Map of our trip out to West Texas

Family Vacation to West Texas

After a long hot day, we looked for somewhere to cool off

Girls out swimming in the lake

One of the very few neighbors we had at the state park campground

Sunset and moonrise over the campground

We went to bed pretty early, so were up early the next morning

What silly girls

Very Happy Campers!

Sunrise

Not a great place to camp in the summer.

Another picture in Jordan's magnum opus, "Jada's Butt"

Seminole Canyon Shaman sculpture

An overview of the canyon from the vistor center

rock art

Shaman

Jada, looking back towards the visitors center

Jordan in front of a group of shamans

Jada

But Jada rode must of the way back

Heading back to the visitors center

Judge Roy Bean's House in Langtry, Texas

Judge Roy Bean's Bar and Courthouse

Historical Marker

drivin' drivin' drivin'...

Arrival at Big Bend Campground

Shadow dancing

Quite a lovely campground up in the basin

but lord a-mighty was it HOT!

Looking off the other way

Jada gets a stern lecture on the dangers of wandering away in mountain lion country

The window at sunset, from the easy trail

nice scenery

Another Jordan shot

Panorama at Santa Elena Canyon

Julie contemplating the canyon wall

In Mexico, going up some steps along the canyon wall

a panoramic view of the mouth of the canyon

The girls and some rock art we made

well, that didn't last long!

After a little hike, a little swim in the Rio Grande

Jada LOVES her Mama!

We has a fun time sending the girls down this section

They were scared at first, but quickly overcame that

They probably went down this 10 times each,

You really can't understand how BIG Big Bend is in pictures.

Playing with my camera after everyone was asleep.

Yes, still moonrise - long exposure!

Another 60 second exposure

The campground at night

Our last day at Big Bend - unhappy hiker

I had a nice hike - even though we carried Jada a lot

The Hotel in Fort Davis - baby swallows

The outside of the hotel in Ft. Davis

The Hotel we stayed at in Fort Davis

In our room at the hotel

A visit to Blue Mountain winery

Walking out to the vineyards

Jada and Julie by the Blue Mountain winery headquarters

Balmoreah State Park, north of Ft Davis

A view of the big part of the spring-fed pool

Julie and Jada having lunch

Jada snack!

Jada trying on a bandanna

pretty picture of Mama

tripod self-timer picture of the family

Tricky Pics!

Jordan and Jada aren't the best actors!

But these turned out OK.

Jada looking cool

After a long day at the pool, some tired girls

Fort Davis State Park - Barracks

An armoire that was carried out on a wagon

The hospital building

Officers' quarters

Another Officer's house, that hasn't been restored

It was a VERY long day, after visiting the pool in the morning.

The day was even longer - that night we went out to McDonald Observatory

Antelopes alog the road to the observatory

Last day of vacation - horseback riding

Julie doing a test drive

Julie and Jordan heading out

self-portrait of Jada and Papa

I liked this shot with my horse's head (Bones) in the photo

We went out for about an hour - just long enough!

Portrait taken by our guide

Same picture, wider view

Girls riding back

On the drive down to Marfa, some wildlife

An aerial view of The Chinati Foundation

Another pronghorn

The Chinati foundation

boxes boxes boxes

more boxes

a picture from Mama's camera

going out in the field to look at the BIG art

Out in the field are large concrete boxes in various configurations

they are all in groups of three

me making art of art

I was impressed with the quality of the concrete casting

low down shot

Mama in the box

Amazingly well-aligned, also

Jada in the box

The girls found a hole

Long shot

More and more and MORE boxes!!!!

going back towards the hangars, heading for home!

County courthouse in Marfa

Wind turbines in west Texas. These things are HUGE

Hysterical District - in a patch of dirt in Eldorado, Texas

Huh? Rodside Parka?

Ohh. Roadside parka.

Which way to Eldorado? (and how far back to Austin?)