Big Bend is in the Chihuahuan Desert, and maybe it's just me, but when I think "desert," I think, "hot. dry. snakes." But, this weekend, all I could think was, "cold. snow. bears." I've been to Big Bend for Easter before, and it got cool at night. Like, maybe we had some ice on our tent. But, this year? Full-on SNOW. Thankfully, we were staying in the lodge, but still, it's hard to gear up for some hiking when the wind is literally blowing you backwards and chapping the shit out of your face and hands.
When we got there on Friday evening, we knew something was awry when we saw this:
Totally creepy fog, covering everything. Hmmm - that's unusual. Yes, but you know what's even more unusual? This, which we saw on Saturday:
Now, there wasn't like snowdrift, snowbank, snowplow snow - just a pretty heavy dusting, and temps in the mid-20s, so WAY too cold for me and mine to be outside. We spent the better part of Saturday touring around the many little towns and ghostowns in the area, and that night, we finally broke down and rented a TV/DVD combo at the lodge (they don't have them in the rooms) because - Hello! - we were like, practically, SNOWED IN! We watched several episodes of Peach's new "Bewitched" DVD, and I finally realized that Larry Tate was a raging alcoholic. As a kid watching the reruns of the show at my grandmother's house, I obviously didn't get it that he was drunk off his ass most of the time or talking about getting drunk off his ass. That and the rampant chauvinistic comments aside, it's still a cute show, though, and Peach loves it. The Easter Bunny surprised her with the DVD on Friday morning before we left because he's so smart, he knew we were going to be out of town on the Big Day, and he didn't want us to have to schlep our baskets 400+ miles or have to hunt for eggs in the park among the weeds and the mountain lions and the BEARS.
Speaking of, damn, y'all! What's up with the bears? There were bear boxes and bear-proof trashcans every five feet all over the park because, apparently, we, as proud Americans, not only want ourselves and our children to be morbidly obese - we want the bears to be fat asses, too. I'm telling you, don't do it! Ranger Rick will SO kick your ass, and Smokey will probably torch your tent.
Sunday brought clearing skies, warmer temps, and as we headed out for the morning, I spotted this by the side of the road. Behold, The Easter Miracle:
Not surprisingly, Peach and Olive totally freaked out and were absolutely convinced that Peter Cottontail himself must have put it there. Or Jesus. Anyway, I resisted my urge to be a terrible Girl Scout and dig the guy up as a souvenir, and we went on to celebrate the Resurrection of the Son of God over some greasy diner food at the only place open in Alpine. When we returned that afternoon, we were met with sunny skies, just in time to get a few hours of hiking in. Finally.
Peach and Olive were absolute ANGELS the whole time, considering they spent the majority of the weekend in the car or the lodge. As per usual, Olive entertained us with her witty banter, alternately describing the scenery as looking just like Africa, Antarctica, and Australia. And when she spotted a particularly interesting rock formation, she squealed, "That looks like the Great Wall of China!" Three year olds. What are ya gonna do?
2 comments:
Obviously you have been letting them watch way too damn much educational TV.
That bunny cactus is AWESOME.
YES, the bunny cactus is an Easter miracle. Totally awesome.
Your trip triggered an Easter memory of a multi-family trip to Yosemite National Park-- I must have been 6, so a very early and fuzzy memory. I found that long-haired brunette/blonde Barbie (you could twist her scalp so she was either brunette or blonde) at the Lodge, but my mom wouldn't let me keep her. I remember finding chocolates under our pillows. That is all I remember. But thanks for triggering it with YOUR own family trip. ANd now I was stop blathering on.
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