This post is basically a photo album of our winter break near Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas. This is the fourth and final post about our visit, a reflection of family time enjoyed in the desert environs of Terlingua, and all photos are courtesy of Alyssa and Brent Franklin. If this is your first visit to the Big Bend series here on the blog, make sure you check out the three previous posts which have fuller narratives as well as stimulating photographs. As always, thank you for the time spent along the winding trails and waterways of Rivertop Rambles.
Our home base for the week… Owner & hostess, Cynta, lives nearby & proved to be a wonderful help for us… As a self-described “Coyote Woman,” she is also an incredible guide & civic leader.
inside Big Bend National Park
perhaps the only rainbow trout around…
Jerry Jeff Walker recorded Viva Terlingua! in this neighborhood.
outer villa decor…
old Catholic cemetary, Terlingua…Chisos Mountains in the distance, Big Bend
tarantula, Big Bend
Luna’s jacal… Big Bend… Mexican homesteader, Luna, built this & raised a huge family here… Alyssa insideintricate rooftop, Luna’s jacal… Old man Luna lived to be 109, it’s been said…double rainbow in the parkmorning view from villa…old car part has its backseat (not seen) where you sit for the view…even desert fish dream…
nodding off…
mesquite fire on the patio, Alyssa in the shadows, good night.
Welcome to Rivertop Rambles. This is my blog about the headwaters country-far afield or close to home. I've been a fly-fisher, birder, and naturalist for most of my adult life. I've also written poetry and natural history books for thirty years. In Rambles I will mostly reflect on the backcountry of my Allegheny foothills in the northern tier of Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York State. Sometimes I'll write about the wilderness in distant states, or of the wild places in the human soul. Other times I'll just reflect on the domestic life outdoors. In any case, I hope you enjoy. Let's ramble!
Thanks Don. Yeah, I was tempted to reveal some of the very “picturesque” gravesites in that cemetary, i.e., graves with huge collections of the expired’s lifelong tastes for alcohol, etc., but decided not to out of respect for those directly involved. But the huge cemetary is thought-provoking.
This is a good selection of pictorial memories not shown in your previous posts, capturing both human and natural aspects of what makes the region unique. Thanks for sharing!
Very picturesque! We used to go to the Tuscon area and had hiked a little in the Saguaro desert – just easy hikes. It was so dry, even in March, that it would hardly show up on my shirt well into a hike. The scenery you’ve shared reminds me of those visits back to University of Arizona and those hikes. Will see you in a couple of weeks RTR! UB
Amazing, Walt! What a fantastic landscape – makes me think of Edward Abbey’s desert musings. On another note, I’ve been seeing otters fairly regularly on the Clarion River. Nice to see their comeback.
Bob, I’m inclined to think that the Abbey spirit pervades the region, even though he lived & wrote from areas farther north. Someday you’ll have to tell me of your encounters with the river otters. I’m glad the Clarion has regained them. I haven’t seen one in quite a while.
Saw one across from my place there in SR I think it was 2 years ago now. Was across Pine while I was fishing and I know it saw me but didn’t spook too bad. Just kinda kept doing its business (trying to catch a trout). Probable had more success than I did! UB
Spectacular, and delighted you and your family had such a great time and you shared it here, Walt!
Love the old car parts photo – I could certainly sit there for a little while… Don’t know too much about Jerry Jeff Walker beyond Mr. Bojangles, but I see a track called Pickup Truck Song listed, so that seems a good place to start!
Right you are, Adam. And actually, I’m only now caught up to a point where I’ll be digging into the Walker songs, at long last. Bojangles aside, I want to hear more of the Terlingua side of him, as I’m finally ready to relate. Thanks again!
Bravo! I really enjoyed your adventurous and picturesque exploration of Big Bend, Walt; and appreciated your words and Alyssa and Brent’s spirited photos throughout the series. You all captured the wild west spirit of this magnificent place on earth. Thanks so much for bringing it to us.
Rivertop Rambles 
Awesome vacation Walt. Great pics. The old Catholic Cemetery looks like it was shot right out of a Clint Eastwood movie.
Thanks Don. Yeah, I was tempted to reveal some of the very “picturesque” gravesites in that cemetary, i.e., graves with huge collections of the expired’s lifelong tastes for alcohol, etc., but decided not to out of respect for those directly involved. But the huge cemetary is thought-provoking.
This is a good selection of pictorial memories not shown in your previous posts, capturing both human and natural aspects of what makes the region unique. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for that, and also for catching the error with “scorpion.” I don’t know why I had scorpions in the brain.
Very picturesque! We used to go to the Tuscon area and had hiked a little in the Saguaro desert – just easy hikes. It was so dry, even in March, that it would hardly show up on my shirt well into a hike. The scenery you’ve shared reminds me of those visits back to University of Arizona and those hikes. Will see you in a couple of weeks RTR! UB
Yep, thanks UB. Looking forward to Slate in a couple of weeks.
Amazing, Walt! What a fantastic landscape – makes me think of Edward Abbey’s desert musings. On another note, I’ve been seeing otters fairly regularly on the Clarion River. Nice to see their comeback.
Bob, I’m inclined to think that the Abbey spirit pervades the region, even though he lived & wrote from areas farther north. Someday you’ll have to tell me of your encounters with the river otters. I’m glad the Clarion has regained them. I haven’t seen one in quite a while.
Saw one across from my place there in SR I think it was 2 years ago now. Was across Pine while I was fishing and I know it saw me but didn’t spook too bad. Just kinda kept doing its business (trying to catch a trout). Probable had more success than I did! UB
Spectacular, and delighted you and your family had such a great time and you shared it here, Walt!
Love the old car parts photo – I could certainly sit there for a little while… Don’t know too much about Jerry Jeff Walker beyond Mr. Bojangles, but I see a track called Pickup Truck Song listed, so that seems a good place to start!
Right you are, Adam. And actually, I’m only now caught up to a point where I’ll be digging into the Walker songs, at long last. Bojangles aside, I want to hear more of the Terlingua side of him, as I’m finally ready to relate. Thanks again!
Bravo! I really enjoyed your adventurous and picturesque exploration of Big Bend, Walt; and appreciated your words and Alyssa and Brent’s spirited photos throughout the series. You all captured the wild west spirit of this magnificent place on earth. Thanks so much for bringing it to us.
Thank you for coming along, Jet. I’m glad that you enjoyed the posts.
Walt
The images taken on this adventure were astounding, and each post’s written text was so informative. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Bill, for coming along for this & commenting. I am pleased that you enjoyed it.