2022 Travel Log #8 Criminal Activity, Alpine, Ten Bits Ranch and the Beginning of Big Bend

 If you saw the post on Facebook, our time at Stockton was pretty anxiety provoking, angering, confusing...We stayed there 3 nights due to the snow that came in. We thought we were just going to rest a few days, enjoying the hot tub and pool. I did the hot tub, but an indoor pool is usually still cold to me!

The day before we were leaving, we decided to drive around a bit, looking around and grabbing some food before we left for Big Bend the next morning (which is about 80-100 miles from a regular grocery store). We drove down a few roads in town and then Johnny turned down a highway. A few minutes afterward, a highway patrol got right up behind us for about 30 seconds-a minute as if he was running our tag or something. No worries, right? We continued down that road about 8-10 miles and realized the scenery wasn't going to change. At one point, we pulled over and I took this picture.

We turned around and headed back to Stockton. When we got close to the intersection where we needed to turn left, we were surrounded with 4 officers (one on the left and three behind us). This prevented Johnny from signaling to change lanes and doing what he was intending. The officers continued to stay beside us and at this point, were were feeling a bit panicy wondering what in the world is happening and what we should do. There was an empty lot on the right so he turned his blinker on about 50 ft from the lot and we turned in. At that point, they turn their lights on--surrounding us and another officer arrived and parked in a different spot than the 4 that were already surrounding us. The officer approached and stated we were being pulled over because we didn't signal the required 100ft. before a turn. Johnny explained he was trying to turn left but an officer was blocking us from being able to do that. He said I turned in here to see if you guys wanted to talk to us. He said we were on a road popular for smuggling and we became suspicious when we went down the road and then came back. The officer got Johnny's license, went to his vehicle and said he was writing him a warning because the law is that you signal 100ft. before a turn. Forget that they targeted us and forced us into a nerve racking situation (all of which occurred prior to the signaling incident). Anyway, after that, we went to pick up food and had to decompress the rest of the day. It really created havoc mentally and emotionally. Johnny went and sat outside for a while, and eventually was able to process it by writing a song. Me, I did my mental processing and then took a nap! It really made me dislike Texas a lot. Oh--and just in case you were wondering--my picture taking happened after it was ending--so that did not create this excessive response.

So--good riddance, Fort Stockton!! On the way to Big Bend, we got in some steps at Alpine, TX. It is another little artsy small town. 

I loved this gate.

Guess what? Another bicycle!

Pretty creative slogan for a lumber company (in an area where there are 0 pine trees!)

The next stop--Big Bend--finally! Before we even got to the fee booth, Jackson says, "I want to go climb that." So, we do it. We pull over and trek out to explore. 

He wanted to climb that camel looking thing in the back (this picture is deceiving in regards to height!)

I always think that desert photos look photoshopped!

2 ways down--Jackson demonstrates one and John the other!

After that we drove in the park a bit and did the Window View Hike and had a picnic.

We then left to go find the place we were staying, as it was recommended to be there before dark so you can get oriented. It runs off of solar power, and it is 2 miles down an unlit dirt road. 

Many of the rooms are staged to look like an Old West ghost town.

This is a large shared cooking area/kitchen that is fully equipped--commercial stove/oven, fridges/freezers and an outdoor grilling area. They provide some breakfast items.

This is the unit we stayed in.

This was the view from our porch.

This area was behind us. Jackson was ready to explore it. John stayed in the room during this one!

Evening sunsets were AMAZING!!!!!!!

No pictures I put on here are filtered!

I have so much more to share about our time at Big Bend, but it is time for us to pack up and get out of this room for today's adventure!