San Antonio to Canada - Part Deaux - Page 8

Mike Lewis · 06-06-2016, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbryan4

We have Verizon. The phone right now has one bar of extended 3G, but the MiFi hotspot in the Wilson Sleek cradle has 3 bars of 3G. So, we're faster on WiFi. Still takes a couple minutes to upload photos or post, but it works.
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Same hotspot setup I had when I was there last year. Hmm. Maybe there's a new cell tower around there. Anyway, good for you!

I love Big Bend.

**rbryan4** · 06-06-2016, 07:51 PM

So beautiful here. If it wasn't for the occasional vehicle (and one guy in particular with a diesel truck who seems to have spent all day driving around the campground) it would be absolutely still.

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**rbryan4** · 06-06-2016, 09:06 PM

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**rbryan4** · 06-06-2016, 10:49 PM

The night sky above Chisos Basin is spectacular, but it's interrupted every 2 or 3 minutes by a car either entering or leaving the basin. It's almost 11 pm. Why are you driving around? Park it!

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LeonW · 06-06-2016, 11:44 PM

Nice panoramic photo of the trailer and the butte! Be sure to send it to ETI for the calendar!

**rbryan4** · 06-07-2016, 02:13 PM

Took the 70 minute drive from Chisos Basin to the Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande. The canyon walls are about 1100 feet, and straight up through most of the canyon. At certain points in the 8 mile long canyon, the walls are only 30 feet apart. That's Mexico on the left, US on the right.

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freespirit · 06-07-2016, 02:39 PM

nice place to camp down there by the canyon even for parking a trailer, complete with a few coyotes and possibly even a big cat coming thru camp at night...

escape artist · 06-07-2016, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbryan4

Took the 70 minute drive from Chisos Basin to the Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande. The canyon walls are about 1100 feet, and straight up through most of the canyon. At certain points in the 8 mile long canyon, the walls are only 30 feet apart. That's Mexico on the left, US on the right.

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Hi: rbryan4... If that's the case how are they going to get "T rumps wall" down thru there? LoL Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

**rbryan4** · 06-07-2016, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freespirit

nice place to camp down there by the canyon even for parking a trailer, complete with a few coyotes and possibly even a big cat coming thru camp at night...

We drove through the Cottonwood campground near the canyon Jeff, but the one thing we noticed was it was almost empty. There are probably two reasons: one, there's nowhere near the view we enjoy at Chisos Basin, and two, it's MUCH hotter there than Chisos because of the altitude. I'm typing this sitting under the trailer awning at Chisos, and there's a nice cool breeze blowing and it's around 80. At the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon it was 95.

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gbaglo · 06-07-2016, 02:48 PM

Probably fill the canyon with B.S. first.

**rbryan4** · 06-07-2016, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by escape artist

Hi: rbryan4... If that's the case how are they going to get "T rumps wall" down thru there? LoL Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

Yeah, no wall needed there Alf. 1000 foot cliffs on the Mexico side.

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freespirit · 06-07-2016, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbryan4

We drove through the Cottonwood campground near the canyon Jeff, but the one thing we noticed was it was almost empty. There are probably two reasons: one, there's nowhere near the view we enjoy at Chisos Basin, and two, it's MUCH hotter there than Chisos because of the altitude. I'm typing this sitting under the trailer awning at Chisos, and there's a nice cool breeze blowing and it's around 80. At the mouth of Santa Elena Canyon it was 95.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yes, we usually tent camped, back-packed, or mountain biked in Big Bend in the winter months..prefer cool weather and most of the rattlers have crawled under a rock, a few coyotes and an occasional big cat (paw prints only)...always fun....especially when it snows in Chisos Basin.
enjoy your time there..you have the somewhat boring 300 miles of I10 till you get home..and then if you wish post that round trip odometer reading for your adventure.

**rbryan4** · 06-09-2016, 03:52 PM

Well, this is a weird one. We left Big Bend yesterday morning, and headed for South Llano River State Park in Junction, right on the I-10 corridor. I intended to catch up on the forum and update this thread, but there was absolutely no coverage in Junction. So, where Verizon says it has limited coverage, there is zero, and where Verizon says it has no coverage (Big Bend), it has 2 bars of 3G. Go figure.

Anyway, we camped at South Llano River SP in Junction last night. Nice park with shady sites, and about a 1/3 mile walk to the river. The Llano river is up quite a bit and has a strong current due to the recent rains. Very cool and refreshing swim. There's a portage in two places in the park for kayaks, and it's about a 4 hour paddle to the Junction Dam park, 7 miles away in downtown Junction. We're gonna have to make a note of this place and come back when we want to paddle it.

**rbryan4** · 06-09-2016, 04:00 PM

We're home. Total distance traveled was 5034 miles. All but 115 miles of that was towing. Average fuel economy when towing (entire trip) was 14.8 mpg. About .7 mpg less mileage going north than the return trip south. Total fuel used was 340.15 gallons. Here's a map of the route north, and the return south. 5 nights camping on the way to Osoyoos, and 10 nights camping on the return.

cpaharley2008 · 06-09-2016, 04:11 PM

Thanks for the statistics Robert, I know several other Ford owners were interested.

**rbryan4** · 06-09-2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Thanks for the statistics Robert, I know several other Ford owners were interested.

You're welcome Jim. I should add the following: average towing speed on non-interstate highways was 58-60 mph, and 65-67 on interstates.

freespirit · 06-09-2016, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbryan4

We're home. Total distance traveled was 5034 miles. All but 115 miles of that was towing. Average fuel economy when towing (entire trip) was 14.8 mpg. About .7 mpg less mileage going north than the return trip south. Total fuel used was 340.15 gallons. Here's a map of the route north, and the return south. 5 nights camping on the way to Osoyoos, and 10 nights camping on the return.

thanks for the notes and the pics Robert....will help make a trip to Escape factory in a few months a smooth one.

drpaddle · 06-09-2016, 04:52 PM

Thanks for sharing your trip with us, Robert.

Jim Bennett · 06-13-2016, 05:06 PM

I too want to thank you for the details you provided on this trip, it was very insightful.

As well, it was great to meet you and Yolanda halfway through your journey. I very much enjoyed our chats in person.

**rbryan4** · 06-13-2016, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

I too want to thank you for the details you provided on this trip, it was very insightful.

As well, it was great to meet you and Yolanda halfway through your journey. I very much enjoyed our chats in person.

We never got the chance to crack that bottle Jim! Next time, we put a hurtin' on it.

Was great to meet you guys!

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