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<\/a><\/p>\nMy friend in Cloudcroft, NM suggested I check out the Guadalupe Mountains National Park<\/a>. It\u2019s not far from Carlsbad, so I made my way there for a camp-over. I wish I\u2019d stayed to hike in those rugged mountains, because they really are impressive. I arrived there on a lovely and temperate Christmas eve but was too tired to explore. The \u201ccampground\u201d was simply a large parking lot, with a lower section for tent camping and nice spots for tents nestled in the brush.<\/p>\n A strong wind picked up during the night and got so strong that moving to the lower bed in the camper didn\u2019t help. The whole truck was moving from the huge gusts. At 2am I moved to a different location hoping it would provide some shelter, but it didn\u2019t help. Morning came with winds and a sharp chill. A young woman I met in the restroom who was car camping said that the winds were expected through early evening. I decided to move on instead of waiting it out. A man camped a few spots down from me chatted about my camper. He said that he\u2019d just come from Big Bend. He\u2019d planned to go for two days, and ended up staying two weeks and still hadn\u2019t explored the whole park. It\u2019s really large. He drew me a map of a couple of campsites to check out. <\/p>\n Big Bend requires reservations of all \u201cbackcountry\u201d sites and you have to get a $12 permit, pick out your sites, then you can camp. I didn\u2019t actually learn that until the next day. <\/p>\n West Texas sure is windy, but it\u2019s also really beautiful.<\/p>\n I headed to Marfa, Texas,<\/a> where we spent my mom\u2019s 70th birthday. It\u2019s an interesting town, an old railroad town \u201cdiscovered\u201d by artist Donald Judd Unfortunately, everything was closed, so I couldn\u2019t even get lunch there. Stupid holidays. <\/p>\n I thought about staying over at the Marfa Mystery Lights<\/a>, but it was right off the small highway and wasn\u2019t ideal, especially considering the lack of sleep I\u2019d gotten the night before. I wanted quiet. I drove on to Big Bend National Park. <\/p>\n I mind people a lot less than I did on my October trip. Makes sense \u2013 the October trip was a break \u2013 to get away from work and people and hassle. This trip is purely an exploration. There is more patience and appreciation of the random when time is not so much a constraint. (Well, it is always a constraint. We are mortal, after all)<\/p>\n I sit on a log, with my minty tea and the sundown muted colors breathing the sweet (mesquite?) aroma and listen to the faint dinner-making sounds of my neighbors and a few birds. Temperature today was low 80\u2019s. I wonder what night temps will low? <\/p>\n Pugsly is very photogenic and I take a lot of pictures of her. I will inundate you for a moment. <\/p>\n My 13-year-old comic relief. I love this weird, snarfing doggie. <\/p>\n My first night in Big Bend I am invited to share a very large spot with a retired couple who are car camping. We chat some after dinner. They have had a full outdoor life of caving, river running, hiking, and traveling. I envy their adventures. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n