Camino del Rio

We will be in Mercedes Texas for the balance of February
Then on to Austin and Stonewall, TX


One thing we were not able to do when we were in Big Bend National Park last year was take the scenic drive along the River Road (Camino del Rio).  Tim and Jenny were nice enough to be our tour guides, so first we stopped by Hallie's Hall of Fame just outside Marathon, Texas!

Hallie Stillwell was one female among many ranching cowboys in the early 1900's.  She passed away at almost 100 years old.  Her home has been preserved and we took a walk through.  Hallie greets us at the front door!

I love these little stories of everyday Americans.  So do the many donors who respected all the Hallie accomplished out here in the Chihuahuan Desert.

It was an hour to Big Bend where we had lunch at the Window in the Chisos Basin.  I never tire of this view.

The scenic road starts in Lajitas at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center.  We saw the famous Texas bluebonnets in full bloom!

The road follows the Rio Grande along the US/Mexico border.

We reached a pull off where the "Streets of Loredo" was filmed (James Garner, Sissy Spacek).  Nice backdrop.

The Rio Grande looking toward Mexico.

Johnny put his hand in the river once again.

I liked the colored rocks.

Later we stopped at an actual rest stop so I could get a photo of the Yucca that were blooming.

And we thought the picnic sites were interesting.

More bluebonnets here, too!

Somewhere down the road, we saw smoke and then some burning brush - not sure what it was.

We continued to enjoy the landscape until we reached the town of Presdio, the end of the scenic drive.  It took over an hour to return to Alpine where we stopped in the historic Holland Hotel.  Hotel operations date back to 1912, but there have been many changes in location, ownership and style since then.  It has been restored to its "former glory".

Although the lobby was nothing special, the bar was interesting.  I loved the ceiling and the light fixtures.  A relaxing ending to our day.