September 14, 2007

Even after all these years, we can sometimes get into a “fine mess” – like this morning; we were all set to leave Santa Fe; we pulled out of our space at Los Campos RV Park, and drove to the exit. We did not know there was another drive way for exiting, and found ourselves in the “Entrance Only” going the wrong way. Five motor homes were checking in, and we could not go around them, nor could we back-up with the jeep in-tow. The other drivers had that what-is-this-idiot-doing expression, and we could only wait until everyone had checked in and moved out of the way; or we could un-hook the jeep, back-up the motor home, and get it right this time. Just as we unhooked and prepared to back up, the other motor homers moved up far enough, so Tom could drive out the entrance – I quickly followed, avoiding the unsympathetic stares, and we hooked up a few miles later.

Buzzards, skunks, scorpions, tarantulas, rattlesnakes, and bats – charming country this is, from Southeastern New Mexico down into West Texas. How did the ranchers and early travelers to this area manage to survive? In fact, except for the stunning vistas, why did anyone settle here? They also had to contend with hot temperatures and ............cactus!

Tripometer: 4923 (Drove 278 miles to Carlsbad, N. M.)

We camped in Carlsbad, N. M., and hiked the caverns (no entrance fee with Tom’s “Senior Pass”!) Walking through this enormous underground space is cool enough (no pun intended), but we really wanted to see the bats leave at sunset, as they have done for eons here at the “natural entrance.”

Along with about 200 spectators, we sat silently in the amphitheater watching the bats emerge from the cave, circle around and around the opening, then siphon-off in groups flying over the countryside to feed on insects. The ranger had informed us just before the bats appeared, that many decades ago there had been millions of bats, but now there are only about ¼ million bats that call this cave “home”, hanging from the ceiling all day, and flying 2 miles in the inky blackness to the cave opening at day’s end, to begin their nighttime foray. I really want to meet the guy who figured out how to count one-quarter million bats! – “one bat, two bats, three, four, five bats……..”

(The photo shows the cave opening before the bats emerged. Photos are not allowed while the bats are flying because it interferes with their echolocation navigation.)

The park has an “Adopt-A-Bat” program, where for $5, YOU can name your OWN bat, receive a photo of him/her along with a certificate and bat-information sheet! AND you can come visit your bat anytime! That is, if he/she hasn’t migrated south. If I adopted a bat, I would name it “Masterson,” or “Boy,” or “Aerie.”

We always know when we have crossed the Texas state line, even without the welcome signs; bugs really are bigger here, and they love the front of our bus. The six-legged kamikazes make tic-tac-toe patterns on the windshield. (Where is a bat when you really need one?)

We have finally returned to the right time zone. It feels like I never really adjusted to Pacific Standard Time, OR to the altitude of the Oregon Cascade Mountains.

LOVE these roads where we are the only travelers. On Rte 54 between Guadalupe Mountain National Park, and Van Horn, Texas, we shared the landscape with dust devils, tumbleweeds, miles of yellow-bordered roadsides, and only a few trucks. At Marfa, we stopped just to see La Paisano Hotel, which housed the cast of “Giant,” (Rock Hudson, Liz Taylor, James Dean) during the filming of this 1950s blockbuster. But we opted to stay in the stunning Davis Mountains at the state park of the same name. Also in the park is Indian Lodge, an adobe-style CCC inn built in 1933. It is a beautiful, peaceful, stop for those traversing vast West Texas, and a delightful destination in itself.

Tripometer: 5148 (Drove 225 miles to Fort Davis, TX)

Monday, September 17, 2007

This is the second time we’ve stopped at Balmorhea State Park, and both times we’ve been whisked in by a rainstorm. The first time, the park was full of campers, and we watched as tents, towels, and camping paraphernalia were blown across the grounds by sudden high winds, accompanied by a deluge. This time, in early fall, there are only three other campsites occupied, so the wind gusts, downpour, and jagged lightning did not cause as much of a stir, though it rattled Lynn a bit.

As the rhyme goes: “It’s raining, it’s pouring; the old man is snoring.” So when the rain stopped, I awakened Tom from his nap.

We walked around the campground and the natural springs pool.
At first, the water looks like a an enormous U-shaped swimming pool, which, in fact, it is; but, the floor is natural rock, ranging in depth from 3 feet to 30 feet. It is fed by underground springs, and has at least two species of fish – we observed minnows and catfish. The temperature stays 78° year-round, and people not only swim here, but snorkel and scuba dive as well.

After the rain, blue sky returned, and presented us with an awesome Texas sunset.

Tripometer: 5183 (Drove 35 miles to Balmorhea St. Pk.)

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

I-10 is a loooooong monotonous stretch of highway, especially after you leave the mountains and plateaus behind. At Junction, we stopped for the night at South Llano River State Park. This is a wonderful location for serious bird watchers.

We are on our homeward stretch. After our stop in San Antonio, we will be home, and our Oregon Trail adventure will be over. Our final posting will follow in a few days.

Tripometer: (Drove 268 miles to Junction, TX – S. Llano R. State Park)