Day 161 (Saturday 12/29/12)- Big Bend Park, TX

The western edge of Texas is so sparse you can drive half a day without seeing any sort of landmark, or even a gas station. It was through this deserted territory we spent the day, stopping at two worthwhile sites.

Fort Davis was a major base for Western Texas before and after the Civil War, housing over 400 soldiers in it's prime. We lucked into a tour of the barracks and caught a glimpse into how the men lived. We finished our walking tour of the grounds at the base hospital where we learned how little doctors could do for the sick during that time. So many things we shrug off today were death sentences back then.

Reaching Big Bend in the late afternoon we raced the setting sun to see all of the enormous park. So big in fact Texas actually shares the park with Mexico.

After having chugged up Guadalupe and Big Bend we now know that Texas isn't entirely flat. Just the rest of it. Just the next couple weeks of driving.

                       
                                     Soldier's beds at Fort Davis

                       
            Playing cards used to come without writing on them




                   
                                                          Big Bend