Big Ben Area

March 12
Well we got out of Fredricksburg this morning with no problem. We drove to Ft. Stockton TX and spent one night there. In the morning Ron & Jan left for Yuma AZ to meet up with some other friends they had met a few years ago. Charlie & Aline and us went to Stillwell Store and RV Park at the foot of Big Ben National Park.
March 13 Big Ben National Park
We arrive here at Stillwell Store & RV Park around 1:00 pm. We soon found out that there was no services to be had (like TV,Phone,Internet). The only place I could get Internet was at the store only for a short period. We set up camp and then went into Big Ben area for a couple of hours.
March 14 Thur 16
The first time out we took Charlies Car and tour the west side of Big Bend. We first went to the headquarters at Panther Junction to get information about the park. We took Green Gulch and went past Lost Mine Trail to the Chisos Basin. The elevation is 7825 ft and there is another visitor center. When we came back down we then took the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive all the way to the Santa Ellena Canyon River Access. Their was a few viewpoint along the way that we stop at. After leaving the Ross Maxwell we went to Maverick Junction and to Study Butte and over to Terlingua Ghost Town. If we would have stay on this drive it would have taken us right into the Big Ben State Park. It was getting late in the day so we headed back to camp which is about a two hour drive back to camp. This place is big and beautiful. After we arrive back at camp we ate an then went to the Museum for some music. The Whitfords Eldon and Ann provide us with some good old western and country music. They are from around Reed City Michigan and do they put on a good show. They only play for a hour between 7pm and 8pm every night.
The second day out we took the truck so we could do some two tracking on Glen Spring Road. It took us over 5 hours to do this road so we decided to have a tail gate lunch in a dry creek bed. After that we went to Rio Grande Village and the Boquillas Canyon Overlook before we headed back to camp.
On the third day we decided to have a day of rest before we headed back to the real world. Lois and Aline did laundry this morning and then we decide to take a look at what was at the end of our road. When we got to the end it was the Rio Grande River with a old town across the river. The name is La Linda and it was totally vacant, like people just up and left. It used to be a crossing into Mexico a few years ago which was shut down because of 911.
March 17
On the fourth day it was time to move on so we headed out of Big Ben Area. When we got to Marathon TX Charlie & Aline headed for Yuma AZ to meet up with Ron & Jan for a couple of days before they headed for CA. Lois and I headed for Big Springs TX to stay the night before we move on toward Jackson MS.
March 18
We left Big Springs headed for Arlington TX but on the way we stop to help a fellow camper that had a blow out just in front of us. They were from Texas and was headed home. We arrive at Arlington TX about 2:30 pm.
March 19
Left Arlington TX on the way to Ruston LA for one night. We stay at Lincoln Parish Park but did not have any TV but did have slow Internet and Radio.
March 20
We left Ruston LA on the way to Clinton MS. While at Clinton we stay at Spring Ridge which was a older Mobile Home Park. We was pack in there like we were sardines. We did met a nice couple from WI on the way home. They stay one night before they got back on the Natches Trace Parkway. We stay another at Spring Ridge before we headed for Natchez Trace Parkway.
March 22
Left Clinton MS for Natchez Trace Parkway which is right here in Clinton. While on the Trace we saw a lot of historical sites of Indians and Spanish explorers. We travel about 190 miles to Tupelo MS and stay at Trace State Park for two nights. While in Tupelo I had my oil change and had to have brake pads installed on the rear wheels. We met up with Al and Virgina at the state park while we were their. This state park has full hook ups and a laundry besides beautiful scenery.
March 24
We left the state park and went about 66 miles to Bay Spings Lake MS where we stay at Piney Grove RV Park, which is a Corp of Engineer Park. Al and Virgina show up there the next day. While we were their Lois & I went and seen the Locks and dam. Their is about 5 locks on the Tombigbee River which is a passage way to the Golf of Mexico.
March 27
Left Piney Grove and got back on the Trace to finish it. We travel about 130 miles before the end of the Trace which ended up in Nashville TN. We then travel another 138 miles to Cave City KY. Since we got here it has rained and has had tornado's around the area. We decided to hold up here for about 3 days till the weather clears a little.