Advanced Planning, Waaayyy Advanced!

OK, first we'll just assume that we'll both still be alive in the spring of 2014. Don't see why not as we both avoid risky behavior....except maybe for riding our bicycles.

This, of course, follows our road trip that we will take in the summer of 2013 to Glacier National Park. But, planning these trips is a big part of the fun and enjoyment they bring.

Back in April of 1973, a couple of months after Jay was born...yep, forty years ago.... Linda and John took a week long trip to Big Bend National Park. History lesson: you had to keep your film in an ice chest to keep it cool so it wouldn't go bad. We still remember what an incredible and unique place it is and we want to go back. Having researched the best times for photographing wild flowers, we are planning to go in mid-April of 2014. It's a grueling 2-day drive from Morgan Hill, or a moderate 4-day drive. We haven't decided which we'll do. And, we don't have to decide.

When we were there 40 years ago, we stopped in Terlingua, Texas....home of the famous Terlingua Chili Cookoff. Our stop there was to take pictures at the old Terlingua Cemetary. At that time, Terlingua was pretty much a ghost town. Now there are motels there (many are pet friendly) as well as 17 restaurants. That's where we'll establish our "headquarters". Terlingua is about 30 miles from the park. The plan is for 7 full days (8 nights) in the park.

Being a road trip, Big Bend isn't the only place we'll visit. So far we're also including Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the Monohans Sand Dunes.

Oh, and in the very near term, we will be paying a visit to the Pinnacles National Park (was a National Monument until January 10, 2013). We'll post something here afterward and put up a link to a photo gallery.

For any of you who are interested in these places, here are some links to the National Park Service....
Big Bend National Park
Guadalupe Mountain National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Pinnacles National Park