Earlier in September, we went on a week-long vacation to West Texas to rest, relax, and as my husband Phil so succinctly stated, “Find someplace where there are more trees than people.” I think we were quite successful at accomplishing all three, and here are some of the photos from our treks through the mountains of that far-off land. Be sure to click on the individual pictures for a bigger shot of each.
The first day was a flurry of packing up the truck, making sure the cats had plenty of provisions, and double-checking our lists of things that we wanted to take along. Our first stop was in Brady to get gas and stretch our legs. A perfect spot for faded signs…
Antiques faded sign, Brady, TX
Hill Country Ice faded sign, Brady, TX
Bode Feed & Supply faded sign, Brady, TX
On the long drive out I-10 from Junction to Balmorhea, just outside of Ft. Stockton, we found an interesting picnic area where we stopped and stretched our legs. More signs, not exactly faded, but definitely weathered and quirky…
Finley Park Memorial, Ft. Stockton, TX
Finley Park Rock Texas Flag, Ft. Stockton, TX
Finley Park Rock Texas Flag, Ft. Stockton, TX
Our first night was spent at a little lodge in Balmorhea. It was nothing at all like what we had expected–the website was misleading, to put it kindly. We wasted no time the next morning, packing up the truck, and heading south to Alpine, where we knew there were several places to stay. Places with modern amenities like telephones and such. It was misty and overcast as we travelled south through the Barilla Mountains near Ft. Davis, and we stopped at a picnic area that was nothing like the one we had visited the day before.
Barilla Mountains, Ft. Davis, TX
We arrived in Alpine mid-morning, and quickly found a place to stay–one with telephones (2 in fact!), a microwave and frig, wireless internet access…the basic necessities, in other words. We were so exhausted by this time that we spent the rest of the day (and night) sleeping. We woke the next day, had a quick breakfast, and headed out to explore.
Heading north out of Alpine, past Ft. Davis once again, we decided to take Texas Road 117, a scenic 125 mile loop, and we didn’t regret that left turn onto a narrow two-way road for even a second. The views were amazing, and I don’t think we saw more than six or seven cars the entire time.
TX Hwy 117 Scenic Loop
A full day of driving, stopping to get out and walk around, and inhaling the beauty of the Davis Mountains behind us, we headed back south to Alpine.
Alpine, Texas
On our last day in Alpine, we packed a picnic lunch and headed for the mountains once again. This time we found a different Scenic Loop, Texas Highway 118, and were once again taken in by the sheer beauty of what surrounded us.
TX Hwy 118 Scenic Loop
We drove up to the McDonald Observatory, and although we didn’t stop inside the visitor’s center, the surrounding mountains were enough to hold our attention for several hours.
McDonald Observatory Scenic Loop
It was just outside of Ft. Davis, though, that we stumbled across what was quite possibly the most oddly placed picnic area either of us had ever seen. There, nestled among the huge, hulking boulders were the commonplace table, trash barrel and BBQ grill on a pole.
Picnic Area in the Rocks
All in all, it was a restful, relaxing time, and we both agreed that we had indeed spent five days in a place where there are far more trees than anything else.
