Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Monihans Sandhills Texas State Park, Seminole Canyon Texas State Park

We stayed a fifth and final night at the Sunset Reef Campground outside Carlsbad, NM to facilitate a visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Salt Flat, TX, a 45-minute drive traversing along US-62.

 

Guadalupe Mountain National Park was established in 1972. The area within the Park was once an ancient reef below what is called the Permian Sea.  Guadalupe Mountains are the sacred lands of the Mescalero Apache Indians, whose ancestors hunted and gathered in this area.  At an elevation of 8,751 feet, Guadalupe Peak within the Range is the highest point within all of TX.

 

We hiked along the Pinery Trail, which led to the ruins of a station along the Butterfield Stage Overland Route.  By following the Manzanita Spring Trail, we saw the Frijole Ranch, which was in operation from the late 1800s to the 1960s.  Unfortunately, we could not enter the ranch house or school—they were under restoration, but I peeked in the windows.  We continued to Smith Spring Trail, which lead us to refreshing spring waters.  Overall, we clocked 6.5 miles, and I earned yet another Junior Ranger badge.

 

Capitan and Guadalupe Peak on the left.

The remains of Pinery Station along the Butterfield Stage Overland Route. 

Frijole Ranch

Views along Smith Spring Trail...

...including some creepy crawlers

A campfire was the perfect way to enjoy our final evening at Sunset Reef.  Mom completed a paper purge, finding it more efficient to burn rather than shred personal documents.

The following day we said goodbye to Sunset Reef Campground, now working our way home to Livingston, TX.  We spent 2 nights at Monahans Sandhills State Park in Monahans, TX.  It was challenging getting into our 55’ X 40’ site, mainly because there was an RV directly in front of ours and the sites are all surrounded by soft sand.  Most of the land within the Park consists of sand dunes. But Dad is an expert at parking this behemoth (unlike Mom--if she were parking, we'd still be there!) With no designated trails within the Park, you have unlimited possibilities for fun.  We climbed up and down the hills of sand.  And as a stuffed rat with a soft, plush butt, I didn’t even need to rent a board to sand surf.  Several dune areas have flora growing on them, so removing pesky goathead spurs became a ritual each time we ventured outdoors.  But dealing with goatheads was a small price to pay to witness some glorious sunsets.  Texas is in the process of building a new Visitor Center at the Park.  Apparently, it has been a work-in-progress for 4 years!  We enjoyed this park immensely and found it a great value:  Only $12/night with our Texas State Park Pass.  Without the Texas State Park Pass, it is still reasonable:  $15/night, but you are also required to pay $4/person/day as a facility-use fee.

 

Nasty goathead spurs really liked clinging to my parents.

We traveled along US-90 to our next stopover, Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site in Comstock, TX.  We booked a 2-night stay specifically to watch the Monarch butterflies migrate South.  But apparently most of the Monarchs changed flight schedules in anticipation of the cold front.  Or perhaps they just put their wings on “cruise control” to have the accompanying West Texas windstorms blow them to Mexico.  Though we missed the mass exodus, we did catch some stragglers.

Seminole Canyon State Park is fascinating archeologically and culturally.  Its rock paintings/cave art date back some 7,000-10,000 years.  We hiked the birding trail one evening as the sun was setting.  We walked the Nature Trail until it intersected with the trail leading to Fate Bell Shelter.  Accessing Fate Bell Shelter requires guests be accompanied by a Ranger.  Unfortunately, no Ranger-led tours were offered of Fate Bell Shelter during our visit.  We hiked along the Rio Grande Trail, greeting Mexico across the River with “hola”.  We then transferred to the Canyon Rim Trail to see the rock art at Panther Cave.  Glimpsing the pictographs from this Trail is the only access other than boarding privately-operated vessels. 

This huge spider was hanging on to its web for dear life as the winds picked up.

Hiking the Nature Trail...

...You can see Fate Bell Shelter in the distance.

Hiking the Rio Grande Trail...

Hiking the Canyon Rim Trail...

What one of the pictographs at Panther Cave should look like...

...and what we saw from the trail.

The Park has dry-camping areas as well as sites with water and electric.  There is a dump station on premises, and the Park even has Wi-Fi.  We paid $15/night for water/electric with our Texas State Parks Pass.  Without the pass, the cost is $20/night plus a $4/person/day facility use fee.

While staying at Seminole Canyon, we visited the Judge Roy Bean Museum in Langtry, TX.  Escapee and RVing friend Lisa recommended this place to us years ago.  Roy Bean was a colorful character, though legends and folklore paint him larger than life.  Born in Kentucky in 1825, Bean was a scoundrel, often finding himself in trouble.  He worked loading railroad cars and thereafter had several failed attempts at entrepreneurship.  He gained success when he established his saloon the Jersey Lilly (named after singer Lilly Langtry).  In 1882 he was appointed Justice of the Peace within Pecos County.  And the shenanigans ensued when he combined his  “businesses”: practicing law, holding court and selling booze—all accomplished from within his saloon.  He proclaimed himself “the only law West of the Pecos”, and he relied on a single law book.  Jurors for his cases were selected based on their saloon patronage.  Fines for guilty parties usually including purchasing rounds of drinks at his saloon.  He was known as “the Hanging Judge”, yet no criminal was ever hung during his tenure.  He organized and profited from “the fight of the century” held on the Mexican side of the River because boxing was illegal in the U.S.A. at the time.  My favorite story was when a patron presented Bean with a $20 gold piece for a 5-cent beer.  Bean refused to give change.   When the patron protested, Bean fined him $19.95 for contempt of court.  What a bamboozler!

 

Bean’s home and saloon are on the premises, along with lovely cacti and butterfly gardens.  Free admission, free wi-fi, entertaining and informative film, warm and welcoming staff, cool dioramas/exhibits, and ample parking even for larger RV set-ups.  Who could ask for more!  A Rambling RV Rat 5-cheese award goes to the Judge Roy Bean Museum.

Judge Bean's Saloon, the Jersey Lilly.

Can I get y'all a beer?

The living quarters for Judge Bean known as the Opera House.  He had hopes Lilly Langtry would visit and perform here.



They had some cool exhibits at the Museum, including holograms within dioramas.

A swallowtail enjoying some nectar.

Pecos River Bridge, tallest bridge in all of Texas.

Our last stopover was boondocking at the Escapees Lone Star Coral Co-op in Hondo, TX.   We enjoyed munching on a delicious lunch and conversing for hours with RV friends Sherry/Matt who own a lot there.  We also had an opportunity to chat with Bob/Ruth with whom we work-camped in 2018.

 

We arrived to our ERPU long-term leased lot in Livingston, TX for the first time in 10 months.  Though we incurred stress and unplanned expenses from Big Boomer’s breakdown, overall our 2022 travel season offered us exploration of new areas, the experience of unique adventures, establishment of new friendships, and the creation of many wonderful memories.

 

But the fun doesn’t stop yet.  With the holidays approaching, we will be involved with lots of celebrations and activities.  I’ll tell ya all about them in an upcoming post!

 

Talk to you again soon!