Day 1. We left Houston for our annual winter trip on Saturday morning, December 17, 2016, and drove to Austin, then to Johnson City, where we attended the Opening of the “Trees” in the Main Gallery at Amanda Smith Gallery. Juror Michael McKenna selected one of Lexi’s images (“Sunset Fire) for the exhibition, which will be on view from December 16, 2016, until January 28, 2017. We enjoyed the opening and the exhibited fine photographs. The juried images will be in the “Trees” Catalogue Book. Evening we walked around the Main Square, looked at the decorated, well-lighted houses, laughed how Santa traded his reindeers for horses. The cold front is here, the temperature dropped below freezing. Drove to Fredericksburg, where we stayed.
Day 2. The next day we got up at 5:30 AM, left Fredericksburg at 7 AM in 20 oF cold, drove to Balmorhea on Hwy 290 and I-10, then to Fort Davis on Hwy 17. The scenery of that road is outstanding. We stopped few pullouts and picnic areas, photographed the landscape. Afternoon we checked in to the Historic Hotel Limpia, looked around then drove back to Hwy 17 for few more nice old trees and scenery shots on large format film. We ate a good dinner in the cozy Bistro next to our Hotel. We have freezing cold; all of the plants at the fountain were frozen. Returning to our comfortable old fashion Hotel room, we downloaded our reference digital images. Enjoy a few of these.
Day 3. We slept well, got up around 6:30 AM, dressed up warm, outside is 24 oF cold. We got a good breakfast on the other side of the street Motel and Cafe. Around 9 AM we left for the Davis Mountains scenic auto loop trail. Drove on Hwy 118, stopped few nice places, made a short hike at Madera Canyon trail, photographed there, then continued on Hwy 118 and then on Hwy 166 South. Near the Sawtooth Mountain, we saw a gray fox. Continued on the road and at Fort Stockton, we turned to Alpine direction to Chihuahua Desert trails. We hiked down to the Modesta Springs, and then back. I got nice large format images. At sunset, we drove back to Fort Davis and then to Hwy 17 for a few more large-format old tree shots. Dinner at the charming Bistro and then chat with other Hotel guests at the fireplace then good night sleep. Enjoy a few of my reference snapshots.
Day 4. Got up at 6:30 AM, packed the car, ate a good breakfast in the Motel’s Cafe, and checked out from our charming Hotel Limpia. Drove to Alpine then to Marathon and then South to Big Bend National Park. Enjoyed the chat at the North Entrance Visitor Center, then I found out I lost my phone… drove back to Hotel Limpia, where they found it. Drove back to Big Bend, through Terlingua. Checked into our Motel there, then entered to Big Bend National Park through the West Entrance. Drove to Window area, on a dirt road to the trailhead. I made few nice images there, then the light started to be too low, and in dark, we came out from the Park. Drove to Terlingua Ghost Town, Starlight Cafe, where the food is excellent. Ate and drank few beers, listened to good live music then at night back to the Motel. We were exhausted from the activities, but we enjoyed all of them.
Day 5. Got u at 5:30 AM, wrote my journal, set up for the day, and ate a good breakfast at the Big Bend Motor Inn Store and Restaurant. Drove to Sotol Vista Overlook, got few nice large-format photographs there, then drove to Burro Mesa Pour off. Hiked from there and took few photographs. Continued on Ron Maxwell Road to Santa Elena Canyon, Rio Grande, Castolon. Stopped there for photographing of the volcanic ash area and vegetation. We found a nice spot and I took several shots from there. Late afternoon drove back to the West entrance area and drove in dark to Terlingua Ghost Town. Ate a good dinner at the Starlight Restaurant. We ate too much food and I drank too much beer… but I was OK, my body survived.
Day 6. Got up at 5:30 AM, processed few images for e-mail, then after a quick breakfast, we were heading to the Chisos Basin area. Luckily the valley to the basin was protected from wind and I was able to make few great large-format images there. The wind was so strong in the Basin and on the Lost Mine trail, so we had to turn back from our hike. Made a short walk to the Window overlook, then drove to Panther Junction and Dugout well, then to Rio Grande Village. Checked out the Nature trails at the campground and at the Picnic area. The Cottonwood trees were beautiful there. Drove to Boquillas Canyon then back to Maverick and in dark to the famous Starlight Café for dinner, then back to our lodge. Enjoy a few of my snapshots.
Day 7. This is our last day at Big Bend. Got up at 6:30 AM, shower, packing, organizing, check out from our lodging then breakfast. Drove to Big Bend and to Grapevine Hills road to the trailhead. Set up our camera backpacks for the hike and hiked to the Balanced rocks. The scenery was very nice, took few good large-format photographs. Drove back on the dusty dirt road and then to Panther Junction and to Dagger Flat auto tour road, which is a really 4×4 road. Luckily we made it to the end, where we photographed in the forest of Dagger yuccas. The light was good, we were happy. Around 3 PM we slowly drove out from the jeep road to the paved road then to Marathon and to Fort Stockton. Ate a good dinner at Mia Casita Mexican family restaurant, a good night’s sleep in our Motel.
Day 8. Today is December 24, Christmas Eve Day. Left Fort Stockton at 7 AM, and drove to Fredericksburg almost no stopping. Arrived at 12 PM. Walked around Main Street, checked all of the small shops, galleries, everything is so Christmassy. Ate a good German lunch and drank fine freshly brewed beer at the Brewery. Got more supplies for tomorrow at Walmart Super Center, gas at Shell then drove to Austin to our son’s house for Christmas. We spent a great time together, celebrated Christmas, ate a good dinner, hugged each other many times, gave and received thoughtful kind gifts. Our love brightened this time of the year. Merry Christmas!
Day 9. Today is December 25th, Christmas Day. Like, little kids, we woke up early, but instead of checking Christmas stockings, we packed and left Austin at 6 AM. Gergo packed a good amount of leftover food for us for the long trip and for the late arrival in Santa Fe. Probably he knew that no restaurant will be open on Christmas Day. We ate the packed cheese sticks on the road for breakfast. The weather was cold and we had about 40 miles per hour side wind, went through several dust storms, but we drove in shifts, so we were able to relax a little in between. Finally, we arrived safely in Santa Fe, got a great room at Kings Rest Court Motel, ate our home packed dinner and we were happy. Lighted our Christmas candle and remembered all of our loved ones. We slept well after our 800 miles 13 hours long drive. There was some snow, freezing cold, but our room was warm and cozy. Merry Christmas!
Day 10. Today is Monday, but it is a holiday, observed day of Christmas Day. Got up at 6 AM, set up, and drove to the Downtown Parking garage at Saint Francis street. Dressed well in layers for the freezing cold (20 oF), left our car in the garage and started our exploration in our favorite city, Santa Fe. Walked to the Plaza, checked the small shops, and at the nearby Burrito place, we ate a good hearty breakfast burrito. Lexi and I wore our Christmas scarf and everybody saw that we belong to each other. We visited the Basilica but the main door was closed, we entered the praying chapel through the side door. Stopped at Loretto Chapel then walked along the streets, visited small shops, art galleries. Ate a good lunch in a Spanish restaurant, then walked to Andrew Smith Gallery, where we talked to the Gallery owner about the difficulties of galleries and about photographic artists. Unfortunately, the Gallery is shrinking, only the 2nd floor is the gallery. Afternoon we tried to make a reservation for dinner but because today is a holiday, almost everywhere the waiting is too long. Finally, we got good food and good beer at Blue Corn Café then drove home to our Motel, where we relaxed, read our books, wrote our daily travel notes, and remembered the day. We were tired after the all-day walks, but we enjoyed it as always. These are my few snapshots.
Day 11. This morning we have to leave Santa Fe. We got up at 6 AM, organize and pack our stuff, and ate a good breakfast sandwich in our Kings Rest Court Motel Room, then at 8 AM we were on the road again. Drove south on I-25 to Albuquerque then to Sevilleta NWR. Went into the friendly visitor center, talked to volunteers, got good information about the birds. Drove back few miles to Bernardo Wildlife Area, where we found thousands of Sandhill cranes and Snow geese. We photographed nature’s beauty until 4 PM, then drove to Bosque del Apache. Checked out the Fly deck area, got some nice colorful sky coloration, but the birds did not fly into the lake for roosting. Checked the crane pools and drove to Socorro, checked in to our Motel, then ate a good dinner at El Camino. we were tired from the all-day-long activities.
Day 12. This is our first dawn at Bosque, we had to be in a hurry to arrive at the best location on time. Got up at 4:45, quick set up had breakfast at Motel, then drove in dark to Bosque del Apache. We saw few cars at the crane pools, so we decided to come back there later. The dawn was colorful and magical as most of the time at Bosque. We enjoyed the not too many snow geese there, but the light was amazing. The blast-off was not too strong, but that happened in the deep reddish-orange sky. We waited a bit for the pre-sunrise pale coloration then drove to the crane pools, where Lexi got several good take-off shots. Went back to the Visitor center, looked around, supported the Friends of Bosque del Apache, then drove around on the South Loop and North Loop. The weather was below freezing, but clear and with no wind. We found the Tundra swans at the South Loop and many geese and cranes at the Farm deck. Drove back to Socorro then on I-10 to Bernardo Wildlife Area, drove around, photographed the cranes and geese, I got few nice landscapes. About 4 PM, drove back to Bosque del Apache, made the large South and North loop, photographed the birds, then waited for the birds at the Flight deck are, but only a few landed. Drove to the crane pools, enjoyed and photographed the fly-in of the cranes. Back to Socorro in the dark, good food at El Camino family restaurant.
Day 13. This is our last day to visit Bosque del Apache. We got up at 4:30 AM, dressed up and pack the car, then quick breakfast at 5:30 AM, check out from the Motel then drove in dark to Bosque del Apache. Arrived about 6:15 AM, found our good photography spot at the lake of the Fly deck, then waited for the light. The geese slowly arrived, the color of dawn was very pale, but finally, two separate flocks of geese gathered. We enjoyed the big noise of goose talk, then when all became quiet, the big blast off happened. Both flocks got to the air. After sunrise, we drove around and stopped at the South loop’s new hiking trail. Walked that trail without a camera and we saw many collared peccaries and the end lot of cranes, ducks, and geese. Went back to the car set up our camera gear and walked back again. I got few large-format landscapes and Lexi photographed a lot of wildlife. After our hike, we completed the North loop then around noon we said goodbye to Bosque del Apache. Drove to Carrizozo, then to Alamogordo and to the White Sands. Made a short hike there from the end of the Inter dune trail, made few nice landscapes on large format film. Got out from White Sands in dark, drove to Alamogordo, checked in, and then ate a good dinner at Apple Bee restaurant. We were tired but enjoyed the day.
Day 14. Got up at 6:30 AM, overcast, but good weather, no wind. After a quick breakfast, we were on the trails in White Sand National Monument, which is a special, unique gypsum desert. We found an area with desert vegetation and photographed those in snow-like conditions. Moved to the Alkali Flats trailhead and made a 3-mile difficult hike there with our heavy cameras, but we got few nice shots there too. That area is more sand dunes and less or no vegetation. we were tired from the difficult up and down hike in the moving sand. We got few good shots, then moved to a third location near the Inter dune boardwalk, where we did a side trail behind the dunes. We got a nice sunset and few good large-format shots. Back to the Apple Bee restaurant and to the Motel in dark.
Day 15. This is the last day of the year 2016. We woke up early, at our Motel in Alamogordo, packed and ate a good breakfast at the Motel, then checked out. Dark clouds started to move fast and started to rain at 9 AM. Checked out the Blue Stone Store for few gifts, then drove in heavy rain to El Paso, then in cloudy weather I-10 to Van Horn. Checked in to the charming historic Hotel El Capitan and relaxed. Ate a good dinner at the El Capitan’s fine cousin restaurant, then thought about our wonderful winter trip, about the passing old year, and made a few plans and promises for the New Year.
Day 16. This is the 1st day of the New Year. Got up at 8 AM, were ready for a good breakfast at the El Capitan’s breakfast room, then packed and left Van Horn. Drove on I-10 to Junction and on 293 to Fredericksburg. Walked around there, enjoyed the Park and the ice skaters. Drove to Austin to visit our kids, ate a good dinner at Kirby Place Cafe then drove home to Houston. Arrived at midnight, unloaded the car. We were tired, but happy. We made a great trip, 3,963 miles, and I photographed 130 sheets of 4×5 negative film. Happy New Year!
We have returned home safely from our winter trip, photographed in Davis Mountains, Big Bend NP, Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bosque del Apache NWR and White Sands National Monuments. We drove 3,963 miles, used 163 gal of gas and exposed 130 sheets of 4×5 negative films.
Comments from e-mails:
- WOW !!! Will take a look now. Mike (Mike Marvins)
- Really enjoyed your trip journal !!! Alan and I are off in a few days for our annual Big Bend Workshop..Weather looks great! Happy new year. Mike (Mike Marvins)
- Glad to hear you guys are also home safe and sound. It sounds like you had a productive trip. It is always great to get out, but it is also really good to get back home. HAPPY NEW YEAR! JB & Susan (JB and Susan Harlin)
- But did you find your ideal retirement setting? (Roger Weinzetl)
- Wow! Real troopers! Hope to see you next Monday Mike (Michael Hart Photography)
- Laszlo Sounds like a great trip. John (John Freeman)
- Welcome back! You guys are amazing. (Bob Warren)