Les and his wife Mary were unable to come because of an unfortunate accident.  Les fell off of a 12 foot ladder and fractured his foot in several places.  This happened a couple of months back and there was no tome to heal before the hiking trip.  We missed you guys and hopefully we can plan something else down the road.

Brandon, Les's son, was able to re-arrange his flight schedule to accommodate the trip, but not without extra expense and hassle. (Sorry Brandon, I know dealing with the airlines SUCKS!) I picked him up at the airport Saturday morning and came back home where we finished loading up the van.  He stayed at our house for 1 hour, then he (we) were off again heading toward the mountains.  We left at 12:30 pm. And our destination for the night was Motel 6 in Van Horn.  We arrived there at 9: 35 P.M.  Brenda, Kelly and Cody had arrived a few hours earlier as they got quite a head start from Allen.  They had the good fortune of being able to eat out at one of the local restaurants as opposed to us, well,.......things kinda close up at 10:00 in a small town, at least in Van Horn.  We had to settle with the fast food-Wendy's at the travel center.  Anyway, we visited a while then crashed out.

My plan was to get up early and leave Van Horn and hit Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and hoping to get a campsite!  WRONG!!!  For a National Park, I don't think there are any excuses for not having more campsites available.  This is a problem maybe our Democrat friends can solve since all of our money will be getting drained from us in tax dollars.  This at least would be one benefit!  We decided to go all the way around to the North side in New Mexico to a cozy little place called Lincoln National Forest.  We could not camp directly in the area where the restrooms and picnic tables were, or where Sitting Bull Falls was, so we mosied down the road 9 tenths of a mile and set up camp!  This is where we would be for three days!!!  The first night was really cold, but the temps got warmer as the days went on.  Me, Brandon and Cody went on a hike that ended up being 8 miles to Sitting Bull falls.  This was a very nice hike and we enjoyed it big time!  I guess I should have saved my partying at the campsite for later, as hiking the day after a few drinks is NOT GOOD! I was a little slow, but I made it.  Hope you enjoy the pictures as some of the scenery was fantastic I thought.

Kim, the kids, Kelly and Brenda went up to Sitting Bull Falls and hung out, and did a little bit of “hiking” as it were.  I thought the falls were pretty neat, especially for a place in Texas\New Mexico that doesn't really have a lot of that.  We could have no campfires due to the fact it is so dry.  That really sucked as the night wore on and the temps got colder.  There was a fun filled night of drinking and for some of us, it proved to be less than exciting in the end.  I guess at this time I should say what happens in the Guadalupe's........stays in the Guadalupe's!  Literally!  The stars were absolutely awesome and a nice treat  from the big city.  The shooting stars were cool when we saw them.  I would like to go back out there in August!  Anyway, we all hiked a few miles round trip to the water ponds between the canyons.  It was an easy hike, but we had to help Caleb over the rocky terrain to assure we had no broken bones or sprained ankles.  Even after being so careful, a sprain or two was still in order.  Brandon came across the gopher snake on this particular part of the hike and the snake just stayed put until I got to the scene.  We all had a good time checking it out and after the photographing session was over, I let Caleb have the dubious honor of releasing the snake so we could see him another day.  This would be the only snake we saw the whole trip, but then again, this was not a snake hunting trip.

We broke camp on Wednesday morning and headed back toward Van Horn.  The scenery is really cool and it seems like you are driving forever before El Capitan gets out of view.  We arrived in Alpine around ten O'clock.  We swung down through Marfa as there were many people in the group wanting to see the Marfa lights.  They were out in full force and so were the people.  I had never seen so many people at this location!  The lights were not “dancing” all around but they were showing up then disappearing then showing back up again sometimes six at a time, then two, then one, then five.  It was crazy!  We grabbed some pizza in Alpine for dinner and took it back to the room.  We all needed showers badly.  In fact, I was so dirty, the bottom of the tub was totally brown!  We had all gone over three days (basically) without a shower.  The only place that had vacancies was the Alpine Inn.  I don't wish this on anyone.  Just look at the ratings people!  It's is a last resort,.............and I don't mean like a Cancun resort either!  At least it was a “real” bed (I use the term loosely) and a shower which actually was the most important thing!

We cruised down 118 to Big Bend National Park as I thought everyone would enjoy the window trail.  Everyone had hiked this trail except Brandon, which he really enjoyed.  In fact, I remember him saying he liked this the best!  Me, Cody as well as Brandon helped carry Caleb over the really rough areas.  I cannot tell you how much cousin Wayne\Uncle V appreciated this.  Thanks a bunch guys!!!   47 is creeping up on me fast! As always, and this has become a tradition,...........I had a nice ice cold coke waiting for Kim and my sister Brenda when they finished the trail.  This goes back to when Brenda, Kelly and myself hiked the window trail several years back and it was in the Summer.  Brenda had run out of water and if you know the window trail, it ascends for the last mile up stairs and other portions of the trail.  When I did not see them for a while, I went looking for them.  I found them resting in she shade trying to escape the heat.  I had two ice cold cokes with me to refresh them.  This is the only time I remember my sister calling me an Angel from Heaven.  It's usually something else!  I love you Brenda!!!  :)~

After we finished the hike, we went up to the lodge and bought some goodies from the gift shop.  Then it was time to head for my favorite watering hole in the Big Bend region, LaKiva!  It was good to see Glenn again and re-stock his bar with Wayne's World of Snake pens.  We had a great dinner there and downed some pitchers of beer etc.  It was extremely noisy in there with all the drunk college students, but fun.  I remember those days,.....I think.  We toured the patio area and took some pictures, then it was time to move on once again.  We cruised back up 118 into Alpine then over to Sanderson on highway 90.  Our destination?  The Outback Oasis Motel!  We arrived late as you could imagine.  Ruth was a sweetheart as always and left the key for us so we didn't have to wake anyone up.  Anyone traveling on highway 90 in this region of the great state of Texas, I highly recommend staying at this motel.  The owners are not only personal friends of mine, but they a great folks and loved Texas so much, they decided to move here and become a part of the community!  Check 'em out! www.outbackoasismotel.com .