Where is that desk?

Currently In:  Mercedes, TX
Next Up: Austin

Hellooooo!  I have taken a really long break on updating the blog, but I am determined to catch up here in the next few days.

After we left El Paso we headed to Alpine, Texas in the Big Bend area.  We fueled up here on our way to the National Park last year, but we really didn't spend any time looking around.

On our way to the Big Bend Museum we stopped at the local baseball field.

We chatted with a maintenance man who told us the field was built in 1946 and modeled after Wrigley Field in Chicago.  Of course Johnny and I have been to Wrigley many times and could see the resemblance.  "Best Little Ballpark in Texas" says Sports Illustrated.

The bleachers look really familiar.

I loved the gates - decorated with little baseballs.  Our "tour guide" told us those were cast in NYC.

The "o6" is the brand of the Kokernot family ranch that built the field.

The field is used by local high school, college and semi-pro teams.  In addition, my beloved White Sox played an exhibition game here in 1951.  On this beautiful sunny day, knowing that pitchers and catchers were reporting soon for Spring Training, I was thinking "play ball"!

Next we stopped at the Big Bend Museum on the campus of Sul Ross University.  The native stone was beautiful.  We learned a little more about how this railroad town came into being.  Very similar story to other towns we have seen out West.

Behind the University is Hancock Hill - a nice hiking trail that offers views of Alpine.

There is also the bicycle tree and desk that were placed along the trail 40 years ago by engineering students looking for peace and quiet. It's a "thing" to find the desk. So we started out.  We had a hand drawn map, so we thought we would reach our destination in 30-45 minutes.

The terrain was similar to other desert hikes.

Where is that desk?

After 90 minutes we gave up and went back to the campground.  And look who is there?  Our friends Tim and Jenny had arrived!

A cold Lone Star is what we needed to overcome the disappointment of the elusive desk.

I was undeterred. Encouraged by a bit of teasing from Tim, Johnny and I returned to Hancock Hill another day.  We asked a fellow hiker and a mountain biker on the path for some guidance and split up.  Johnny spotted the bike tree first.

Success! We got our names in the notebook that is kept in the drawers documenting our presence.