If you could live anywhere in the world...where would that be?

If you could live anywhere in the world...where would that be?

I was watching a show that posed this question to their viewers.  I always felt I had the answer but this week it left me in a quandary.  When did my views change and why was I not aware of it until this moment in time?

I suppose it had a lot to do with hurricane Dorian and tropical storm Imelda.  You see, I have NEVER liked the beach, while there are beautiful places year around in the Carribean as well as the Mayan Riviera my respect for Mother Nature and fear of her wrath has been solidified this past couple of weeks.

I have several friends and acquaintances that have gone through not one but MULTIPLE tropical storms, hurricanes, had their lives turned upside down after being flooded yet choose to remain in their homes.  Maybe I am hardheaded but I just do not understand that rationale.

Then I go back to what I would have replied as far back as a few weeks ago...Terlingua, Texas...of course!  Though the thought of having to put up with the brutal desert summers even with air conditioning is no longer appealing to me. To be fair it never has been as I would have to be totally out of mind to even consider that option. The desert is a place that calls out to me but only in the winter months.

So that leaves me to where I would spend the rest of the year?  Have NO idea but it certainly would not be Houston or Del Rio.  Then again do I have a choice?

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.



Saying of the Day

Dia de los Muertos - November 2, 2015

It has been three long years since I have had an opportunity to be a part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration and was definitively looking forward to it.

While the ceremonies begin after sundown, volunteers are there early cleaning the graves, decorating, putting offerings in the altars,setting up the tables for the pot luck dinner, etc. etc.

Many locals and people that are in town for the two chili cook-offs come to the event.  Many dress up for it.

Some I recall from past Day of the Dead celebrations.

Others I have never seen before.

I enjoy seeing everyone having a good time.  After all the candles on the graves are lit, the bonfire is ignited.

Ran into Frann at the cemetery or rather she recognized me. Warned her I was ill and did not want to pass it on to her. She stated she did not catch things easily. Frann knows practically all the town and introduced me to a lot of folks.

People of all ages and walks of life attend.

For the first time I stayed to eat the pot luck dinner that the community prepares.  It is a BYOB (bring your own bottle or beer) event :D

Even this little tyke enjoyed it!

Local musicians come and entertain as people sit around the bonfire and take in the celebration. Frann introduced me to Bill Ivy and his wife, he is the unofficial mayor of Terlingua and owner of the Old Ghost town, including the cemetery.

We stayed till the very end and then went to the porch where I got to hear Moe (a local musician) that I first heard on YouTube.

I met a young lady from Houston who had gone online and learned of the festivities. Her little dog and her made the long trip to the desert for the very first time. She too dressed up for the event. No pictures were taken as I left my camera in the car.

I had such a wonderful time.  If you are ever in the area on Nov 2nd you might want to check it out.for yourself.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

The Texas Oil Boom and the 2014 Chili Cook-Off

The Texas oil boom had an effect on this year's attendance. There was a noticeable decline of men in the 20 to 30 year range at the cook-off.  Krazy Flats is the area where most young people camp out and congregate. They ride around all day and part of the night...there is always music and parties going on...however, it was not to the level of prior years.

A look at Krazy Flats from my campground.

Notice the helicopter in the background?  Last year some folks had to be air lifted due to an accident. This year we wondered what happened but looking through my binoculars all we saw was that two young girls got off and a Sheriff's deputy in his four wheel vehicle went and got them.

Remember this Casita in the background that came to claim their Terlingua prime piece of real estate at the same time I arrived to claim mine?  Wow, no wonder they came early...look at all the people they reserved a spot for.

Even in the area where I camp there were large areas that were not camped in.  As a matter of fact it became like a large avenue for people to ride around in.  I was glad since that diverted the traffic and dust from reaching me and my camping gear.

One was even playing his guitar as he rode around.

One of the flags in the background says Lotus...been a long time since I heard that word. They had a real nice rig and were towing that white RV as well.

While you can walk around, this ranch is BIG...it is much easier if you or your friends have something to ride around in.

The more people it can fit, the better :)

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

A good friend

Post for Saturday - October 25, 2014

Last night I went over to Debi's camp to catch up on what has been going on in the past year. She had recently had surgery and the doctor had told her, she could not drive or lift heavy stuff which pretty much insured that she could not make this years event.

This is Debi's camp and in the background you can
see the cook's section.

A couple of years back I introduced her to Frann and they have become good friends.  Yes, I am talking about our fellow blogger from Terlingua, that many of you are familiar with.  She and a friend of hers made the eight hour trip to where she lives and brought her down, set up her camp and came and checked up on her daily.  They also drove her back home.  Talk about being a good friend!  Way to go Frann :)

I have not had anything to drink in the past seven months as I have been taking a lot of medication.  Though I quit taking them some time back, I decided to wait and have my first beer when I arrived in my favorite desert.  First beer was awful!  They got a little better with each passing one :)

Newly draped off area that cut my campground
almost in half.

Was hoping with the beer, my aching back and plain old being exhausted I would be able to get a good night's rest.  Wrong...was wide awake by 4:00 a.m.  What can you do at that ungodly hour?  Nothing but sit in the car and wait for the sunrise.

We were the only two camps (if you can even call mine a camp) on the ravine until more people started arriving Saturday.

I flirted with the idea of setting up my tent and shower structure but was too tired.  Instead Frann invited me to her house and gave me a tour of Old Town Terlingua...that beats setting up a camp any day!

Frann, if you happen to be reading this please send me your e-mail address so I can e-mail you the pictures for your approval.  My e-mail is terlinguadreams@outlook.com

The black garbage bag has my tent
that waited patiently to be set up.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

A unique set of circumstances

Post for Friday - October 24, 2014

This year a unique set of circumstances presented themselves.  I could either spend three days in the desert or six days.  The only catch was that it would involve two trips.  What do you think I went with?

Last year we had a rain event on Sunday that pretty much almost ruined the trip. Packing and then having to clean wet gear is not my idea of fun.  While I cleaned it, I never set up the tent and shower again to make sure it was mud and dirt free.

Yes, I know I am a procrastinator...waited till the last minute to do it and then I had help from Ralph who decided to show up on this particular day after being missing in action for days.

If your cat can get under your tent shower....you probably did not set it up very well :D

 

If you have a favorite campsite you tend to get pretty attached to it even though other people may not see the beauty of your prime piece of real estate at the cook-off.

I wanted to avoid having them beat me to my favorite spot so I left late on Friday October 24th and barely made it before it got dark.  Fifteen miles out of Del Rio the low tire indicator light came on.  I was not a happy camper as I SHOULD of remembered to have them inflate my tires while the car was at the dealership as I knew I was going to be fully loaded down.  This my friends is why I go into so much detail, so next year I will remember things when I go back and read this cyber journal :(

It was Friday late in the afternoon...neither Comstock or Langtry have much to offer in the way of gas stations. Turning back to Del Rio was not an option. Against all odds I made it to Sanderson where at the local Stripes I asked a very nice (and cute) Sheriff's Deputy where I could have my tires checked.

He sent me to Slim's.  The gentlemen was nice enough to check the pressure on all my tires and inflate them to accommodate the ungodly weight I was hauling. When I asked him how much it was, he told me nothing and for me to have a great time at the Chili Cook-off.

If you are ever in Sanderson, Texas and need a mechanic, tire service, or a tow please consider giving Slims Auto Sales and Wrecker Service your business. After thanking him I asked his permission to take a picture of his business and to mention them on my blog.

Did I mention I got a late start?  Did not stop to eat in Alpine as I usually do. Pressed on to beat the setting sun.  As I drove by the American Legion Post, I honked my horn...being Friday they had a good crowd.

As I arrived at the cook-off there were quite a few people there considering the event did not start for six days. You can not see the cooks section which is located to the left of the picture but each year people get there earlier.

This year the official festivities began on Wednesday October 29, 2014 versus the usual Thursday of years past.

This folks is my little piece of Chili Cook-off real estate, I came to claim.

This year they decided to drape off a big junk of land to keep people from driving down the ravine?

It cut off a good piece of my campground.  Especially the part that has taken me years of rock raking to clear...but it did not matter, I was finally here in the desert that I so love.

My bare bones camp

Stay tuned for more adventures from the desert and the pictures to back it up.  I am still without Internet service but will try to make more trips to the library now that the weather has improved and that our out-of-town doctor's appointments have concluded.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

The "other" Cook-off

I am not going to bore you with the history of the Chili Cook-off or why there are now two.  I am sure you can google it and read to your hearts content.  I did find a short version  http://cravedfw.com/2012/10/31/the-colorful-history-of-the-chili-cook-off/

 

If you ask almost anyone in the area or that has been to a cook-off...they will tell you "The Original" is the tame one and the CASI one is the "wild one".

Like I have mentioned before I do not leave the confines of the CASI grounds once Wednesday arrives unless somebody else is driving.  If I have not done it by Tuesday it is not going to get done, visited or purchased.

It is known as "The Home of the Original Terlingua International Championship Chili Cook-off" a mouthful but more commonly known as the cook-off behind the Store.  It has its followers including a neighbor up the street from Mom's house.  Have heard nothing but good things about the event, however, it is not for me...at least not yet.

I always heard that it was a rather small gathering but I had never seen it with my own eyes.  Now I can confirm that.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.

Sunday Good-byes

Got an inquiry from a reader wanting to know what goes on Sunday when the cook-off ends and how many people stay over. Thought it might make a good post.

My friend checking her map before driving back to Houston

I really hate good-byes and so do the majority of the people that comprise our camps.  It is sad that I will not see most of them for another year and some I may never see again.  This year Frank did not come back as he passed away a couple of months back.  He is the gentlemen I blogged about at last year's Cook-off that I danced with till the wee hours of the night, he was in his eighties and a darn good dancer I might add.

Some people leave pretty early like the camp with the food who are usually gone by six o'clock.  The guys camp leave soon after even though they do not have far to go...they want to get home in time to watch the Dallas Cowboys game.

I guess it all depends on if you have to work on Monday and how far you have to drive to get back home.  I would strongly suggest you take Monday off whether you plan on staying an extra day or not unless you are young and resilient.  You will need it to recuperate.

Early Sunday morning the local scavengers swarm the area.  They come pick up cans, wood, and all types of stuff that the chili heads do not want to take back home.  Since I stay for a couple more days, I go pick up the wood my camp mates leave me.  Whatever water, empty beer cans or wood I have left I usually save them for Betty and Irvin.  They are a local senior citizen couple whom I have known for many years and who work pretty hard to make a living.

As you know you have to stop at the Border Patrol checkpoint when you head back to Alpine and the lines are very long.  I guess that is one reason why some people do not leave till the afternoon or wait until Monday to do so.

Sunday Frann and a friend of hers (sorry I can not remember his name) stopped by Debi's camp and we had a long visit.  You can see some vehicles in the back of the above picture, they belong to people camped in the cooks section.  When they left they told us they had left some wood for us...that was nice of them :)

When everyone leaves there is just something magical about listening to the sound of...SILENCE...you can actually hear yourself think and at least in my case it is something very soothing and peaceful.

Good night.  May you all have Terlingua Dreams.