Author Topic: Jennifer's third trip (Read 2115 times) Tweet Share

RichardM · « **on:** December 02, 2011, 10:19:13 PM »

Jennifer, my wife Susan, and I headed west from Houston on Saturday morning before Thanksgiving. We hit San Antonio at lunchtime and I decided to take the scenic route on 90 rather than the usually speedier I-10. Thanks to about 17 potty breaks and an emergency chocolate dipped ice cream cone stop at the DQ in Del Rio, we got to Langtry about 10 minutes after it closed for the day. Oh well, at least Susan now believes it's a real place. We stopped at the Pecos River bridge for a quick view of the river.

We continued on and spent the night at the Outback Oasis Motel in Sanderson. Dinner was at the Out Yonder Cafe. The food was good and the least expensive meal of the trip, not including the 99 cent breakfast burritos from the Stripes station across from the Outback Oasis which we had the following morning. Jennifer and Susan seemed to enjoy visiting the snake room again. On Sunday morning we headed toward the park with mostly clear skies and temps in the upper 30's. After paying our entrance fee, we headed straight for the Chisos Basin campground. There were 5 or 6 sites open according to the campground host when we arrived a little before 10:30. We snagged number 51 and by the time I had my form filled out, the other sites had filled as well. This roadrunner held still just long enough for me to get a decent shot before living up to his name.

After getting the tent set up and eating a light lunch, we hopped in the car and headed up to the Lost Mine Trail parking lot. We got the last open parking space and headed up the trail.

After hiking about 5 minutes, Susan suddenly realized that her wedding ring wasn't on her finger. She wasn't sure if it had fallen off or if she had not put it back on while putting lotion on her hands in the car. She told me to take Jennifer on up the trail and continue the hike while she went back to look for it. So we did.

Green Gulch wasn't quite as green as Panther Pass.

It took a lot of willpower to not take a right turn and head up Casa Grande.

At the Juniper Canyon overlook.

Jennifer's shot.

And mine.

Ray52 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 02, 2011, 10:35:54 PM »

Well I'd say it looks like you had fun but is there going to be another installment? Curious about Susan's ring. So much burnt orange too. Pops get that little darling a Baylor cap!

RichardM · « **Reply #2 on:** December 02, 2011, 10:36:22 PM »

I just love the colored rock band.

Jennifer made it all the way to the end without too much complaining and whining to be carried. She hikes so much better with other kids around.

Hmmmm, that Travolta pose needs work...

That's better!

Jennifer took a shot of me, but the sun was shining on the lens.

I tried my best to show her how to shade the lens with her hand.

I must not have been a very good instructor, as she soon grew tired of my tips and returned to taking pictures of rocks.

We didn't stay too long, as it was pretty windy up top. Not to mention, we didn't know where Susan was or whether she had found her ring.

On the way back, I spotted a group of hikers heading up the ridge to the false summit of Casa Grande. I wonder if they every found the real trail and made the summit. About a third of the way down Susan caught up to us and let me know just how unhappy she was with my decision to continue hiking instead of helping look for her still-lost ring. We headed down to the Basin visitor center to fill out a lost item report. Susan then insisted on getting a lodge room for the night instead of camping. She lucked out and one Emory Peak room was available. We headed back to the Lost Mine Trail to resume the search for the missing ring. After an hour or so of scouring the trail, I was finally able to get her to recall when she last remembered having her ring (i.e. in the car, where she had set it in the door handle). She said she had already checked the parking lot around the car, but I suggested we go look again. As we got to where we had originally parked, I noted that the parking lot sloped downhill. I walked a couple of car spaces down and sure enough, there it was. We headed back to the lodge for dinner and took showers in the room. Jennifer and I then headed back to the campground to camp while Susan had the room to herself. Before we did, I made them come out to the parking lot with me and check out all of the stars. The Milky Way was clearly visible overhead, but apparently my camera is no longer capable of taking even mediocre star shots, as the one attempt I made was worthless. I also discovered on the last day of our trip that the optical viewfinder of my Canon A720IS is seriously out of line with what the LCD viewfinder (and the sensor) shows. Only about 90% of my shots this trip were taken using the optical viewfinder.

So, if you see any pics with people's feet cut off or way more sky than the rule of thirds might suggest, you'll know why.

Quote from: Ray on December 02, 2011, 10:35:54 PM

Well I'd say it looks like you had fun but is there going to be another installment? Curious about Susan's ring. So much burnt orange too. Pops get that little darling a Baylor cap!

More to come, but it'll have to wait... You're welcome to buy her a Baylor hat, even if they whip Texas this Saturday, but I'll stick with what we've got.

Sotol Vista · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2011, 11:28:20 PM »

cool so far...

Al · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2011, 11:31:16 PM »

Richard, very well done and told . . . so far . . .

Al

homerboy2u · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2011, 07:00:12 AM »

Quote from: RichardM on December 02, 2011, 10:36:22 PM

Richard, you do not know how happy this picture makes me.....to see you again, in a Tilley hat that made you a legend, teaching your daughter strategically coreographed Karate chops taught on to you by Master Japanese Indians, on top of a mountain, it is just serendipity.

Thank you for bringing back long a go memories...you are an icon in my book..

Robert · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2011, 07:04:56 AM »

Pretty amazing that you found the ring. That certainly would have put a damper on your trip.

alan in shreveport · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2011, 07:36:21 AM »

Man- finding that ring is like the needle in the haystack story - congratulations on that. Lost Mine is always nice - did you see much wildlife ?
Looking forward to more pictures and report - but I was thinking more of an ...... Aggie hat ?

RichardM · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2011, 10:49:25 AM »

Quote from: homerboy2u on December 03, 2011, 07:00:12 AM

Richard, you do not know how happy this picture makes me.....to see you again, in a Tilley hat that made you a legend, teaching your daughter strategically coreographed Karate chops taught on to you by Master Japanese Indians, on top of a mountain, it is just serendipity.

Thank you for bringing back long a go memories...you are an icon in my book..

Sorry, Homero, that's not a Tilley, it's a cheapo Magellan.

But just for old times' sake, from my 2005 trip:

Quote from: alan in shreveport on December 03, 2011, 07:36:21 AM

did you see much wildlife ?
Looking forward to more pictures and report - but I was thinking more of an ...... Aggie hat ?

Not much wildlife other than birds and a coyote. Saw some Javelina on the drive down, but none in the park. Only way you'll find me wearing an Aggie hat is if I lose a bet. My daughter's welcome to go there, but not on my dime.

RichardM · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2011, 01:07:32 PM »

On Monday morning we pigged out at the breakfast buffet at the lodge, then headed down to Rio Grand Village to take on the Hot Spring Canyons trail. This coyote greeted us in the parking lot, but declined to pose for a decent picture.

We hit the trail from the Daniels Ranch picnic area around 10:30, with overcast hazy skies and a temperature in the 70's.

If you look closely in the picture above, you can spot three burros across the rio.

The majority of the trail is similar to this, only with a bit more up and down.

The drought has hit hard out here.

Susan often went on ahead to scout things out.

Finally, down to the river!

RichardM · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2011, 01:24:02 PM »

The temperature had picked up into the 80's as the sky cleared. There was a Big Bend River Tours canoe expedition having lunch just downstream from the hot springs. They had some leftovers, so I was able to partake of their hospitality and make Jennifer a ham sandwich, which helped boost her energy level. I was also saddened to hear of the passing of Jan Forte earlier this year. She was always a great source of information and advice and will be sorely missed in the community.

We waded into the hot springs for a while. Jennifer was doing great at just getting her legs wet until she found a slippery spot and ended up wet up to her armpits.

As it turned out, having wet shorts and shirt helped keep her a little cooler on the long, hot hike back to RGV. If someone had offered us a ride, we would have gladly taken it.

Susan and I alternated carrying Jennifer for at least half of the hike back to Rio Grande Village.

After making it back to RGV, we hit the store for cool drinks and some snacks. Those ice cream cookie sandwiches are heaven-sent. We then drove over to the RGV Nature Trail and Susan hung out at the pond while Jennifer and I hiked the trail. Here's Jennifer doing PePaw's pose:

I had hoped to go check out the construction for the new crossing, but we didn't make it over there. The idea of doing the sand slide in Boquillas Canyon quickly faded from my brain after the hot hike back.

We hit the showers at RGV just as everyone else decided they needed a shower as well. I lucked out and didn't have to wait. When I finished my 5 minutes worth of stinging warm water, there were 7 guys lined up waiting. The girls had a half dozen before them and another dozen waiting. We then headed on back to the Basin for the evening.

Venus and Casa Grande from the lodge restaurant parking lot just before dinner.

Susan joined us in the tent for the night. It was perfect sleeping weather, with temps in the low 50's. We had a new neighbor at the adjoining campsite, but never got to meet them. They were sacked out in the back of their Honda Civic when we got there at 7:30PM and were still in the car when we packed up to leave at 8:30 the next morning. Must've been some drive...

More to come...

mule ears · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2011, 02:21:50 PM »

Beautiful Richard, I don't know how Jennifer keeps that big hat on her head though.

RichardM · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2011, 03:25:54 PM »

I almost forgot Jennifer's pics from Monday's hikes. Sorry, Homero, it's still not a Tilley.

Yeah, there were a few cactus around.

Lots of interesting rocks, too.

She just missed getting a picture of the kayaker heading downstream.

Apparently this guy was following us around the park. Quite a run from the Basin to RGV.

Jennifer spotted a lonely burro across the rio.

RichardM · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2011, 05:48:26 PM »

Tuesday morning Susan and Jennifer went up to the lodge for breakfast while I settled for Pop-Tarts and a banana after packing up our gear. Jennifer wanted to look for more cool rocks, so we headed a little ways down Old Maverick Road and struck off into the desert.