My Trip to the Big Bend Area (El Paso, Abilene: sales, hotel)

[Cowboybootnut]

We just got back Saturday night from a trip to the Big Bend area. If you are from Texas, and have never been there - you need to go. It was a seven day adventure, but the highlights were;

Strawn, chicken fried steak and calf fries at Mary’s Café,
San Angelo, Fort Concho
Sonora, Caverns of Sonora
Alpine, Museum of the Big Bend, Big Bend Saddlery, and all the friendly people.
Marfa, Marfa Light, Paisano Hotel, Jett Grill
Marathon, Gage Hotel restaurant
Fort Davis, McDonalds Observatory, and 65 degree weather.
Study Butte, The Study Butte Mall
Terlingua, Ghost Town, nice people.
Lajitas, the resort hotel, but we were told that the mayor Clay Henry was dead! No beer drinking with a goat!
National Park, Santa Elena Cavern, Basin, the Window, deer, javelina, Boquillas Canyon.
Odessa, Meteor Crater

It has been 13-14 years since I have been in the area, and I missed it. I would love to retire in Alpine, it is cooler and the scenery is fantastic!

I will try to post pictures later.

[Eastender67]

the mayor Clay Henry was dead!

So sorry to hear about Clay Henry but even a goat's liver can only stand so much alcohol. Clay lived a pretty good life though some people may think that was cruel rather than amusing.

I guess there's no chance the "ferry" service has returned to Boquillas del Carmen or did you notice? Last time I was down there the Buzzard's Roost "B & B" was open for business and all was OK there. Then, after 911, that unauthorized river crossing was closed. Those Mexicans in Boquillas depended mostly on tourist dollars so may have mostly moved on. Time for another visit down that way after the weather cools down some. That's beautiful country.

[case44]

Glad you had fun, CBN. I can't wait to see the photos from there. A few years ago, I took pictures from the parking area at McDonald Observatory. The surrounding valleys below are some of the most picturesque I've ever seen in this state, and it made for some colorful and daring picture-taking. There were other mountains and peaks in the distance. And that area at the top is very quiet. I mean, you can't hear anything -- no birds, no crickets, no insects, nothing. And this was in the middle of the day -- I did not go at night. Hopefully, if I find the negatives from that trip, I'll try to get them on a disk so I can transfer them and hopefully get them on this site, as I've never had my own pics posted on City-Data and didn't know how. But I'll tell you this about the observatory and everywhere else you've gone: It is worth going to and it's unforgettable!

[Cowboybootnut]

Eastender67,

The ferry system in Boquillas is closed since 2002. It has hurt this area of the border. I am a person who believes in controlled borders, but this has hurt the sales of essential supplies to the Mexicans across the river. The stores in Boquillas, Castolon, etc, are the closest stores to them, and they have to travel many miles to get groceries. (Not trying to be political)

Here are some pictures from the Basin area of the National Park. Casa Grande.

[Cowboybootnut]

The Window

[Cowboybootnut]

Kosmic Kowgirl

La Kiva - a very funky restaurant

Part of the Terlingua Ghostown

Lajitas Resort

Candillaria Cafe at the resort

(More later)

[JamesAbilene]

Originally Posted by Cowboybootnut

We just got back Saturday night from a trip to the Big Bend area. If you are from Texas, and have never been there - you need to go. It was a seven day adventure, but the highlights were;

Strawn, chicken fried steak and calf fries at Mary’s Café,
San Angelo, Fort Concho
Sonora, Caverns of Sonora
Alpine, Museum of the Big Bend, Big Bend Saddlery, and all the friendly people.
Marfa, Marfa Light, Paisano Hotel, Jett Grill
Marathon, Gage Hotel restaurant
Fort Davis, McDonalds Observatory, and 65 degree weather.
Study Butte, The Study Butte Mall
Terlingua, Ghost Town, nice people.
Lajitas, the resort hotel, but we were told that the mayor Clay Henry was dead! No beer drinking with a goat!
National Park, Santa Elena Cavern, Basin, the Window, deer, javelina, Boquillas Canyon.
Odessa, Meteor Crater

It has been 13-14 years since I have been in the area, and I missed it. I would love to retire in Alpine, it is cooler and the scenery is fantastic!

I will try to post pictures later.

You just visited my favorite part of the state! I need to get out there. Unfortunately, Mary's in Strawn is not on my way since I am west of there, but it might be worth a few extra hours. Can't wait to see all of the pictures. It will be sad not to be able to take a boat to Boquillas the next time I go.

[NOTAM]

great pics. kosmic kowgirl is funky! what exactly is it? where is it?
i have never been to the Big Bend area, even though I have lived in Texas a good majority of my life. closest i have been is just driving thru El Paso, and Van Horn.
always wanted to see Alpine and Marfa. does Alpine still have REATA restaurant? it used to, at least, owned by the same guy who owns REATA in cowtown (Ft Worth)...aah their jalapeno cheese soup and focaccio bread is to die for, along with their taco dessert.

and....coming back up Nawth...chicken fried steak at Mary's in Strawn...ah yes...........spent alot of time making day trips there, and to the towns of COOL, MINGUS etc.........when i lived in Young/Jack counties area...near Possum Kingdom Lake.........Gawd, there is so much greatness to Texas, how could one ever get bored?

[Cowboybootnut]

bellestaroftexas,

Kosmic Kowgirl is a Cafe, no dine in, they do have picnic tables. It is in Terlingua. Never saw it open on the trip, but this is not the busy season, several places were closed or had reduced hours. Reatta is in Alpine, and I wanted to go but I got overridded by the females to go to "Bread and Breakfast," a tea room. Not bad, just not my cup of tea.

JamesAbilene,

I want to go again soon, perhaps by myself, or guy friends. It is a wonderful area that one can never spend enough time in.

------------------------------------------

When we were in the Basin, I looked around the wonderful scenary and knew that there is a God (didn't need any more proof) and that Texas is the greatest state in the USA (didn't need any more proof of that either).

[Rakin]

We were in Angelo for 15 years & used to travel out that way on a regular basis.

As Bob Hope said, Thanks for the Memories