Summer Vacation 2014--Day 6

Today, we headed back, but we wanted to see what we could visit along the way.

During breakfast, we discussed our plan for the day.  We could either see anything else they wanted there near Ft. Davis (really, not much left) and then see whatever was available in the towns along I-10 on the way back OR we could go to Big Bend National Park and then see whatever we could along I-10 on the way back if it wasn't too late.  

We decided to go to Big Bend National Park.  We overlooked the Rio Grande Valley, saw the Rio Grande River, and looked across to Mexico while at the Hot Springs area.

My GPS said BBNP was a little over an hour away from Alpine, where we had out motel.  Well, that wasn't exactly true.  That must have been to the northern most point, but that was fine.  I can't remember how far it was to Marathon and then it was 70 miles to the park "gate" and then 2 miles to the check-in and then 26 miles to Panther Junction (kind of in the middle) and then 20+ miles to the Rio Grande Overlook and Hot Springs.  All was fine. Let's just say that I didn't adhere to the 45 mph in the park.  Too dang slow!  We figured we would actually see the Rio Grande River at the Rio Grande Overlook.  Nope!  We went to the Hot Springs, and we found water (a stinky portion of the river) and could see Mexico across. To get in and out of the Hot Springs area, you had to drive on the edge of a cliff (literally).  There were rocks jutting out on the passenger's side and nothing but drop off on the driver's side.  Yes, I was driving.  I was unnerved! There is one way in and one way out.  We went back to Panther Junction (had to get gas) and then back to Marathon.

We got to experience Border Patrol on our way back--3 officers and a dog.

Make sure you have plenty of gas in this part of the state.  Gas in Marathon was $3.95 a gallon, and it was $3.80-$3.85 in the Park.

The next town we came to was Fort Stockton.  Still not a lot of choices for places to eat.FYI:  They have no idea what gluten is, what it is in or not in, or even how to pronounce it.  Do not go to Subway b/c they do not have gluten free bread or Thousand Island dressing.  Also, the Sonic Manager was not friendly either, and thanks to him, we just ate on the road as we drove.  I was never more ready to leave a town than I was Fort Stockton today.

Our final stop was in Ingram where there is a replica of Stonehenge and the statues on Easter Island.  When I visited Stonehenge in England in June 1994, I was so disappointed I couldn't go stand in the very center.  I got to do that today in Ingram!