2023-9-21 Lajitas and Ziplining

 Thursday, some of the group that went to Boquillas or went canoeing headed back into Big Bend to see areas they had missed while some of us headed south to Lajitas.  It seems like the word about ziplining at the resort got out. Elaine said doing a zipline was on her bucket list and it seems like 4 other women agreed. It's about 25 minutes to Lajitas which consists mainly of the resort which also has an RV park called Mavericks and the Visitor's Center for the Big Bend State Park. We weren't sure where to find the zipline office so we asked an employee crossing the parking lot. He said it was his first day but if we could wait just a minute, he would be right back with the info and he was. He told us the shortest route would be to go through the lobby to the other side and go left out the door.

The lobby was beautiful and the staff was very friendly everywhere we went. This is the registration desk.

And this is the sitting area.

There was an open area between the hotel lobby and shops and the rooms on the other side. A large crew was in the process of putting in a concrete walkway down the middle. You can just make out the very neat motorized cement delivery machine. Out of the truck, into the concrete delivery machine, and unloaded into the formed area.

We found the zipline office and after a briefing, the women got suited up.

Here they are all ready to go.

The plan was for me to take pictures but that was foiled because the zipliners were whisked away to a canyon on private property via ATVs.

So the three of us who accompanied them to Lajitas checked out some shops on the way to the coffee shop and bakery. This T-shirt pretty much covered our trip but I was surprised they didn't add Lajitas to it.

We had to cross part of the construction area to get there. By the time we relaxed with our coffee and a cinnamon roll, the concrete was all poured in the main area and the crew was busy with forms turning it into "paving rocks". It was really amazing to watch them.

We checked out this corridor that led to a restaurant at the end.

There was inside and outside seating.

And a lovely green grass patio area. The golf course was off to the right.

After the zipliners came back, Elaine and I spent a little more time checking out Lajitas. This is the general store/gas station/snack place.

And this is Clay Henry, the mayor of Lajitas. It's a very small community.

We checked out the RV park but I didn't take any pictures as we drove through. There are many who love it but I would rather be closer to Big Bend if that is why I am in the area. I will admit the pool was nice. An those staying in the RV park have access to the resort and golf course.

Next we headed to the Visitor Center for the Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The Visitor Center had a lot of information about the area in an exhibit that spanned about three rooms. One unique thing about the state park is that while the park has camping, it is dry camping and the sites are located off to the side along the road that continues along the river headed towards Presidio. Apparently there are a few campsites further into the park on gravel roads/trails for the extremely adventurous.

A few more pictures of the intrepid zipliners.

Back at the office, this is a picture of the zipliners plus their guides on each side.

All in all, it was another interesting day in the Big Bend area.  we leave tomorrow but I am already looking forward to my next visit.

South to Lajitas

Since we were back at the RV park about 2:30 PM, we took a little time to just relax. Then we decided we would go south down the road towards Lajitas. It was one place where I had never been but, of course, I had heard about the Lajitas Resort.

The scenery was just as beautiful as in the park.

And we have arrived.

There is even an "International" airport.

We drove past the Resort part which looked like there were a lot of shops in addition to restaurants and motel rooms and a golf course. 

We saw a General Store, also run by the Resort but set aside from the Resort area.

They had a lot of items in the store that we weren't expecting. There was a section of fancy coffee.

......a large wine selection.

......and quite a few other alcohol choices...upscale of course.

And then Carolyn found La Michoacana........

........and fell in love. Strawberry, coconut, mango ice cream bars. They have a Mexican name and the lady working there said they were from Mexico.  However, they were made in California....we didn't disallusion her.

Carolyn always worries about find gas stations with diesel so she had to check this out.

Next we had the opportunity to meet the mayor of Lajitas.

Carolyn had to get his picture.

We also did a quick drive through of the RV park. It is a lot fancier and more expensive than our park but much further away from Big Bend and it is still a desert park which is not a bad thing.

We got a quick glimpse of some wild life......well maybe not so wild.

And, of course, we had to stop at the cemetery.

It is not anywhere as unique or interesting as the one at Terlingua.

We decided to go a little further down the road.

Once Carolyn saw this, we had to go ahead because she has never seen a 15% grade.

The Rio Grande runs along here and it looks a little swollen.

There were lots of interesting rock formations.

And a great picnic area.

We drove quite a ways but never saw what we thought was a 15% grade so maybe they meant 15% over the next 13 miles.

Back at the RV park, Carolyn replaced the burned out lightbulb in her tail light. I couldn't believe that she actually was able to get on at the little garage on our way to the park that morning.

In the meantime, I pulled out the grill and fixed us dinner.

It was good and cooled down enough that it was nice outside. BJs RV Park was not very busy while we were there but a week later people would start coming in for the International Chili Cook-off as well as to visit the park.