(Originally posted by Sandra on Facebook on January 22, 2026)

In order to avoid the ice and snow predicted for the Davis Mountains and the I-10 corridor, we are moving as far south as we can without crossing the Rio Grande River.

We will not avoid the extreme cold in Big Bend National Park, but we are well prepared.

We are so thankful Belle stays warm and is a safe shelter from the wind.

I am sharing a few photos of our trip thus far. After two full days of driving west from Tyler, we stayed in Lampasas, Fort Stockton, and are currently in Davis Mountains State Park.

The state park is surrounded by mountains and is very quiet, except for the many birds.

We have hiked up to the ridge, enjoyed sunsets, and the countless stars in the sky.

We attended the Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. We observed Jupiter with clouds surrounding it and Saturn with its rings looking like a toothpick stuck through it. (Sorry we don’t have photos as we were not allowed to use our phones.)

We took a day trip to Marfa, the Chihuahuan Desert Botanical Gardens and a tour of Fort Davis.

West to Big Bend

Into Big Bend

2026