A sudden realization that I have a three-day weekend instantly translates into an opportunity for a weekend trip! There are a few particular places Jacob loves in Texas. Torn between Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains, we took off right after work and headed west. About four hours into the drive, Jacob decided he would take me to the highest point in all of Texas, and I am so glad he did. Here are a few shots I took while hiking mountains and playing in mud puddles. Check out finwoodphoto.com for a more accurate illustration of the stunning Nation Park.
It took about 10 hours to get there. Jacob drove through the night only making pitt-stops for coffee, bathroom breaks for me, and a quick nap. We made it to Guadalupe Mountains just in time for sunrise. Without saying, upon first view we had to pulled over on the side of the road to take in the view & capture the moment. No "litteaing" please. Such beauty should never be destroyed.
After setting up camp, and by that I mean watching Jacob pitch a tent, we headed up the trail for an afternoon hike. We made a few stops for pictures, play and I did some yoga. Then we hung out at the top for bit. It was a hair-raising view that would really require days to take it in all in and appreciate the nature that surrounded us. But we took what we could get.
It's not all play and no work on our little trips...
On Saturday evening we got the single key ( Jacob knows all the secrets to places like this ) to a hidden gem lying deep within the mountains...the ol' William's Ranch.
However, a pipe in the road presented us with a minor glitch. So we hiked the rest of the way to the turquoise house built in 1908. Few know about it let alone have been there. I feel so grateful Jacob shared this spot with me. With not a soul around for miles, except lizards and rattle snakes, you can feel the amount of history encompassing the house and ranch. We snapped photos, sat on the porch & watched the sunset transform everything it touched into a fiery orange.
After hiking back to the 4Runner, Jacob took night shots, while I laid on roof under the clear, bright Milky Way. Then, a UFO landed & we had an alien encounter. Actually, the last picture is what happens when an amateur photographer (me) takes night shots.. or is it?
One of my favorite parts about Jacob and I's trips are the moments that come unexpectedly. We turned onto a dirt road that ended up being flooded. The road also led the way to a mini adventure, fun in the mud, and snacks and beers in the sun, in the middle of nowhere.
I asked Jacob if I could get out and play in the mud, to which he responded, "absolutely not." Two minutes later...look who steps out to "test the waters" and see if the 4Runner could take on the flood. Now that was fun...
Sunday night we took one last night hike and because we both like to keep things exciting, the wind swept away Jacob's favorite hat while standing on the same rock home to a cactus I decided to sit on. This wasn't the first trip sweet Jacob had to remove spines from my skin.
I have been really missing out on something special since it took me over a year of living in Texas before I got to Guadalupe Mountains. And yet there are people who have lived their whole lives here and not experienced the wilderness wonder. Thank you Jacob for sharing this breathtaking, sacred location. Back to reality...at least until next weekend's adventure.