December 27-28, 2008

Taking a break from the ongoing remodel at our house, we decided to take a quick trip out to West Texas. The plan was to drive out to Marfa to check out the town and see the Ghost Lights (if they decided to appear). After that we would drive down to the Chinati Hot Springs and camp there before heading over to Big Bend National Park.

We made it to Marfa in good time, but the town had shut down by the time we arrived at 5pm. One of the few things open in town was the Hotel Paisano, an historic hotel where James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and the rest of the crew from Giant stayed when they filmed in Marfa in 1955. We had cocktails there before driving over to Alpine for dinner. We ate at the Reata Restaurant, where we had great food but terrible margaritas.

The next morning, we took FM 2810 out of Marfa towards the Chinati Hot Springs. Along the way, we passed a herd of longhorn cattle and stopped to take a picture. The bull noticed Rob approaching the barbed wire and charged him. Fortunately, he pulled up short at the fence and merely snorted and glared at us until we left. After about 30 miles, the pavement ended and we entered the Pinto Canyon Road. The county suggests high-clearance vehicles, although the Subaru made it through with just a few bumps and scrapes. The scenery was beautiful, but when we finally made it to the springs we were disappointed to learn they were closed for a private party. We weighed our options, and decided to push on to Big Bend a night early. After a few more hours, passing through Presidio and driving along a beautiful stretch of FM 170, we made camp at the Cottonwoods campground for the night.