FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

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One Cool Place.

Our view.  Pick Your Sunset!

It was a great way to start off the New Year.  We were lucky enough to get to spend a couple of days, one in Big Bend National Park and one in Big Bend Ranch State Park, in the South Texas desert, and as usual it did not disappoint.  First off are the Boss’s 2 requirements, desert or not:  A cool house and an indoor bathroom, which rules out camping.

On the cool factor the house was perfect.  Well done out of 2 storage containers, it was at the end of the road (One of the roughest of the trip.) in Terlingua.   The view was great and with a full wall window in the bedroom when you looked out at night the stars were right in your face.  The lack of light pollution and air pollution is so readily apparent in the desert, gives you a whole new perspective on life and just maybe what it should be.  We did some cooking, had a fire, and were off at daylight each morning.  As usual we ate at the Starlight Theater, which has great food.  The home made avocado dip is delicious along with everything else on the menu.  It is a must stop when in the desert.

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The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

Check out their new tackle box and plier sheath.

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Some seriously big Redtail hawks.

The first morning we headed to the river in the national park, only to learn the border had closed this week so the hot springs were closed, as was the Boquilla border crossing.  But at the end of the line the Mexicans came across the river and left trinkets which they do, though illegal it is tacitly overlooked.  As we watched they got in 2 canoes and on a mule and came across the river to collect any money and leave more trinkets.  Obviously the border being closed was cutting off their income.  You never know what you will see on the border.

As we left we ended up following a big coyote that ran right down the middle of the road in front of us for quite a while.  The Boss was filming but gremlins messed it up so no picture but it was cool.  And we also saw a couple of foxes during the next 2 days.

From there we drove the River Road which runs right along the Rio Grande River on the Mexican border.  Over 60 miles of draws, washes, hills, rocks, and more rocks, it is rough as all get out but the scenery is spectacular.  It is not for your Sport “Cutility”, or that SUV in your driveway for looks.  This is 4 wheel drive, and no, all wheel drive is not the same.  You get free pinstriping, on a truck shaking, middle of nowhere drive.

It is all pretty but don’t touch!

One heavy horned muley.

3 bucks and a dozen does.

We stopped along the way at the old mine.  They mined “quicksilver” from 1900 until 1943.  In the old days they took it to Terlingua via donkey, which is a 30 miles hike as the crow flies through one tough desert.  I had to look up “quicksilver” and it turned out to be what I thought, mercury.  The mine and plant still has some of the old stone houses where the miners lived.  Their cans and trash still liter the grounds but like all things, the desert is winning.  We had never stopped there before but glad we did, it was cool.

It was surprising how little wildlife we saw in the national park.  Not a jack rabbit one, they are usually everywhere, nor any of the other critters like desert mice and ground squirrels you usually see.  And though we saw a few road runners they were even scarce.  It had just snowed almost a foot and the nights were in the 30’s, so not sure where everything was hiding out, but they sure were not moving day 1.  So we decided to visit Big Bend Ranch State Park, the largest state park in Texas, and where they transplanted some of the first desert big horns.

The mine.  An easy hike well worth the effort.

In both parks the views are fantastic, and can only be appreciated there as words do not do them justice.  That part of the world is so big.  Big valleys, mountain ranges, awesome formations, it never ends.  No matter how many times we go there is always something new.

There is no words to describe just how big the wide open spaces are and how cool some rocks and mountains ban be.

It is a 25 mile drive over a “good” road off the highway to get to the Ranger Station in the state park.  I wanted to find out where we might see a bighorn.  On the way was saw a covey of quail, another big Redtail Hawk, and a herd of mule deer.  One of the guys above was a heavy rack non-typical, probably the best mule deer buck I have ever seen.  We were just early enough they have not shed their antlers yet, and with the rut over they were all getting along.

And a word about driving in the state park, there are 3 roads: the rough main one, 4 wheel drive only, and 4 wheel drive high clearance.  And let me tell you some were rougher than anything in the national park.  But no matter which roads off the pavement it is just a matter of having good tires and not acting the fool.  Part of the trip is taking it all in,  enjoying the quiet, and actually unplugging some.  The sounds of silence.  We had very little cell coverage and it was nice to basically ignore the internet and everything else for a few days.  It gives you perspective, that those things are just noise, the desert is forever.  You can feel the times less nature of the desert when you are there.

Once we got to the Ranger Station she said no sheep sorry, maybe a few left where they were helicoptered in, but most of those went to Mexico.  (But she did give me some tips of other areas for the nest trip.)  The area turned out to be a mesa in the park right off the highway so we stopped but that was not happening.  We walked down to the river, the water was still ok for floaters but going down after the rise from their snow storm.

Yes that would be Mexico over there.

Turn out the lights the parties over.

Sorry for the disjointed report but one thing I have learned, quit taking notes, quit viewing things through the view finder, just take it all in.  Sit around the fire and watch the sun go down.  Listen to the nothing.  Watch as the lights go out and see the night sky for what it is.  Terlingua can be a strange place full of some strange characters, but it all works together to make it a great place to spend some time.  We will be back.

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Tomorrow it is back to fishing.  Of course the lake tomorrow, it is Monday.  I will definitely be interested in seeing what a good foot of water has done, and what the temp is.  But with some good clouds coming it will definitely be a day on the bay at some point this week as it screams big trout.  And the forecast for the rest of the week also screams big bass, which historically happens in January on the lake with the coming conditions.  So no real plan other than a rod in my hand, the where will be played by ear.  Spring is right around the corner and it is time to take advantage of it.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines