The only saving grace for daylight savings is that it gives you an extra hour of sleep on Sunday after pretty much being partied out from a one week stay in the desert. I did not have that problem this year since for the second leg of my trip, I arrived on Saturday.
Though my friends wanted to stay up, I knew they were tired and we called it a night at 2:00 a.m. which with the new time change became 1:00 a.m. Woke up at 5:00 a.m. when the Guy's Camp started hitching up their trailers and vehicles to their trucks and RV's.
Goodbyes are always sad and I hated to see them go, especially since I spent so little time with them and I know it will be a while before I see them again.
Little by little you see this city that sprung up in the middle of the desert return to its origins and though there inevitably is some sadness, there is also a sense of peacefulness once the majority of the chili heads leave.
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| Goodbye my dear friends :-( |
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| Paramedics heading to Grandpa's |
Seriously, grandpa did not leave in the ambulance but it seems they did follow the paramedics. Hope he is fine.
These people were not very considerate, they moved my table and placed garbage on my empty beer boxes and table. My best friend was not happy and told them so.
Sunday evening we enjoyed a nice campfire as we looked toward the east and saw thunder and lighting. It was eerie but beautiful at the same time and lucky for us, we did not get rained on.
By now the chili head population was down to a few and you could actually feel the peace and quiet. Five-hour one-way drive...twenty hours total, over two-hundred dollar fine, two trips...peace only my favorite desert can afford me...priceless!!!
Good night. May you all have Terlingua Dreams.
Thank you for sharing those pics - it really gives a sense of what the camaraderie and setup is like. I was a little disturbed that the campers came in and made themselves at home next to you and moved your stuff. In my 62 years, one thing I have noticed is the progressing lack of consideration and courtesy happening between people. Not sure what is causing this. But, thanks for the report and GO SPURS GO!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the post Sb.
DeleteUsually people are very friendly and courteous at the cook-off but there is always a rotten apple in the bunch.
Have been a bad Spurs fan, twice I have fallen asleep watching the game and I complete forgot about the last one :(
The fine would have been enough to turn me off the whole event, but folks moving in on my site and moving things? That is a real shame. But you love the event so much it's good you can overlook the down side and appreciate your friends and the upside.
ReplyDeleteThe way I look at it, is that had I been there, and they had asked, I would not have had a problem with them moving my table so they could put up their tent.
DeleteYou are right, I love this event so much that sometimes it is best to learn to overlook negative things and concentrate on just having fun.
200 dollars! Two hundred? YOUCH!
ReplyDeleteBut think of it this way: how much money might you have spent multiplied by how many times going out to eat or to see a movie in Houston just to spend the same amount of time with your friends that you did out in the desert?
Camping in a group seems like it’s a much more intimate experience with better opportunities for bonding than the typical occasional get-togethers with friends in the city, too.
Like you said, that’s priceless, but it’s also probably still a good deal, dollar for dollar, even after the #&*% ticket & the gas to get there & back. (And, yes, including the return trip out there & back!)
The fine was $230.00 to be exact plus the cost of a cashiers check and postage.
DeleteMy friends and I love the desert and once they came out here they were hooked. It is more of an intimate setting and we don't have to drive home after a night of hard partying.
Coming to the cook-off is the highlight of my year. Kind of like my birthday, Christmas and New Year's all rolled up into one event.
Darn my CRS!!! It was actually a $260.00 fine :-(
DeleteYikes! Well, that's definitely highway robbery by Brewster County [they must make a daggum fortune at chili week] but it's still a good deal for Ms. B.
DeleteI easily spent that running around to Kroger, HEB & Trader Joe's to assemble all the food for today. And driving is waaaaay easier than standing on your feet for two days peeling & chopping & sauteeing & wrangling that ginormous thing into an oven only to have people eat & leave in couple of hours.
So when you cut that check to those vultures at the courthouse, give thanks for how much more cheap & fun & easier on your feet your annual holiday was compared to mine. ;-)
I do not know what percentage Brewster County receives from the State since the ticket was written by the Department of Public Safety. I am sure the State of Texas gets a good cut or they would not send so many troopers to cover the event.
DeleteActually I am not that upset about the ticket because it taught me a good lesson. You are right, I would probably have spent it on something else. May you and yours enjoy that wonderful meal you prepared for them. Happy Thansgiving.
Is the Starlight still up and running down in that area? They used to have really good antelope burgers and cold long-necks. It has been quite awhile since I was in that area.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea if the Starlite is still open Dizzy. I have never been there. Maybe one of my Terlingua readers can answer your question.
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