Today I decided to give myself the day off. It has been so long since I have had some alone time. I treated myself to a day surfing the web, getting caught up on blogs as well as reading e-mail accounts that have not been checked in at least two months!
I want to welcome Charlton Vaughan to the blog. His blog is Red Rock & Fiddle http://limestoneandpumice.blogspot.com/ and he has some spectacular pictures of Terlingua sunsets, wildflowers and of the Dia de Los Muertos Celebration at the Terlingua Cemetery.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Terlingua Dreams
Governors Landing Campground - Lake Amistad - Del Rio, Texas
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Diablo East Marina
On our trip to Lake Amistad on Sunday we did the rounds at the local campgrounds as well as visited Diablo East Marina. Guess it had been a few months since I had been here and found that they had moved the marina closer to shore.
I am wondering if it had something to do with the falling lake levels? Maybe it would help if I bought the local newspaper, but I seldom if ever do.
The wind started to pick up so my uncle decided to stay in the vehicle while I took pictures.
The bridge with the railroad tracks shows the tell tell signs of the receding waterline.
Must say I was quite surprised there were so many people both at the different campgrounds as well as the marina considering it was a holiday where most choose to stay home close to family.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
I am wondering if it had something to do with the falling lake levels? Maybe it would help if I bought the local newspaper, but I seldom if ever do.
The wind started to pick up so my uncle decided to stay in the vehicle while I took pictures.
The bridge with the railroad tracks shows the tell tell signs of the receding waterline.
Must say I was quite surprised there were so many people both at the different campgrounds as well as the marina considering it was a holiday where most choose to stay home close to family.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
There is plenty of Bass at Amistad
Sorry I have not done a post in a while, I am taking a little hiatus as we still have company. Between cleaning house, helping my mother in the kitchen (notice I did not say cooking), washing dishes, washing clothes and driving my uncle to every store in town...I am pretty beat come night time, which is usually the only time I am able to go online.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My long time readers might remember that I tried my hand at cooking my first turkey last year and since my cooking did not kill us...decided to try my luck again this year. Happy to report that my mom, my uncle and I survived my cooking :D
I was telling my uncle about the bloggers that come to Del Rio and that I have had the privilege to meet in person. He found their lifestyle very interesting and asked me to drive him to the campground where Billy Bob and Barney last stayed at as he wanted to see the old bridge that is now visible due to the drop in the lake level.
There was a man with his wife and mother-in-law fishing. Further down the bridge there was an older couple who said they had caught catfish as well as bass. It was really a beautiful day for fishing. We walked to the end of the bridge and as we were making our way back, the mother-in-law was jumping for joy because she caught her first bass of the day.
Billy Bob if you are reading this, there is plenty of bass at Amistad waiting for you when you come back. However your campground was occupied.
Your friend is still there though and I believe today was laundry day...
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My long time readers might remember that I tried my hand at cooking my first turkey last year and since my cooking did not kill us...decided to try my luck again this year. Happy to report that my mom, my uncle and I survived my cooking :D
I was telling my uncle about the bloggers that come to Del Rio and that I have had the privilege to meet in person. He found their lifestyle very interesting and asked me to drive him to the campground where Billy Bob and Barney last stayed at as he wanted to see the old bridge that is now visible due to the drop in the lake level.
There was a man with his wife and mother-in-law fishing. Further down the bridge there was an older couple who said they had caught catfish as well as bass. It was really a beautiful day for fishing. We walked to the end of the bridge and as we were making our way back, the mother-in-law was jumping for joy because she caught her first bass of the day.
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| He did not catch it...the lady in the back did! |
Your friend is still there though and I believe today was laundry day...
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Chili Judging/Old Friends/ Wind Storm
The Chili competition takes place on Saturday. Many of my friends serve as judges but since I do not like commitments of any type, I passed. At noon after the winner has been chosen they have booths in the staging area with different kinds of entertainment and if you participate you are given all kinds of trinkets, from beads to hats, bags, key chains, bra tops made of paper seashells, etc. For a donation you can also sample the different types of chili.
I was looking at the different booths when I heard someone say "lady in purple" several times. It did not dawn on me that I was wearing purple or that they were even speaking to me until someone tapped me in the back. It was Dave an old Terlingua acquaintance that I had not seen since 1999!! Wow, I am glad he remembered me because I don't think I could have recognized him. Took a picture of him and his new wife.
Later on that afternoon Denese came by to say hi, but did a doctor's visit on me and left just as fast. A little later Sandy and her husband Charlie dropped by. I had not seen them since 2008, they used to camp next to me. It was great to see all these old as well as new acquaintances and honored that they took the time to look me up. Love you guys :-)
Ever wonder why there are so many MEN at the Chili Cook-Off? Well you wont find that in the CASI or the Krazy Flats official web page and don't worry guys I don't plan to reveal it in this blog either...the rest of you will have to attend and find out on your own :D
The afternoon brought several dark clouds and you could see some lighting in the distance. My friend decided to pack up some items in case it rained. Before we knew it, the wind picked up and a wind storm swept the area. We barely had time to react and everyone was caught off guard. People were holding on to their shade structures and gathering their stuff, so no one could really help others out.
Us three girls held on to the screen room for dear life but were not able to save it...kind of a repeat of last year but to a lesser degree. I am so glad I bought my Kodiak canvas tent, it is Burningman tested and it held up to last year's storm beautifully.
The skies were menacing so my camp mates decided to pack up and seek shelter in our friends RV. The temperature dropped and everyone kind of hunkered down. We had not gone to the dance Thursday or Friday so were planning on attending tonight but with the storm and helping my friends take down their camp, it pretty much did us in.
I have never seen it so quiet on a Saturday night in the 17 years I have been attending this event. Saturday night is the wildest, there are parties everywhere...not so this year or at least not from my vantage point.
A friend came by my camp and invited me to her RV but it wasn't the same as being outdoors in the cold wind around a campfire. Guess mother nature had the last laugh.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
I was looking at the different booths when I heard someone say "lady in purple" several times. It did not dawn on me that I was wearing purple or that they were even speaking to me until someone tapped me in the back. It was Dave an old Terlingua acquaintance that I had not seen since 1999!! Wow, I am glad he remembered me because I don't think I could have recognized him. Took a picture of him and his new wife.
Later on that afternoon Denese came by to say hi, but did a doctor's visit on me and left just as fast. A little later Sandy and her husband Charlie dropped by. I had not seen them since 2008, they used to camp next to me. It was great to see all these old as well as new acquaintances and honored that they took the time to look me up. Love you guys :-)
Ever wonder why there are so many MEN at the Chili Cook-Off? Well you wont find that in the CASI or the Krazy Flats official web page and don't worry guys I don't plan to reveal it in this blog either...the rest of you will have to attend and find out on your own :D
The afternoon brought several dark clouds and you could see some lighting in the distance. My friend decided to pack up some items in case it rained. Before we knew it, the wind picked up and a wind storm swept the area. We barely had time to react and everyone was caught off guard. People were holding on to their shade structures and gathering their stuff, so no one could really help others out.
Us three girls held on to the screen room for dear life but were not able to save it...kind of a repeat of last year but to a lesser degree. I am so glad I bought my Kodiak canvas tent, it is Burningman tested and it held up to last year's storm beautifully.
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| This is what was left of the screen room |
I have never seen it so quiet on a Saturday night in the 17 years I have been attending this event. Saturday night is the wildest, there are parties everywhere...not so this year or at least not from my vantage point.
A friend came by my camp and invited me to her RV but it wasn't the same as being outdoors in the cold wind around a campfire. Guess mother nature had the last laugh.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Dia De Los Muertos
Apart from the Chili Cook-Off one of the things I like to do when I am in my favorite desert is to attend the annual Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration held at the Terlingua Cemetery. I was prepared to miss it this year as it took place on Friday, November 2nd and I do not leave the campground after Wednesday in my own vehicle as the local as well as State Troopers descend on the area and pull you over for no reason as they are looking for drunk drivers.
Lucky for me my friends wanted to go and they drove. I noticed this year a lot more people are dressing up as well as helping in the lighting of the candles that takes place at sunset. It is really a spectacular sight and one I would highly recommend if you are in the area.
My camera is a cheapo and does not take good pictures in particular late afternoon and evening shots. So please excuse the poor quality.
I wanted to take a picture of all the graves when they were lit but my camera did not cooperate.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Lucky for me my friends wanted to go and they drove. I noticed this year a lot more people are dressing up as well as helping in the lighting of the candles that takes place at sunset. It is really a spectacular sight and one I would highly recommend if you are in the area.
My camera is a cheapo and does not take good pictures in particular late afternoon and evening shots. So please excuse the poor quality.
\
I wanted to take a picture of all the graves when they were lit but my camera did not cooperate.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Lazy Thursday in Terlingua, Texas
After driving all night and just stopping for catnaps it was expected that the girls would sleep in on Thursday morning. However it was odd that the guys camp would sleep late. We are talking about men that are used to getting up at the crack of dawn (even though that is about the time the party ended) hehehehe....:D
As much as I wish I could have slept late, I was wide awake by 7:00 a.m. If you have never suffered from insomnia...you have no idea how lucky you are! It seemed like everyone decided to sleep in today, even the camp with the food! As you know I have many virtues but cooking is NOT one of them, so I go in with another camp who DO know how to cook.
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| The sleeping beauties |
As much as I wish I could have slept late, I was wide awake by 7:00 a.m. If you have never suffered from insomnia...you have no idea how lucky you are! It seemed like everyone decided to sleep in today, even the camp with the food! As you know I have many virtues but cooking is NOT one of them, so I go in with another camp who DO know how to cook.
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| Even the decorations looked like they had partied too much :D |
The girls woke up around ten o'clock but there was no life in the guys camp...we were getting concerned! We later found out they were hiding out in their RV's afraid that the "Houston Chicks" though we later learned the dubbed us "The Houston Witches" (because we dressed like witches on Halloween) would FORCE them to keep on partying...jajajajajajaja...yeah like we "forced" them the night before, lol...:D
Finally one of the guys came over and decided to give the girls and I, a tour of the area and take us to Presidio, Texas. However the girls forgot to bring their passport so they could not cross over to Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico. Being the only one with a passport I decided to stay at the camp instead. Maybe next year I will go across and do a post.
When the girls got back from Presidio, my friend decided to give everyone a tattoo. That was so much fun! I still have one on my leg...:)
We were not sure whether the Day of the Dead celebration was Nov 1st or Nov 2nd. In Mexico it is held on Nov 1st for the grown up deceased and Nov 2nd for the deceased children...so we went to the cemetery to find out...turns out it is held on Nov 2nd here in Terlingua. Even though we were a day early we got to go shopping at the Terlingua store and sat at the porch.
Stayed tuned for more tales from the desert and pictures to back it up...:D
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Halloween in Terlingua
My friends were going to leave Houston as soon as they got off of work on Tuesday and drive all night. It had been ten years since she had come down and I was driving at the time so was a little worried she would not be able to find the cook-off or most importantly the campground.
I was about to take a bite from my breakfast taco when I spotted her car coming down the road. I was relieved they had made it safely to Terlingua. I had not told the guys she was coming as I wanted to surprise them and boy was it ever a surprise :D
After helping them set up camp my reward were a couple of these:
We soon prepared for Halloween and she began by dressing up the men in our camp :-)
The trick or treaters soon arrived
After sunset the adult party began and let's just say it went until the wee hours of the morning....
Stay tuned for more tales from the desert.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
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| She was pretty loaded down too. |
After helping them set up camp my reward were a couple of these:
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| An ice chest full of jello shots |
The trick or treaters soon arrived
After sunset the adult party began and let's just say it went until the wee hours of the morning....
Stay tuned for more tales from the desert.
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
First Days in Terlingua
Left for Terlingua on Friday, October 26, 2012. I got a late start and did not leave until 1:25 p.m. I still had to run a couple of errands including gassing up. Filled up at $3.309 per gallon. The speed limit is 75 mph but I caught myself at times going even faster but quickly lowered the speed as I was fully loaded.
Thought it was funny that at the Comstock Border Patrol check point instead of asking me if I was an American citizen...they asked me if I was "moving" hehehehe :D
Considered eating when I got to Alpine but thought it would take too long and only gassed up. Gas was considerable higher at $3.689 per gallon. The road between Alpine and Study Butte had so many little gravel chips and unfortunately a truck hauling a trailer at a high rate of speed hit my windshield and chipped it. Tffnguy's post a couple of months back about the road conditions quickly came to mind.
I got to my campground at 7:55 p.m. Considered setting up my shower so I could get some of my plastic tubs down but glad I did not as the wind picked up considerably that night and I did not want to lose my shower before I even had a chance to use it. It was cold and windy and I was very tired. Turned in early and slept in my car that first night.
Set up my camp early Saturday morning and also saved a space for my friends who were arriving on Wednesday. I was surprised at the number of people already here when I arrived. It appears more and more people are coming earlier to claim a good spot.
My other camp mates arrived around noon and I was very happy to see them specially the ones with the food as I had not eaten since Friday morning. Saturday was another cold and windy night and we all turned in early.
Sunday the guys arrived and the party really got started!
I am probably one of a handful of people that do not own or for that matter want a cell phone. Went to the main pavilion to use their pay phone only to find that they no longer have one. Drove to Study Butte to the only other pay phone that I know of located at the Big Bend Motor Inn to let my mother know that I had arrived safely.
When I got back I was re-arranging the stuff in my car when someone came up behind me and to my surprise it was Frann. She had come down in her scooter to pay a visit.
Stay tuned for more stories and pictures....
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Thought it was funny that at the Comstock Border Patrol check point instead of asking me if I was an American citizen...they asked me if I was "moving" hehehehe :D
Considered eating when I got to Alpine but thought it would take too long and only gassed up. Gas was considerable higher at $3.689 per gallon. The road between Alpine and Study Butte had so many little gravel chips and unfortunately a truck hauling a trailer at a high rate of speed hit my windshield and chipped it. Tffnguy's post a couple of months back about the road conditions quickly came to mind.
I got to my campground at 7:55 p.m. Considered setting up my shower so I could get some of my plastic tubs down but glad I did not as the wind picked up considerably that night and I did not want to lose my shower before I even had a chance to use it. It was cold and windy and I was very tired. Turned in early and slept in my car that first night.
Set up my camp early Saturday morning and also saved a space for my friends who were arriving on Wednesday. I was surprised at the number of people already here when I arrived. It appears more and more people are coming earlier to claim a good spot.
My other camp mates arrived around noon and I was very happy to see them specially the ones with the food as I had not eaten since Friday morning. Saturday was another cold and windy night and we all turned in early.
Sunday the guys arrived and the party really got started!
I am probably one of a handful of people that do not own or for that matter want a cell phone. Went to the main pavilion to use their pay phone only to find that they no longer have one. Drove to Study Butte to the only other pay phone that I know of located at the Big Bend Motor Inn to let my mother know that I had arrived safely.
When I got back I was re-arranging the stuff in my car when someone came up behind me and to my surprise it was Frann. She had come down in her scooter to pay a visit.
Stay tuned for more stories and pictures....
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
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