Sunrise at Chisos Basin was everything I could have hoped for. Since you are down in the crown of the basin, the sun rises in grades of light, first like someone turning up the reostat slowly, then like a movie projector showing morning on the inside of the western walls of the basin, then like a laser show over the the tops of the eastern walls.  Since the sun heats everything to the east of the basin rapidly before the basin has a chance to catch up, moisture from the evening dew tries to escape and can’t — some sort of temperature inversion, or dew point thing, or something.  The result is that within an hour or so of sunrise, a blanket of fog grabs the basin and the result is otherworldly.  This is how to start a day on the edge.

Continue reading “Riding the Edge” →

I decided to work my way to the west entrance of Big Bend via Balmorhea State Park, HWY 17, then HWY 118.  I would reach the edge today, but I would see some things first.

Continue reading “Reaching the Edge” →

To get to the last spot I spent on the edge, I need to get to Pecos, Tx where I can turn south, and head down to the Rio Grande.  To get to Pecos, I have to cross a bunch of Texas.  Last night I stayed just east of the Louisiana/Texas border in West Monroe; so today was crossing Texas.

Continue reading “Crossing Texas” →

I’m not a big Interstate guy, and would normally be filling this post with wise cracks about the boring drive due west on I-20 from Atlanta to West Monroe, La that made up my first day on this trip back to the edge.  Instead, I’m going to recognize an appreciate the massive federal project that is the interstate highway system.

Continue reading “Westward Ho” →

It’s time for another leg of my trip around the edge.  I hope you will follow along and offer any comments.  If this is your first visit, please scroll to the bottom of the site and read up to see the history of this trip and previous stops.

Continue reading “Another Leg on The Edge” →

Sometimes you get emotionally attached to objects.  Against all reason, a tool, or a thing you use regularly becomes so much a part of you, you begin to think about it as you.  It has been that way for me with my 2008 FJ Cruiser.  From early trips with my son to National Parks, to various hunting trips across the country, it was my home, my transportation and, on occasion, my savior.  We carefully considered each modification, some we built, some we bought. It never ever let us down.  After 113,000 miles or so, I can honestly say there wasn’t anything about it I would change.  It was my ride for the first leg of my trip around the edge.  And it is gone.

Continue reading “A New Ride on the Edge” →

I dropped Foster at the airport in San Antonio, returned my day pack to the passenger seat so it wouldn’t look so empty and headed in as straight a line as Eisenhower could order, back to Atlanta. From San Antonio to Atlanta is about 16 hours via I-10, to I-65, to I-85.  One thing about the great civil defense interstate highway system, it can move volumes of people and goods a long way quickly.  What it can’t do is give you any sense of connection to anything other than concrete.

Continue reading “Back from the Edge” →

Overnight at Roy’s Peak the temperature dropped below freezing and the high desert air was as clear and fragile as glass. At dawn, the old homestead and broken windmill were still there, silent reminders that the morning chill for us was but a whisper of the morning chills they had seen. After a hot breakfast, good coffee and a quick break of camp, we were off, along with the sun, to chase the western side of the park – around the Chisos Basin, down through the Burro Mesa and finally, to the edge of the Rio Grande where we would make camp. Continue reading “Shall We Gather at the Edge” →