Seminole Canyon State Historical Park

[homerboy2u]

So we settled in our spot (#28) for the night.It took me a while to get the tents up (2) and they were waiting on me to open up the air mattress,get the dual fuel latern going and the burner as well. My wife does not understand Fire-Ban and insisted that we started a fire to heat up the camp,it started to get real breezy and cold.Of course we took our heavy jackets,pants and the whole enchilada but you just need a campfire to keep all things cozy,that is part of camping. Well no later than i was explaining to my family why we could not start a fire when our neighbor to our very far end,site #18 i believe begins to start a coal fire,flame begins to go up you see the orange glow growing and growing then my wife turns at me and says with this frown on her face: You see?...fire ban schmire ban!!!...light us a fire,caveman!!.

 I honestly thought for a second or two i was the one with the dumb burro ears,obeying the ordenance.But just minutes later before i was getting ready to give in,i see the fire going out in a flash.Probably a next door neighbor rushing over to this guy in site 18,saying the urge to get the fire out and dumping water over it , before all hell broke loose and get the fire crew,park intendant and God knows who else down on this guy,slap him with his there goes our fun camping park money down the drain in fines and have a lousy sleep over. Thank God,for others to help in indirectly at times.Whew!!!

 So the other dude saved my butt from getting chewed with out noticing, then my wife said o.k....o.k....lets turn that flame on the dual fuel burner of yours (i have two but brought only one) and cook us some exquisit Huevos rancheros with pork beans and salsa,toping all with some lite cereal for some of our daughters who dine litely, I could do just that...sure. Got all of my ingredients,my wife helped me out cutting the tomatoes,onions,cilantro and serrano peppers.Spread the corn tortillas and all were looking at me while in silence i was pumping the primer like crazy and breaking a cold sweat with out staring at them at all, i could not get my OLD burner to go....Man!!!,i could not believe my luck.

 This is a Coleman very old burner whom i had stashed away along time a go,giving way to my new one that works like a charm.I saw this one,and wanted to take my reliable one as well for this trip,but somehow between the whining and yelling of my daughters while they were getting all their camping stuff on the vehicle.....i just got lost in translation. I did not load it up and never realized i only took the old one.Well old faithful did not let me down...it failed and it failed good.No flame what so ever,i was priming that pump like crazy,it was very windy,i even took it to the showers with me to get it out of the fire and see if i could start it, with out any success...just nada!!!.

 I was scratchng my side of the head trying to figure out what was wrong with it.It just failed.I always try my equipment before going out camping and most importantly when going out to the Sierras del Burro,but i just did not try this old burner out when i had the chance...dang!,my total mistake

 You know,i am not new at this and i always bring plan B and sometimes even plan C for these type of situations.. i had Sandwiches , what else?. Got the cold cuts out,used the veggies already cut up for the eggs and all,had mayo,catsup  for the kids,mustard even cokes.I had everything going for us.My wife put on the back me up t-shirt and started handing out them sandwiches...we even had a lot of chips to go along. The little one wanted her hot chocolate quick before hitting the sack but given the current status she had to drink her milk...cold. Sorry for that one,we learn as we go...all the time.

[homerboy2u]

All this time,i wanted to take the camera out and snap pictures of my camp site to share with you folks,but i just did not had the nerve to ask my family to pose for pictures,then my wife wants to go and check out the bathroom,in her high heels walking along a very well marked trail and could not move an inch because she keeps turning her feet due to  the pebbles in the dirt road.

 I pulled out her sneakers then all of a sudden i am the hero of the night,she puts them on and she is now in hog heaven walking everywhere she wants to go.

 When she came back i had all the camping chairs set,got my oldest daughters to sit and started explaining the beautiful night sky ,along with the milky way.While doing that,from the backside of our heads a long dissapearing flare shows up..it was a meteor and the the girls begin screaming their lungs out in excitement..Did you see it?...did you see it,Dad?...lo viste Papa?.About 7 more appeared before calling the night. it was an amazing night to enjoy the stars and get a first row seat at a glance of our beautiful universe of ours.

 Neighbors from nearby campsites,started to come along to our campsite and get in to the conversation of the stars,Venus the moon phase,the planets and zodiac stellar formations.A little girl asked me if i was an astronomer of some sort,i said no but i did stay at a Holiday Inn the night before......

 By now it was 11p.m. and my youngest one had fallen asleep on my arms,my two other were yawning like crazy and mom said: that's it...good night for me.Grabbed our baby,went in to our big tent,got the other daughter  inside,changed in to their toasty sweatpants and jammies and zipped up the door. My oldest daughter wanted to stay out with me and see some more,we stayed just a little bit longer but then sent her over to sleep.Tucked her in  her Army mummy sack and i knew she was going to be warm for the night.By the time i closed up the door zipper she was snoring and dreaming.She was just over filled with adrenaline and did not realize how tired she was after all the exitment of being there.She and all of the rest were having fun. Me too.

 So i gathered my geese,took my clothes and went to have a hot shower before hitting the sack.While i was walking over to the showers a bobcat crossed my road.I flashed him with my red light head lamp and it's eyes were glistening like emanating red fire balls,gave me a glance and continued his way.While i got in to the showers there was this older man,in shorts,trembling like crazy and sneezing the living daylights.He was very cold but, he was warming up inside of the building,it was very cozy i might say.I Took a look at him,said howdy...tent camping?, he just nodded and went back to his shivering and i said nothing else.He was taking his lesson hard and just needed to be alone to get over it. Honestly,all who have camped before sometime or another  have had these sort of experiences and we just need soemtime to go to a corner,lick our wounds and learn from that experience. Go figure how under prepared he must have been to go to the extreme of heading out for the showers to get warmed up. He was getting his share of camping out lesson...101.

 I came back,open the door of our tent,slide down my sleeping bag,i just could not close the door staring at the stars once again...one real hard look (30 minutes),then i got cold,zipped up the door turned the light off and went to sleep. Folks, i even dreamed there...twice in the night.Toasty.

 The next morning would start all the activity for the day,it was going to be spectacular for us....



 More as we go on our path to adventure...

[Al]

Homero, your wife sounds very kind.  It's great the kids are having a good experience and your report is exceptional . . . but is lacking so far in some way I can't quite put my finger on . . .

Al

[SA Bill]

Great report Homero!

I laughed at this line:
"A little girl asked me if i was an astronomer of some sort,i said no but i did stay at a Holiday Inn the night before......"

We'll make you an full fledged astronomer in no time!
  Bill

[homerboy2u]

Homero, your wife sounds very kind.  It's great the kids are having a good experience and your report is exceptional . . . but is lacking so far in some way I can't quite put my finger on . . .

Al

....Fotos!!!...i know,i just like for people to run their brain movies,while i go start the reel and post pictures. I have been saying all along,people...it is a very small park and the spring Musey has been talking about with out any chance of being wrong is probably just the water fountain outside the bathrooms in the museum. Bluntly speaking that is.

Great report Homero!

I laughed at this line:
"A little girl asked me if i was an astronomer of some sort,i said no but i did stay at a Holiday Inn the night before......"

We'll make you an full fledged astronomer in no time!
  Bill

...I wished i had your "little" (yeah,right) telescope of yours over there.It would have won me a lifetime pass to the parks,that is for sure.Professor...

 Aside from your job at the college grounds,i bet you now know why i always call you professor,Professor..

 We are supposed to enjoy ourselves,life is as tough as it can get now a days.We never had this sort of worldwide recession since way back during the WWII,we need to have a laugh ever so often,i do not want to be so adult on this board, i have all the time in the world to be like a responsible adult on the real world. I hope i can bring a break to every one here.

 We will march...onward thru the desert?...i think i got that one wrong.

Saludos

[homerboy2u]

Well i woke up at 6:am..went to bed at around 1:am,so i was feeling kind of Funky... ,I still don't know what funky means. The stars were still out at that time,so was the all night humming of the BP and passer by's vehicles.The camping area is so close to the highway.

 Got the kids up, my wife wanted to have her morning fix,you know: Coffee and the main office was still closed,they open at 8:am. She was in dire need of her 2-3 cups.We hoped the kids on our vehicle,left all our stuff at the site and headed off for Comstock,no more than 4-5 miles east towards Del Rio, from the park. Geeesh,what happened to this small town?,all of the businesses were closed for good.All except the Post Office and this great big Border Patrol command center,where there are at least 50-80 trucks spread all over the  parking lot. It ws big but at the same time desolate to be in Comstock.

 This Bar and grill that caters to all passer's by was a welcomed sight.They were open,got in asked for 3 cups of cafe to go and my daughters also picked up some brownies.They can not live with out them little cakes. A dollar each and another dollar each for every cup of coffee... .

 We got in to our car and headed back for our campsite,it was a round 10:30 am,honestly i was dozing there for a lack of sleep.It still was windy and cold,i wanted to hit the sack and grab some nap time,but the girls were all revved up and wanted to go and check out the front office and museum.

 We missed the tour and the staff said that nobody showed up for Sundays morning tour,the next one would be until 3pm and only in march. To be honest, for a hiker,you don't need a guided tour but you have to obey the rules and there are no self trips to the paintings, only by a ranger who will lay all the info infront of you. We were told also, tjhat after March they close the 3pm tour because that area warms up real hot.Over the 100єF range,too hot for comfort.

 We checked out the museum instead and resolved to go back and do the painting tour with in 2-3 weeks,maybe with out the baby daughter and probably with more tennis shoes for the mom.

 I really needed to catch some zzzz's,i was very tired being so late in the morning,I usually catch some 1-2 hour siesta in Sundays.My only day off and since i was not jeep trailing,hence no bouncing,jolting,rock crawling,winch pulling...honestly i was growing tired. I just could not catch a break as much as i needed. I was longing for an RV there.

 

[sleepy]

homero, nothing is sadder in a woman's eyes than a man that can't start a fire.

but, dude, you saved the day.   and made everyone happy.  and saw a bobcat.  eso es un presagio afortunado.

awesome report.

[homerboy2u]

homero, nothing is sadder in a woman's eyes than a man that can't start a fire.

 Bro,ain't that the truth...another Quaff and Toby to your health?...did i say that correct?

[homerboy2u]

This is the place where the Fate Belle paintings are located,they are named after the last lady who used to own the ranch before it was bought by the State of Texas. Something along those lines, i am a nut for history of the area and how it is all tied up to our side (Mexican side) of the story.


 I just could not get my facts straight after watching my youngest daughter jumping in and out of the exhibits and almost breaking them apart.She was willing to pick up the baby paleo indian just to show it to me.What a scare  that was, .Not a lot of chance to read the stories on the wall,you can figure that out.

 You can see how smooth the floor surface of the Seminole Canyon is because of the flash floods during the thousands of years the canyon has been exposed to them. Besides,our Muse has stepped along that trail and to me from now on is sacred ground...i am not worthy of her presence.

[homerboy2u]

Inside of the Museum....
 Paleo Injuns!!!!..these people knew the desert better than i will ever can,they knew how to find water,make sandals,keep warm in the winter times, keep cool in the summer times,make ropes,paints,elaborate prickly pear bags,they knew how to fish and trap game,these folks were totally self sufficient by any standards.



Life in the Desert!!



 I believe this is a depiction from Panther Cave...



And this mural is amazing,with the talk me thru it button to the left side of the wall, from the Fate Belle Paintings...a superb job by the people of the State Parks dept.



 I need to go back and learn more form the prehistoric age...



 Evidence of life from 12,000 years ago when it was all a lush carpet of vegetation with cedars,pines,Bison,mamuths and camel roaming around. How things have change in so little time.



My family posing in the big room...



And again this inspirational Peyotized man-deer....



See what i mean?



Museum coordinates: N29 42.011 W101 18.807

 More pictures as i open the gates of what is up ahead........

[Pedreo233]

Hope you get some rest before this story ends, cause I feel your pain.  (Can't wait to lose another hour's sleep Sunday.)  You are a great story teller and historical resource.  You know how to tease us and keep us coming back for more.  (I too share your amazement at the peoples who survived on the land in such rough country.)

[BigBendHiker]

Hey, Homero!
Thanks for the trip report and pictures.


BBH

[badknees]

Homero,

You are on a roll...keep it coming. Looks like the young ones are having a great time.

[sleepy]

homero, nothing is sadder in a woman's eyes than a man that can't start a fire.

 Bro,ain't that the truth...another Quaff and Toby to your health?...did i say that correct?

close enough for me, amigo

[homerboy2u]

While we went inside to square things away with the office and the staff,my little one wanted to walk a stoneway-rail down to the door. For passer's by there are some Century Plants,Huizache Trees,Agave,Ocotillo,Blackbrush and other area plants very well described..along with their pronunciation so you can identify them for your self.



 Honestly i was starting to feel the lack of sleep by then and could not pose as well as liked,all crooked,my eyes were closing on me..i was tired. I was paying the price for staying so late in the night and waking up early in the morning and heading to Comstock,still i was having a blast with the kids. It was long since i saw them screaming their hearts out in excitement,they had a trip of a lifetime and I got a kick from seeing my youngest one all awe struck when she stumble upon the baby indian resting on the rock floor after the mommy was doing soemthings,she was very impressed by that..you know,small things in life that are recorded for ever in her mind.



 Mom was beat too, she went back to our vehicle for a quick nap.I took the girls out the the trail where you go down to a sun shelter while the tour guide xplains all the surroundings, the desert all the tour. Since we could not go for ourselves to the paintings because i left behind the pipe,checkered sweater and the green bottom lenses , we settled for that spot to go and explore.It was still a good long time before the next trip came up,so i decided to leave the park and head out for the Pecos, which is not but 2 miles heading west from the place. West of the Pecos...