Mountain Driving... at Night

After golf on Sunday, I hit the road for a HH stay in Santa Ysabel, CA. It's only 37 miles away, but when I saw the drive time was 90 minutes, I wondered why. Why? It was a twisty, turney, mountain drive in the pitch dark. After I got there, I had to pry my fingers off the steering wheel. Great pizza for dinner was my reward.

Yuma, AZ

A six-hour drive got me to another HH stay at The Barracaas Golf Club. It was a bit of a dog track, but with the proper application of my cheating skills, I shot an 84.
12/11/2023

Ball Time

After playing 18 holes, I took Augie out on the course for some extended ball time. She was in dog-heaven!

Happy Augie Doggie!

Apache Junction, AZ

I'm here to visit an old (emphasis) former Marine and former Genigraphics work mate. Plugged in at a KOA for good WiFi and laundry services.
12/13/23

Scottsdale, AZ

Visited my buddy, a Marine, a Bowling Green grad, a co-worker at Genigraphics, and a Scottsdale resident, who  gave me the short tour of Scottsdale - and bought me breakfast!

San Elizario, TX

Pistoleros del Adobe Horseshoe Cantina and Grill - another HH stay. This view is only available after you get through a construction maze - which I didn't do until people started showing up. I couldn't figure out how to get into the place when I arrived, and I was hungry, so I ate at a joint across the street. When I finally figured that out it was too late,  so I stiffed this host. We'll see if I get any kickback from HH, but I sent the host a message, and he apologized for the lack of signage. Took this shot this morning.
12/15/23

Marathon Motel and RV park, Marathon, TX

As I was packing up in San Elizario this morning, I checked my campsite reservation at Big Bend National park and realized that I was a full day ahead of schedule. No problem, I thought, I'll just stop at one of the 100s of RV parks that litter the highways. Randomly, I picked this place mainly because it is only about 90 minutes from the park. It turned out to be a wonderful little park with an adobe courtyard that makes a great ball tossing amphitheater. And...
12/15/23

Marathon Motel and RV park, Marathon, TX

...it just so happens that this is a "Dark Skies" location, where people come to observe and photograph the stars... and... tonight there's going to be a star gazing program about fifty yards from Gravytrain! Once again I prove to be a lucky individual.
12/15/23

Headed into Big Bend National Park

Land of no cell or wifi service. I'll be back in a few days. 
12/16/23

Big Bend National Park

Took Biscuit for a 15 mile ride out into the desert to see a Rio Grande overlook. It was a 8 mile ride one way, so I figured Biscuit would be good for it as her advertised range is 60 miles. She did fine, only using about 20% of her power.
12/17/23

Big Bend National Park

Meep meep. Saw the coyote a few minutes later, but couldn't get my camera fast enough to catch it.

Big Bend National Park

Sunset on the Rio Grande.

Terlingulia, TX

Augie and I took a half-day canoe trip on the Rio Grande. This is us after illegally crossing into Mexico.
12/18/23

Terlingulia, TX

Augie on Border Patrol.

Terlingulia, TX

Most of the most beautiful scenery around Big Bend can only be seen from the river because the land is so rugged.

Terlingulia, TX

Augie in the shuttle ride back from the river. She was tuckered out.

Terlingulia, TX

Didn't stay tuckered very long though - I was downloading some photos from my phone, when I looked up... "What's next pop?"

Langtry , TX

Headed back to civilization, and on my way to a campsite with a shower, I saw a sign for the Judge Roy Bean Museum, where he was the self-proclaimed "Law West of the Pecos." The town was named after Judge Bean's crush, English actress Lilly Langtry. No sign of Paul Newman though.
12/19/23

American Campground, Del Rio, TX

This was a pretty unremarkable campsite, so much so that I forgot to take a photo. I took this one of the sign when I was leaving, so I wouldn't forget it. Clean bathroom and hot shower, though, so it fit the bill for the night.

Amistad National Recreation Area

Because we only had a short drive today, when I saw signs for this huge man-made reservoir right across from the American Campground, I figured we should stop and check it out. Like most of the reservoirs we have encountered on this trip, the water was extremely low. According to a ranger I talked to, these little peninsulas were previously little more than sand bars.
12/20/23

Amistad National Recreation Area

This was something I hadn't seen before. All over the Rec Area, there were these little tables. When we finally got close enough to see one, I realized that they were solar charging stations. There are solar panels  are in the umbrella, and the base has four USB charging ports. Cool.

Memorial Golf Course, Uvalde, TX

Another HH stay. A bit of a dog track, but a fun little course with no one on it, so it made for a quick 18 holes, a hot dog and a shower in the clubhouse, and a nice, quiet parking spot for the night. The cart looked like the Mad Max edition, complete with a nearly flat tire, but it was surprisingly fast, and we made it around without incident.

Live Oak Country Club, Rockport, TX

Cute nine-hole course with an even cuter clubhouse. The Harvest Hosts were very friendly accommodating, and I had a great parking spot right under one of the live oaks. The gal who was running the kitchen even opened up after hours to make me a wonderful smothered beef burrito. Yum!
12/21/23

Live Oak Country Club, Rockport, TX

There was a great ball throwing area right in front of Gravytrain, and I successfully wore Augie out.

Live Oak Country Club, Rockport, TX

Next morning, I discovered what Augie's ball park  was for, when members started showing up and parking with their custom golf cars in tow.
12/22/23

Live Oak Country Club, Rockport, TX

The restaurant was open for breakfast, and the same gal from the previous night made me a delish breakfast taco. As I was breaking camp I watched several members unload some very tricked out golf cars. Now I'm off to spend the holidays with cousins in Mission, TX.