Davis Mountains State Park, 3/16 - 3/18/15

23. Scampsite #50.  We arrived here after lunch in Balmorhea.  Our friend's family stayed in Indian Lodge, Aaron and I Scamped in the park.   Monday evening we hiked down from the top of the Scenic road with our friends.  We made shishkabobs on the campfire for dinner and baked apples on the coals.  We cooked rice in the trailer and discovered that the water in the campground made it taste odd!

View from the Scenic road trail down the canyon.

Scampsite #50.

Tuesday was drizzly and chilly, so our friends went to Marfa for the day while Aaron and I hiked the Old CCC Trail and Skyline Trail.  After our hike we met them in Ft. Davis to investigate the local shops and Aaron and I visited the inside of the gorgeous old courthouse.  We talked to the Judge, who was a real character and looked like she stepped off a movie set: plaid shirt, neckerchief, vest and cowboy hat!

At the top of the Old CCC Trail, the grill part of the stone overlook shelter, built by the CCC in the late 1930's and early 1940's.  

View of Ft. Davis from the Old CCC Trail.

We decided to go to Alpine for dinner since it was still raining, which ruled out a campfire and the Scamp isn't big enough to feed 6 people and 2 dogs!  We found an Italian restaurant, La Trattoria, and ate there.

Wednesday was still rainy and cloudy, so Aaron and I visited the bird blind, which was lovely.  The nice thing about bird blinds is that sometimes there are more-knowledgeable birders there who are happy to help my novice self!  When we all left the Davis Mountains, we headed to Monahans Sandhills State Park.

Javelina are nuisances and unafraid - this one is right next to our trailer! Gordie just about had a fit barking at it from inside!