Well, we don't have "West Texas Forum", so I'll post here....
OK folks, I think that we have done enough
research - it is time to try a trip to the Big Bend of Texas. I am calling this an "ala carte" weekend - you can pick and choose from the options available from local services while enjoying the company of other Rvators - or spend a little time lost in the wilderness by yourself! In short, I am not going to take or make group reservations - I'd like to have a list of who's planning to go, but I'll leave it up to each individual to call the park and reserve what they would like with regards to camping, bunkhouse space, and/or food. I've had enough experience trying to organize pilot's to know that it can be like herding cats (cats with strong egos!), so this way, everyone gets to do what they wish.
Dates: 16 - 19 Feb 2007. Come for all or part of a 4-day weekend - as many or few days as you like. (That is Presidents' day weekend for those that get the holiday). I have checked with the park, and they have plenty of space available right now at the bunkhouse, and camping is never booked up! The dates are picked to avoid the heat of summer, which runs from about April through November, and can melt tires!
Lodging: You can choose to primitive camp at "South Leyva", about 0.6 miles from the airstrip (they will help transport people to and from the airplanes) or stay in the bunkhouse/lodge (dormitory style lodging, men and women on opposite sides of the building, two beds to a cubicle), which is about a mile from the airstrip. Folks that are camping can choose to eat at the bunkhouse if they want, or bring their own food. Camping is $8 per night for up to four people. Bunkhouse is $25 per night per person.
Food options: Bring your own, or get it at the bunkhouse - Continental Breakfast is $6.00, Lunch is $8.50, dinner is $10.50. It's not ordering off a menu - it's what they are serving!
What to do:
1) They have guided horseback excursions right at the bunkhouse area - a 4-hour trip is $75 per person, an all-day is $150. (Personally, if I rode more than four hours, I probably couldn't climb back into the airplane!
2) You can hike just about anywhere you want to go for as long as you can walk! There are some pretty cool areas in the park, including a ten-mile diameter collapsed lava dome with a canyon where the water drains out. Might have to use part of (3) below to get there...
3) We are thinking that it would be a short ten-minute flight over to Terlingua where there is a gravel strip within walking distance of a jeep rental place. Rentals are $125/day. Two planes, four people, split the cost - fly over there after breakfast, go drive up to the National Park for the day, drive back, fly back to the State Park airstrip before dark - what a day!
4) Take an air tour of the Big Bend region. Don't cross the border into Mexico unless you want to attract black helicopters, but you don't want to miss seeing this landscape from the air!
4) Sit and watch the stars and spacecraft overhead after the sun sets!
Now, if there is anyone within reasonable driving distance of the park area that can't fly in, but wants to join the fun and provide local ground transportation?.I am quite sure that we can arrange numerous airplane rides for them for their trouble!
If you are interested and would like to take part in this weekend, please let me know, so I have a count (you can PM me if you don't want to advertise to the world where you'll be), and then call the State Park to make your own lodging/food reservations. We are NOT making a group reservation, but they will probably get the idea that an informal group is coming. Park phone number is
432-229-3416, and we'll be flying in to the State Park Airstrip, and staying in the area they call Saucedo.
I am sure I haven't answered all potential questions?.ask them here on the forum, so everyone can get the same answers!
Paul
Big Bend Fly-Out Weekend!
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