Blue Skies

 

Though the skies here at home seem as blue as those in Lajitas, the views just aren’t the same.  There’s something about the view of a bright blue sky behind a desert landscape. The mix of grey/brown earth, green cacti, red rock, and azure blue skies just can’t be beat, in my opinion.

Things are back to normal around the home place, if such a thing as normal, exits.  Wanda’s mom is out of the hospital and back to her routine.  No real cause given by the doctors for the diagnosis, and of course, no remedy.  Just one of the things that goes along with the aging process, apparently.  Thanks to all of you for the thoughtful comments and prayers which were greatly appreciated.

Our weather has been pretty cold the last two days, but managed to get in a couple of long walks along some gravel back roads.

Made about five miles today, but tomorrow is forecast to be really cold for our part of the World.  Though the temps will be in the thirties, the weather folks are talking about wind chill in the single digits.

I may be forced to stay in and follow Sally’s lead.  This is what she’s been doing since our return home.

I will continue to check on the blogs of all you folks having fun in the big “Q”, as well as all other locations.  When you can’t be “THERE”, reading about it is the next best thing, so keep them coming………jc

Was It The 13’th?

                         




Friday morning got off to a great start.  Wanda and I had spent most of Thursday cruising around parts of Big Bend NP.  Took a few pictures, a couple of short hikes, and managed to lose the only cap I had with me that day.  Not sure how I lost it, just realized it wasn’t in the truck when I reached for it.


Back to Friday.  I had my shower, and I was walking Sally around, drinking a cup of coffee, and visiting with friends in the campground.  When I went back to the Casita for a refill, the news awaited me.  The dreaded phone call.  Wanda says, mom’s back in hospital, situation seems critical.



Needless to say, everything was loaded and we were on the road by 10 AM.  Stopped for a restless few hours in a rest area between Anahuac and Beaumont on I-10.  Arrived home around noon today.  Wanda’s in Jackson. I’m sitting here mully-grubbing.  Seems all our plans for the next few weeks won’t work out. 


Oh, the good news.  Received a message from friends in Lajita’s.  Someone found my cap in Big Bend, and it somehow made its way back to the RV park.  Too bad I wasn’t there to hear the story of its journey……

Lajita’s Peak. Conquered

Our Matterhorn for the day, sits looming over the campground.

Took this zoomed in shot just as the sun hit it, this morning.

Eight hardy souls set out around nine thirty to see if we could make it to the top and back all in one piece. This shot is just after we hit the trail. 

Steady climbing.

A little reconnoiter.

Getting closer.

The trail was marked by cairns, but still pretty hard to find in places.  We actually walked by this (arrow), and had to backtrack a couple hundred yards or so to pick up the trail, again. You do recognize the arrow, don’t you?

Almost to the plateau, where we start the final push to the summit.

After three hours of steady hiking, we arrive at our destination.

That’s the R V park way down there, almost dead center of the picture.

Just to prove that I made it.

After a short break for sandwiches, cookies, and chocolate, we started back down.

Ran into this guy hanging out in a bush by the trail.

Left him where we found him, and made our way back to the campground around three this afternoon.  A couple of the participants had GPS trackers.  Seems we walked close to ten miles, up and back.  That’s a lot for an old flatlander from Mississippi.