Off to Marathon, Texas

Marathon is a very tiny town that is one of the gate way cities to Big Bend National park.We decided to spend a couple of nights there. We had a nice dinner at the local beautiful hotel, The Gage.

 

Great Buffalo Chili

 

Check out the Chilies 

Our campground was not much more than a gravel lot, but there was a star gazing spot behind our campsite and a local astrologist  gave star talks in the evening. There were telescopes and plenty of stars in the clearest, darkest sky you could imagine. I even saw a shooting star. Amazing.

The campground is right  along a railroad track and trains passed at all hours.....I love the noise of trains. And trains...

 

Our spot

 

The Star Gazing Area

 

Southern Pacific ! 

 

Our Home away from home

The following day we took a drive to the National Park to get some maps and check out the roads before we headed down. We had a great day. We stopped at the main visitor center, Panther Junction. We picked up some maps, and asked some questions. There are not to many gas stations in the park so we filled up before we drove down. It is 60 miles one way.

 

 

We drove around the Chisos Mountains and Basin Area.  We took a couple of hikes and took some pictures. The scenery was awesome. We saw rock formations that are hard to describe.

 

 

The Window

This hike was anything but easy. Who the heck decides that?

 

Valley below

 

Closer to the view on the other side of the Window. Breath taking.

 

Another rock formation.

 

The Century Plant grows until it blooms, then dies. 

 

Looking up at the dead bloom. Tall as trees.

 

Blue Bonnets along the road

 Sotol Plant.

 Ranchers took stalk and ground them up in periods of drought to feed their cattle and other animals.

The Agave is another plant that blooms only once then dies.

(Photo to follow)

 

These Yucca flowers can weigh up to 60 pounds

I cannot wait to come back tomorrow with the trailer. We will be here for three nights to explore the Rio Grande area. 

We will probably be without phone and Wifi but I can't wait to share what we will see. Stay tuned.

Hope all is well in Michigan. Love you all.

 

 

 

Sunset in Marathon