2008 Telingua Ghost Town Chili Cookoff DXpedition
Oct 25 - Nov 27, 2008
Day 1
Saturday October 25, 2008
WBCCI Northern Illinois Unit Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Rally Amboy, Illinois
Day 2 Arlington River Resort mm176 in central Missouri (just a road side flop for the night)
Day 3
Oklahoma City Elks Lodge
Day 4
Buffalo Gap,
Texas & Perini's Steak House
We pull off the interstate about 3pm. Perini's opens at 5pm.
Time to relax with some pops & visited by the Long Horn Steer ...We will Boon Dock in the parking lot tonight.
Perini's, rated 3rd best Steak House in Texas ...Murphy the 2nd
Kathleen working the room w/ her Lone Star ... walking stick over head
move'n down the road from Buffalo Gap Texas
Entering The Big Bend Country
Day 5 & the Historic Gage Hotel Campground, Hotel & the White Buffalo Cantina
Martha now asks for her Leather Hiking Boots because of the Sand Burrs & Cactus
Pops @ the White Buffalo Cantina ...then Dinner @ the Historic Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas
Day 6
October 30
Anticipation grows heading south into Big Bend National Park, exiting the west entrance enroute Terlingua.
stop in Downtown Terlingua for directions
Day 6
Thurs. October 30
Cont.
Rancho Casi de los Chisos in the mountains 3 miles s/o Terlingua Ghost Town
Pulling into the Main gate. $60 a couple & RV for the week includes Dry Camping in the Desert Mountains.
The 42nd Annual Chili Cook Off Terlingua Chili Cook Off
looking down into
Krazy Flats
from our camp on the hill
one of 2 beer halls, but this one lives up to its name Krazy Flats
our Airstream camped on the hill overlooking Krazy Flats
It rained a couple weeks ago, thus the desert flowers
Day 7 October 31 Casi Chili Cook Off ...Happy Halloween
Very Funky Camp site, we are on a ridge overlooking Krazy Flats with its own Beer Hall. By the end of the weekend Krazy Flats will earn its name. The Main stage area and Judging Pavilion are reserved for the Championship Chili Cooks and is a much Tamer living area.
Stage, another bar, Cooking Competition area ...Solar view
...6 inch diameter Tarantella visits our camp in the afternoon, we encouraged it to go back down the hill but Mr. Tarantella came back the next day and Kathleen escorted further down the hill
Main Stage & Pavilion area, Fort Worth Cowboy Band will play nightly from 8 to Midnight
...Stage Bar area, $2 beers, not bad
Bean Judging w/ are camp neighbor Mike from s/o San Antonio, Texas
...includes Free Beer
...then washing down the Beans with a freed Pop or two
Friday afternoon and Krazy Flats is earning its name.
relaxing time, Martha has her Krazy Flats Beads on
Day 8 November 1, 2008 Casi Chili Judging
...mid morning we roam the Chili Cook Tents, everyone takes this very seriously
you easily pick up that this is serious stuff. All these Cook come from all over the country
& had to earn the right to participate at this event.
...Thanks to our new fiends Mike & John we signed up early to be Chili Judges
checking the board for our Judging times ...Kathleen Judging the Casi Chile, free beer to cleanse your pallet
...I'm @ Table B with the Lone Stars
includes
Free Beer
& Terlingua Judges T-Shirt
our new friends Mike & John from s/o San Antonio, Texas who gave us tips on how to enjoy this event
...Mike entered the Wings contest & John entered his Beans
During the Chili Judging is a kind of adult Terlingua Style Fun Fair
Lots of Hot Babes
roaming the Adult Fun Fair
We come across our favorite Terlingua Key west Style group w/ a twist and Kathleen goes for her 1st Tattoo
Kathleen sports her new Terlingua Tattoo
our favorite group who playing Key West style
Music
with a Terlingua Twist. As they called it. Clean Dirty Fun!
back in
Krazy Flats!
$500 award for the best B_ _ _ s!
...this place fills up for the weekend & Krazy Flats Earns its name especially after dark
Day 9 Sunday morning & Adios as the 42nd Chili Cook off comes to an end.
We spend an extra night here at Rancho Casi de los Chisos for some down time, just about everyone has left
Day 10 heading out through Krazy Flats
Turns out this T-shirt slogan says it all
about Krazy Flats
...It's just something you Don't Understand! Terlingua Texas
...But then you have the main stage area of this Ranch for a bit slower pace
... we will do this again some time
heading towards Terlingua 3 miles to the north
Day 10
Big Bend
National Park
Rio Grand Camp had been flooded by a Typhoon that came through Baja California Norte
...Coyotes m Monitor are arrival
...will camp in the temporary area that was the old Picnic area, actually very nice grove
Day 11 November 4, 2008 Election Day I will try to monitor the election results on my Ham Radio
...Mr. Coyote
comes by throughout the day especially around 15:20hrs.
...morning walk down to the Rio Grand 100 feet to are south
evidence of the receding waters, some scrubs, bushes are dieing but flowers & plant life are flourishing
on the east end of the Picnic area the
Park built a burm around an historic Adobe home on the Rio Grand
looking for animal tracks along
the Rio Grande Rivers Banks
...a treat this morning, Fresh Mountain Lion Tracks
...also some smaller animals that might of been this Lions Breakfast
fresh Coyote Scat
Kathleen Sports her new Lid
Hike down through the Old Rio Grand Camp and beyond to access the flood damage
...the path to the hot Pools is covered with at least a foot of Silt and the boardwalk is gone
the 10 foot in the camp area flood waters left everything covered with layers of silt
...this camp on the scenic back road is destroyed
a view from the other side of the hot spring shows the board walk thrown about
...hiking the trail we observe ancient grin holes worn from grinding grain and seed in the rocks
Kathleen broke out eh
Red Rider BB gun
for the Coyotes,
...heavier equipment for the Mountain Lion
Day 12 November 5 heading down Grapevine Road to Hike to Balancing Rock
Balancing Rock Canyon
Top of the Canyon Kathleen does Balancing Rock
view to the south
Top of Chisos Mountain for Lunch and some Pops at the Lodge, the only place in the Park with WiFi
heading down Chisos Mtn.
Javelina's visit our camp
Day 13
November 6
Hike to Hot Spring
...we have been here many times Since 2002,
this time will park at the top of the canyon and walk in for a different perspective
morning 40 meter Net
Millions of years of sediment on the canyon walls
Rio Grand and the turn of the century Mercantile Ghost Town at the Hot Springs com into view
Layers of Mud from the recent flooding in front of the old Mercantile
the now mud flats in front of the old
historic Palm Tree
The River in receding a few feet a day the last week. The hot springs are still on the edge of the polluted Rio Grand River & not quite ready for bathing. The springs appears unharmed and after shoveling out the silt should be fine in a few days.
Road Runner in front of the Rio Grand Village Camp
Store that was unharmed by the floods. The water cam to the edge of the parking lot
Walking Sticks flourishing in our camp
We meet up again with Larry and Francis from Centerville, Texas
Larry, General Class Amateur Radio Operator K5LJR
signs on the evening WBCCI-ARC 20 meter net 14,307.5 mhz
Peppers from Larry K5LJR
our Camp Big Bend, nice & quiet to settle down after the Chili Cook Off
Larry K5LJR
pulling out, heading back to Centerville, Texas
Day 14 November 7
In search of a perfect hiking stick
looking for a tree to make a walking stick adventure
Can't find a tree but have been watching what looks
like Mine Tailings high above on the Mesa
Time to check it out, Hiking Gators in my Emergency Equipment Pack came in handy keeping my legs from scratches
...bottom if the Tailings ...I was right, an old mine, probably a silver mine from the late 1800's
This mine is not on any hiking trails or maps & a Fun feature of Big Bend N.P.
...you can find your own adventures
view from the mine shaft
Search for a hiking stick continues after day break
Day 14 November 7 ...found this very old Tamarack Tree on the Rio Grande
some trimming
....4WD 40 miles to a Mariscal Quick Silver Mine
Fun using the equipment
Exploring
critters
& Great Views from the top, my hiking stick is taking shape 
mine entrances everywhere
Day 16 November 9 ...leave Rio Grande Camp and check out the flood damage @ Castilon & Cottonwood campground, the campground is open but the recent flooding of the camp has left silt that has not dried and very dusty. Not suitable for camping at this time although open
... Mule Ears Peaks in the distance, we have hiked to these Peaks in the past
Stop
to say high to Vietnam Vet USMC Hero who keeps this compound in Terlingua
during last years Chili Cook off while unguarded someone set this Marine on
fire. a
ceremony was held & the life size statue was given a Purple Heart that he wears proudly. We will meet up later with the Marine at La Kiva for happy hour.
Late
afternoon view from Terlingua Porch
Kathleen's Cosmic Bar B Que, great food, very Terlingua
After a couple Lone Stars in the Terlingua Store Porch we move a few hundred
yards to the Boathouse
La Kiva Bar & Restaurant, terrific place for a USMC birthday party
http://www.lakiva.net/index.html
Kathleen likes the comfortable stools
at La Kava happy hour
Funky Head
Day 17 November 10, 2008 ..USMC Birthday, start the morning getting Propane at Study Butte Store
then Breakfast back @ Kathleen's Cosmic Bars B Que
Entering ...No Country for Old men
(without a Marine w/Guns, Knives, Walking Sticks etc. that is)
Day 17 November 10, 2008 Ruidoso, Texas
the road to Presidio,
Texas
...one of the prettiest drives in the Continental United States
road to Presidio has been
closed
since the recent flooding of the Rio Grand River
...we gained info from Terlingua locals that the road is open, just take it easy
...the Ruidoso Cantina is closed, we had a great time 3 years ago with the proprietors
...we had planned on camping here while enjoying the Proprietors Tequila & Lone Star Beer
downtown Ruidoso ...the resident of this place is crazy, use caution!
abandoned mission
leave the road to Candelara, Texas and head 9 mile into the mountain to Chinati Hot Springs
kick'n up a bit of dust in
4WD
...4WD low transfer coming down into Chinati Hot Springs Canyon for 3 nights
Downtown
Chinati
lots of doggies, Lefty & Verno the Coon Dogs
Martha meets
her new boyfriends
sunset after a hot soaking in the springs, great way to finish a day
great sunset
can't beat the
Hot Springs
...no chemicals, just hot clean flowing water out of the earth
my Big Bend walking sticks Mesquite for the Weber Grill
Ouch!
...my knife bit me
the camp is kind of a Hostile in that they have this fully equipped kitchen for quests to use
...Happy Hour
upper cold water pool on the hill a medium Hot, about 90 degree group pool
private tubs w/ unlimied Hot Water. Natural Spring Water great sunsets
hike'n Chinati Canyon one last soak in Chinati Hot Spring before we leave
12 miles to the E/O Chinati springs road is Candelaria where the road don't go no more
goats
"the
road don't go no more"
...Candelaria is the End of the road, about 100 miles or so of unimproved 4WD along the Rio Grande River will get you to El Paso from here
full hook ups for the 2nd time this trip & a great breakfast served in the
campground
Day 20 November 13 Van Horn, Texas KOA.
Day 21 November 14 Missions Trail just E/O El Paso Texas
Cattleman Steak House
Upon arrival we met with owner Dieter Gerzymisch, very nice man http://www.cattlemansranch.com/
free overnight RV parking w/ dinner & pops
Cattleman Steak House is a movie set
with a petting Zoo
time for Dinner Pops in the Veranda to watch the sun set on the Mesa
Sunset Table is by a huge bronze cowboy riding a Bronco
Poncho Villa lurks in El Paso
Day 22 - 25 November 15, 2008 El Paso, Texas ...we Camp at a Fort Bliss RV Resort, nice, safe & secure
Sunday mass @ St. Patrick's Cathedral in Historic El Paso
...On Sunday Mexican Families walk across a foot bridge to shop in El Paso's Historic area
Chamizal National Memorial is a park shared by both Mexico & USA
to the south of this marker is Mexico
Juarez,
Mexico as seen from this National Monument
Day 25 November 18 Border Patrol Museum and Tour of Mountain State Park & El Pasco Museum of Archeology
Day 26
November 19
...Historical area of Las Cruces & San Albino Basilica
Silver City New Mexico & Pops @ Isaac's
open pit Copper mines touring Pinos Altos up on the Continental Divide
Day 28
November 21
weather is cooling off, going to head
home
...Martha takes a brake from the mountain roads
Surprise ...We take New Mexico Highway 152 east out of Silver City. There was where no warnings signs to mention but the road became very very interesting. About 30 miles up straight up, straight down, blind curves & no guard rails climbing to 8,828 feet. No pics by the Web Master who had both hands on the steering wheel and constant shifting of gears. The Stick Shift F250 performed very well. A longer trailer would be more difficult and present more issues. Fun!
Air temps at 52 degrees, Hot Spring water temp 105 degrees, very nice
... Hot Springs on the Rio Grande @ Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Day 28 November 21 spend the night in Albuquerque, New Mexico
In the Southwest Martha likes Running in her Sand Bur Boots
late Breakfast on Historic Rt. 66
in Santa Rosa,
New Mexico
Day 29
November 22
National Grasslands
mm124 e/o Amarillo, Texas
Nice peaceful camp on a small grasslands lake, like boot docking only with electric, the only other campers was a trailer from Texas Tech University with Students doing Grasslands Research.
Oklahoma Windmill Farms
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum,
Oklahoma City
Day 30 November 23 Claremore, Oklahoma Elks Lodge
Day 31
November 24
w/o Robertsville State Park
Hooked up and heading home ...In order to do all this, good Equipment is a must!
Day 32 November 25 made good time ...Home, Wheaton Illinois
November 26 Thanksgiving in Mequon, Wisconsin
November 27 Friday cut down our Christmas Tree Mequon, Wisconsin
November 28 Saturday Home again
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