So we decided that we hadn't spent enough time in Texas and because of that we decided to take a 200+ detour down to Big Bend and see what it had to offer us.
The rest of our night in Marathon was a blasty blast. After relaxing around the hostel for the rest of the afternoon we then headed back out across the railroad tracks to grab some dinner in town.
We ended up at The Famous Burro, Bar a restaurant that had only just recently reopened and got some really good food and beer (we split some bacon wrapped jalapeño poppers which were incredible and then I had a buffalo chicken sandwich and fries) Sorry there won't be any pictures because I was too hungry at the time.... After dinner we played some games of shuffleboard and chatted with some of the locals and then headed back to pass out at the hostel. I got a great nights sleep outside in the half dome on top of the hostel.
The next morning we packed up and got breakfast at another little diner in town called Johnny B's and then prepared to get back on the bikes and head towards Big Bend and as we were a guy walked over to us and started asking us about the trip... This guy ended up being Buddy Hale who was the Principal in Odessa, TX when H.G. Bissinger was there doing the research for his book Friday Night Lights. He also played a small role as himself in the movie. He was really cool to talk to and was full of that Panther Pride for sure...
After talking with him we got to riding and rode 79 miles into the Chisos Basin in the heart of Big Bend. The first 70 miles weren't too bad and then the last 9 was absolute hell. The first 3 miles of the 9 had a slight grade and then in the next 5 miles we climbed over 2,000 feet in elevation. It was some of the hardest climbing I have ever done. It took us just about an hour to do those 5 miles and then we dropped down 500 feet into the Chisos Basin where our campground was.
We ate some sandwiches and had a few Tacate beers and then hunkered down into our tents for a good nights rest. We both slept surprisingly well, even with the wind gusting pretty hard and a few scattered showers throughout the night.
Today, Day 32, we used as a break day. Our first since leaving Austin last Sunday. We lazed around during the morning and then did a 5 mile hike out to Window Lookout which had some amazing views and then have been loitering around the convenience store, where there is internet!
Tonight, we've been invited to our camping neighbors, two fellow bike enthusiasts who we had chatted up earlier in the day, for salad and pasta and some more chilling and probably a few beers... Tomorrow we start our venture west again and out of the Park.
Entering Big Bend National Park
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