Texas Part 3.... because it is a HUGE State, and a tiny slice of New Mexico

The drive to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park was dusty, windy and rough.  RV Airabess was blowing all over the place and Hubs was white knuckling it the whole way.  
Oil rigs as far as the eye could see.  
Big semis pulling out huge containers.  
Dust storms.  
But, seeing the mountain range come into view after going through so much flat land was amazing.  It was Coco's first time seeing something so large looming on the horizon... needless to say, she was impressed. 

The park has a fantastic visitor center with interactive exhibits and wildlife displays.  Coco made Junior Ranger and started working on her Junior Paleontologist badge. 
***Home school science has been a cake walk lately.  We have been immersed in so many different habitats and terrains.  It has been hard to take all of it in. ***

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park was our first "destination".  Every other place has been part of the journey for sure, picked because it was part of the path.  This was the first place we marked as 'must see'.  It's also where we picked up our National Park Pass and had our first real dry camp (i.e. boondocking). 

We arrived at the park pretty early, set up (made sure everything was secure as the wind was gusting at 60 mph) and toured the visitor center.  

The next day we got up early (for this crew), put on our hiking gear and hit the trail.  The long, steep, rocky trail.  It was four hours up and fourish hours down.

Coco was absolutely impressive.  I am in awe of her 'charge ahead' attitude. She went for it, didn't complain, and took the lead at times.  My girl is going to do great things.  She will change the world. 
I was slightly terrified in some places.  Apparently I have some serious anxiety and fear of sheer (and not so sheer) drop-offs and ledges.  There were real tears and freak outs and I was going to quit several times.  But then there was my Hubs.  
Sherpa Hubs.  He held my hand.  He guided Coco and myself over some of the sketchy parts.  He was the coach and captain.  The ONLY reason I made it to the top is because he motivated me and supported me (he did give me an out at the very bottom, middle and almost top of the peak~ but I am stubborn). He was perfection.  
I know I am waxing poetic about Hubs, but there are times in a marriage and a life when real change can happen.  When we grow together or apart.  This whole trip has been about togetherness.  But I felt very apart.  Not because I couldn't physically do it.  Because mentally it was a mindf@!k.  And we are better and stronger and more together than ever before.  It totally snuck up on me and we as a partnership and family learned and loved.   
This particular adventure was Team Airabess all the way.   

Coco was so stoked (albeit extremely tired and went to bed earlier than she ever has EVER) and talked Hubs into getting up with her early the next morning (I stayed back with Ms Willow) to hike another pretty intense trail.  They left before the sun was up (and it was raining) and made it back before 10 (because the weather was getting worse they couldn't finish). They were dripping wet, cold, but smiling.  My people.  I love them so much and in moments like that I feel like my heart might explode.  


We left the same day about an hour later and headed up the road into New Mexico to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  The cavern entrance is at the top of the one of the mountains.  So we made it a quick trip through the park... totally worth it by the way.  Coco's eyes were as big as saucers as we took it all in.  We tried to take pictures, but they just don't capture the vastness of the caverns.  It's enough to have the mental memories.  

It's a good thing we made it a short excursion because when we came out of the caverns it was snowing and sleet was a definite possibility.  Not so much fun driving the good ole RV Airabess down and around an ice covered road.  

For tonight and tomorrow we are tucked into Whites City, New Mexico.  Staying warm and recovering from one of the most incredible family weekends we have had so far... and that's saying something.  

***

Next up?  We haven't decided yet.  We had a plan for the next few weeks, but the weather isn't exactly conducive to the route we had planned.  We were going to go to Roswell, because, well... how fun, right?  Don't think that is going to happen now with this weather pattern and we don't really want to stay here.  So maybe back to Texas for a bit, or maybe not.  

We did get a little taste of it (Roswell) though when we checked into Whites City.  They really own the whole thing down here.  From stuffed everything to Native American (not so authentic) souvenirs.  There are bats (an homage to the Caverns) and pueblo style architecture.... all in the smallest town I have ever seen. 

The Lone Star State Part 2

San Angelo State Park in San Angelo, Texas was our home for a little longer than we had originally planned.  The weather went from mid 70's to freezing within a day.  So, while we weren't really stoked to be at a stand still, we were grateful to plug in RV Airabess for a few extra days.  Bonus~ there was semi-decent wifi (a novelty on this trip). 

Our first couple of days there we biked around the park, which is massive.  Lots of desert terrain, and open space.  

Coco and Hubs took to the trails, which they both LOVED.  But, thanks to so many cactus needles there where 5 tire repairs.  

Then... it snowed.  Not a lot. But just enough so that Coco got to make her first snowball.  
Plus a pretty cool book exchange.  
Oh, and there were bison..... um not really.  Actually the park is host to THE Texas Longhorn Herd.  We saw where they should have been, but missed seeing them in person.  As for the bison.  Supposedly they are in the park too. The only ones we got to see where these.

We finally left San Angelo after a week and went to Monahans Sandhills State Park for a couple of days (and put our shorts back on).   Probably one more day than we needed.  It's name is pretty self-explanatory.... sand dunes everywhere.  Which for this Florida family was surreal.  First, we kept expecting to see the ocean on the other side (just more dunes).  Second, you are actually allowed to play, slide, roll, jump down them... a novelty.  Where we are from the dunes are off limits.  
So we played on the dunes.  And got sand EVERYWHERE.  

The place is in the middle of no where and the only reason we chose it was because it was a halfway point to the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.  That being said, it was a good time and cool experience.  
The drive there however.... looooonggg and boring through oil fields and dust. 

Now onto Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The Lone Star State Pt 1 Pics

A mix of pics from Guadalupe State Park and  Lost Maples Natural Area. 

The Lone Star State Part 1

Our first stop in Texas was League City (just outside of Houston).  Not the normal stop for the average road-tripper, but we were visiting Hub's mom. 

She took us into Galveston where Hub's spent some of his formative years.  It was FREEZING the day we went... We still managed to check out some of Hub's old haunts.  A lot of the places we saw weren't exactly like he had remembered.  Hurricane Ike changed the landscape substantially.  When the town rebuilt, they upgraded in places. 

  Galveston Bay is host to the oil tankers in and out of Texas City.  We tool a quick look, but left quickly as the wind was howling and we had all turned into popsicles. 

While it was great to see family, we were glad to get out of the hustle and bustle of the greater Houston area.   

We took our leave on another rainy, cold morning.  But by the time we made it to our next destination, Guadalupe State Park (just north of San Antonio), the sun was out and the mercury was rising.  It turned out to be a gorgeous couple of days there.  We finally had some elevation and terrain.  Hub's got some serious mountain biking in.  I was able to finally get my mat outside again. Coco and I hiked up and around the Guadalupe River.  She earned a Texas Junior Ranger badge.  
***Guadalupe State Park has a fantastic interactive Discovery Center for kids. They offer many different hands on activities and exhibits.  I highly recommend the park for families.***
  

After Guadalupe River SP was Lost Maples Natural Area.  But first we had to get there.  
It was the first time the good ole RV Airabess had to climb up and with the pedal to the floor she really doesn't have that get up and go.  But she does have some serious momentum going down.  It was by far the most exciting road we have traveled. 
Hubs and Coco loved it.  I did too, after I had a mini anxiety attack during the roller coaster up, down, and around through Hill Country. 

We were parked in the valley and there were cliff outcroppings on both sides.  For this Florida family it was a thrill to have to look up at the landscape just outside our window.  

Lost Maple offered the highest hiking elevation yet at 2500 feet.  Coco was a champ and made it up the steep and rugged inclines with no complaint~ chatting me up the whole way.  Once to the top we got our first really impressive vista.  
At night the sky was a blanket of stars that, even aboard S/V Airabess, were brighter and clearer than we have seen so far.  That alone is worth the trip. 

We are currently in San Angelo and the weather has turned.  There is snow predicted next week... not really something we wanted to see on this trip.... but we will roll with it.  After a couple of days here we (think) the Monahans Sandhills before an extended stay at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park (the highest peak in Texas at 8700ish feet). 

I'll post more pics soon.  Loading them with out enough bandwidth is PAINFUL!