Steve and I recently travelled to "Big Bend National Park" with 2 other couples; they drove their "roadsters" (a Porsche 'Boxster' and a BMW 'Z3' - WE were the "chase car", loaded down w/the appropriate libations!). We spent the 1st night in Marathon, TX, at the historic "Gage Hotel", which was lovely, 1st class and great food (the "White Buffalo Bar" was a treat, too!). Next stop: Study Butte, TX (the locals pronounce it "studdie boot") where we drove all over the Park, enjoying the myriad vistas and staying in the local "motel/RV Park", complete w/wooden sidewalk, swirling dust and 100+ temps, but it DID HAVE air conditioning. We took a very interesting Jeep Tour onto a private ranch and saw many kinds of cacti, learning about the former mercury-harvesting industry there. On to Ft. Davis, TX and the McDonald Observatory where we took part in a newly-developing Moon Party; observed the moon and Saturn thru one of the telescopes - really phenomenal. We had an "interesting" dinner in Alpine - we had the "waitress from hell" and I was constantly at the Bar pointing out her insufficiency's which garnered Steve & me a free meal! On the return to the "Indian Lodge" where we were staying, we came upon 3 havilenas (ugly pigs that are very destructive) and were shinning the car headlights upon them, when a rather irate Park Ranger confronted us and suggested we leave! Don't think we'll be returning any time soon to that part of Texas! But a good time was had by all and we even stumbled upon some terrific b-b-q before landing back in K'ville - now: what's not to like??
