Terlingua, Texas

Howdee all,

When Jeff and I left Patagonia, AZ we were intending on heading directly for the gulf coast of Texas to catch shorebird migration.

As luck, and internet connection would have it, a RV friend contacted me thru facebook. He follows my blog, and said if we are passing thru their now hometown of Marathon, just north of Big Bend we should connect.. We called and after speaking to him decided to forget the birds for now and head to Big Bend.

And..I am so glad we did…

I ♥ Big Bend

Here is the view we have from Homey in the RV park in Terlingua, Texas.

Not a huge RV park..the price is right..around twenty a night, the park owners are friendly,

we love the location. A short drive to Big Bend and in a small, spread out Ghost town.The first day we arrived we took a drive into the park.

We drove to the visitor center for information then to Rio Grande Village to see if we would rather stay in the park.

It is the tail end of spring break and most campgrounds were full. We decided we preferred our location..easy access to Big Bend and Big Bend Ranch State park.

The day was getting late..and we headed back to homey.

Bird viewing platform at the Rio Grand Village

Our second day here..it was extremely windy and cold so we opted to stay in and catch up on computer work, taxes etc.

In the evening we ventured out to check out the town.

Terlingua

“Earlier in the early 20th century, the communities that sprung up were defined by the mine that was near, or some other geographical description, such as a creek.    In the last 25 to 30 years, tourism has brought in a new boom of communities, and even though the locals  still use older mine names to define a certain area of the Terlingua area, the area of Terlingua is vast.  To many, Terlingua is still a territory, still somewhat of a wild frontier, with history carved and notched deep in the memories of cliffs and valleys of the Terlingua Creek watershed.   One cannot help but be reminded of the ranches that existed around this great creek, and springs that were on both sides of it that  providing havens for Ranch and Farm families.  A little higher elevations in the limestone and Igneous outcrops later provided another prosperous era, the mining of mercury.      By studying the facts of history, the old maps, and old books that were published much earlier than today , one can truly get a glimpse of what the varied and interesting life was like that circled around the wide  territory of Terlingua.”

Old crumbling adobe homes from the mining area around the hillsides.

Some newer homes are built inside the adobe walls remaining.

A few local artsy stores and cafes.

more crumbling adobe

I took most of these photos from the car..winds were 20 miles per hour that day.

The ones that weren't taken from the car..Jeff took..I was too cold.

Old cemetery

I read that we should check out the stones and markers at the cemetery…will save that for a warmer day.

We had a nice dinner at the Starlight Theatre Restaurant

I had chili and a margarita, Jeff had a turkey club.

The fellow who was singing sounded just like Willie Nelson.

So here we are, don't know how long we will stay..

The birds are migrating at the coast and also the Rio Grande Valley, and its tempting to leave and go see the birds.

There is so much I would love to do here before we leave.

I would love to hike every hike, drive every dirt road..until it gets too hot.

The birdies are calling, but….. I need to stretch my legs and hike….