Tag: Big Bend National Park

Then the Wheels Came Off

Anyone who knows me will attest that when it comes to travel, I am an enthusiastic planner. I mentioned some months ago that the planning is part of the journey for me. And this year was going to be no different.

Then, the wheels came off the wagon that is our world. Our trip to France to cruise the Canal du Midi which was originally planned for early May and getting us back yesterday (May 21st) had to be rescheduled for September but, Mother Nature in the form or CV-19 had other plans. You may have noticed, I’ve added a new category, Whining. Should have done it long ago.

I’ve mentioned several times that mi Amiga, Katja was scheduled to come visit and would have arrived today but, that is not to be. We’d talked about the timing of her visit, earlier rather than later because it gets hot fast in Texas this time of year. Last week, it was already 103/40 in parts of west Texas where Big Bend is located.

Another cruel trick has been played upon us, the weather for the Big Bend is forecast to be beautiful next week which is why I used that as my featured image, who doesn’t need a little more torment? Temps like that this time of year are rare. Mother Nature piling on.

So, how does one remain positive when the wheels come off? After 2.5 months of stay at home, virtual Happy Hours and mask wearing, it’s tough. Even a 10 hour drive to west Texas sounds really good right now but, Big Bend National Park won’t reopen until June 1st.

So, I listen to people who are far wiser than I am. They said like the Camino, Texas will not go away, nor will Big Bend and, true friendships endure.

So, to everyone who was planning to make the trek out to Big Bend, there’s always next year or, the one after and so on…

Ultreia!

The Stars at Night…

This week was supposed to be the beginning of a great couple of weeks. One of my Camino friends, my Omega friend from my 2017 Camino Frances, Katja was scheduled to fly in to Dallas to begin her first trip to the United States and the great State of Texas.

She was to arrive on Friday and after a short visit in Dallas including a Katy Trail walk, we (most of the Texas Pilgrims) were headed to the Big Bend and Big Bend National Park. We scheduled an overnight in Marfa for a little culture (west Texas style) and maybe the Marfa Lights.

After that, 3 days of hiking and outdoor adventures in a part of Texas that is remote, wild, beautiful and very different. When they wrote the lyrics to Deep in the heart of Texas, they were surely thinking of the Big Bend when they wrote, “the stars at night are big and bright“, there are few places in America that have so little light pollution.

The Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon, Emory Peak, Pinnacles Trail and many more. It would have been an excellent adventure and probably something the likes of which she’d never seen. Many Texan’s haven’t either, including Becky who was going to be part of the posse.

After our trek to Big Bend, Katja was heading off on her own to see Carlsbad Caverns, San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country then, back to Dallas and home to Germany. The Texas Pilgrims could not join her on this adventure as we had to be back in Dallas for the wedding of another Pilgrim, Mr. G to Christina. That wedding date unfortunately had to be rescheduled.

Life is a funny thing and it reminds me regularly just how little control we have in the big picture. A virus, the novel CoVid-19, something that I heard described as being the closest thing there is to being both biological and chemical, has killed hundreds of thousands, about 1/3 of them here in the U.S. Besides the loss of life, economies are in tatters, friends and families separated, weddings postponed and yes, holidays cancelled. But, we will get through this. Friendships will endure, holidays and weddings can be rescheduled and hopefully jobs regained. For those who lost loved ones, we collectively grieve for them.

For my friend Katja, I hope we can one day show her the wonders of the Big Bend. If not, I hope that we meet again somewhere with dusty boots and big smiles but, that may not be. So my sister, your presence will be missed, Texas would not have known what hit it. Be strong, your Ziegen Bruder will miss you as will all your other Texas friends. ¡Hasta luego!

Here’s a taste of what awaits you Big Bend.