I headed toward the Guadalupe Mountains next. This national park is in a very remote area where fuel–along with everything else–is hard to find. I ended up staying in an almost-empty, privately-owned campground that I found by literally driving by. No one was there but I peeked in at a brand-new bathroom with showers as well as a small but also brand-new laundromat. In the middle of nowhere, those were a very welcome sight, so I decided to stay. It took a little work to find out how to pay. I came to find out the owner (whose house was a few hundred yards off the highway behind the campground) was on vacation in Alaska(!) but I called & was able to pay him over the phone. He was extremely nice and he told me his uncle was keeping an eye on the place while they were gone. I later met Dave, the uncle, who was also very nice. It’s so comforting to find good folks when one is in the middle of nowhere! Their place was some distance from the Park but still served well as a base while I explored the area. I ended up staying an extra day because, of all things, a sandstorm which dangerously affected visibility on the highway leading to the Park.
At the campground, I met a young German man named Philip who was/is exploring the U.S. He was very nice also and we found we had photography in common. His work is very good.
This area counted among the top three or so of the “most remote”, especially when it came to fuel. The tiny town of Dell, several miles away (opposite direction from the Park), had one or two mom-and-pop stations with either limited hours or limited paying options. It was definitely different but doable with help/info from local folks.
The Park was different, too, as it doesn’t have any roads *through* the Park. It is accessed only through formidable hikes. After visiting the visitor center (which was good), I took a short hike on the outskirts and explored an interesting historic ranch. The other hikes were too long for me, and Sadie wasn’t allowed on any of them, anyway. Maybe return at a cooler time of year & when I’m in better hiking shape…?
Also, the wind was absolutely crazy here. I don’t know if it’s always like this, but no matter how tight my ballcap was “fastened” on, it still kept blowing off. Had to go around with hat hair. An example of the wind is included in the video after the gallery, below.
(more info in captions)
TEXAS. MAY.
My Side of the Adventure 