Agua Fria Springs

So a few weeks ago Bradwell decided to take me out to Agua Fria Springs. 
{In the 4 years that I have known him he has NEVER been in cold water. We will go to Vegas and in 105 degree weather he will sit in the hot tub because the pool is too cold.} 
We drive out there, it is 15 miles off road. We find this amazingly beautiful spot in the middle of no where. Bradwell tells me that we have to climb around on these rocks to get to the spring, we can't just walk into the spring as it is too muddy. Well, I didn't believe him and tried to walk through the mud, I slipped and fell and got my brand new bathing suit and running shoes completely muddy. Not just muddy but clay muddy and I through a fit. Once I calm down I start to hike climb up and around the rocks. 
Bradwell climbs up on this rock and jumps off, he does this a couple of times and then comes to where I am at and tells me to go jump off and he will take my picture. Again Bradwell has never been in cold water since I have known him so, I am thinking this is a cool spring or something not a freezing spring. I get up to the rock and jump off, and this water was so cold it hurt!! I am not kidding I couldn't get out of this water fast enough!! I should have known better especially since Reina puppy wouldn't even get in the water.
We got in a mud fight and ended up covered in mud. Bradwell told me it was healing mud and that people pay a pretty penny for a treatment like this free mud bath.  At the time this seemed like a good idea but when it came time to wash off in the spring I refused to get back in the water; so i ended up going home all muddy.
This would be a great place to go back to explore on a hot summer day and even camp there; during the winter its a cool hiking place but the spring is not so much.

what happens at the chili cook off stays at the chili cook off

When we found out that we were moving to Terlingua Texas Bradwell got SUPER SUPER EXCITED that we would be here for the International Chili Cook Off. I laughed at him. 
The Casi International Chili Cook Off, is the Chili Cook Off of all Chili Cook Off's. Over 15,000 people come to Terlingua Texas and camp out for a week just to be here. Its basically a big redneck festival. 
As Bradwell was trying to sell me on going to the Chili Cook Off; I told him I would go only because I get to eat chili. He looked at me in complete shock and very seriously told me 'Oh no! you don't eat chili at a chili cook off!' Well what is the point of going to a chili cook off if you don't get to eat chili?!?
Let me tell you. I made fun of this event for months, even more so when I found out that you don't eat chili. But this event was amazing! I hate to admit it but it is true 
A few years back they split the chili cook off into 2; one is the mature adult one and the other is the crazy wild party one. So of course we went to the crazy wild party side =) 
We got our bands and found a nice spot and set up camp! We were the most low tech site in our area. We had a fire pit, a tent and our truck. The next four days we stayed at the Chili Cook Off except for when we had to work =( 
There were costume contests, pet parades, contest on decorating the best camp, porta-potty, golf cart. All sorts of things. We stayed and tried to be part of everything we could but unfortunately work sometimes got in the way.
Reina puppy was a great sport through this whole thing. She would run around all day and night with us and would keep guard in the truck as we slept {I don't think she slept for 4 days}  
We actually were able to be at the chili cook off itself!! Not as exciting as I thought it would be, especially since you can't taste the chili. yes I am still bitter about that  We almost got to be a judge but signed up too late. As they were judging the chili other vendors set up and had carnival activities to keep the spectators 
Overall it was an experience and it was definitely something that I wont ever forget!

Got our wrist bands!

The Big Stage!

Where it all happens!

Golf cart parade

I was very warm sleeping in my mummy bag

girls day out

After a week of living at Lajitas Ashley and I decided we needed a girls day out. Both of the guys were working so we went out  We had our own private zip line tour, there are only 4  lines open but it was still fun. We soared over the desert landscape some points were over 3,000 feet and over half a mile long. After we went zip lining we had lunch and then went horseback riding.
It was the 1st time I have been on a horse since i was in kindergarten. I was nervous I climbed on to my horse Chiquita; this brown giant that could throw me off at any moment if she wanted to. Our wrangler said OK get in a single file line and follow me. I laughed and was thinking are you kidding me? How am I suppose to make a horse get in a line? Well the horses are very well trained and just went right into a line and stayed in line the whole time. Ashley's horse was hungry and did not want to be on the trail ride. He kept stopping every chance to eat something or would just stop for no reason. We got up to the mesa and watched the sunset over the golf course and Rio Grande River. On the way back to the stables one of the other horses had a freak out moment and refused to walk past the tractor that was on the side hiding in bushes. And then a little bit later Chiquita had a freak out moment and didn't want to walk past a few bushes that were sitting in the shadows.
We got back to the stables our legs and butts sore and ready for a hot shower!

Lajitas Texas...How did we end up here???

Last winter as I was sitting at Lake Powell bored out of my mind, I started looking for other winter properties. We are not fans of the snow or cold; especially since we live in a trailer. We knew we wanted to live in Texas to be closer to Bradwell's family. So as I was online I found this beautiful resort of Lajitas. It is a nice small property one restaurant, 101 rooms sitting right on the golf course. It is nestled between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park. I was so excited we had Plan B just in case we didn't get the contract to work at Big Bend National Park.
I went home that night and started to tell Bradwell about this property and he immediately told me no. No, we will not work there, we won't make any money and people who have worked there never had anything good to say about it.
So, we forgot about it and continued our search for a winter property that wouldn't be in the snow.
Let me tell you there aren't many of those properties.
We put in our applications to Big Bend talked to the General Manager {someone Brad new personally and has worked with before for many years}. Unfortunately he was fully staffed. Plan A, the one that we were banking on flew right out the window. Back to the drawing board. Despite Bradwell's reluctance we put in our applications for Lajitas, they called back and we got the jobs!! We were headed to Texas! The Big Bend Region.
Now I have heard many amazing stories about this place and how wonderful it is. Bradwell couldn't wait for me to live here and experience the greatness of Texas and Big Bend. I new that I was going to be in the middle of now where and I was OK with it. I lived at the North Rim I was in the middle of now where there and was just fine. Little did I know what I was getting into. I live near nothing! The closest 'town' is a ghost town, yes that is right I live near a ghost town. You need to get groceries? Need Gas? Want to go out to eat? Do something off property? Well you must drive 20 miles one way. If you are going to go to 'town' it is at least an hour drive round trip not to mention what ever you need to do while you are in town. {I am from So Cal I drive I actually don't mind the commute. But I am from Orange County and am use to having everything I need or want less than 10 miles away} The closest town with a real grocery store is 1 1/2 hours away. The closest town with a Walmart and fast food is 3 hours away. The closest city with real shopping is 8 hours away! Did I mention that I live in the middle of no where??
But the area is beautiful and lots of places to go and explore and see. We are both starting to get into hiking and enjoying our time in the out doors. We are lucky enough to have moved her with some friends from Lake Powell. And the place is slowly growing on me but not enough to stay here for more than one season. Only 4 1/2 months till we move but who is counting down

A Beautiful Sunset behind the local church

Did I mention that our Mayor was a goat?? A beer drinking goat

On the Road to Lajitas Texas

Hey everyone!! So it has been over 2 years since i posted anything.

Well, we just moved to Lajitas Texas. We towed our RV for the first time and drove over a 1000 miles!! It was the most stressful drive of our lives. We made a few wrong turns and ended up on back country roads {let me tell you those are not the roads you want to be on if you are towing especially if you are a first timer} but we made it safely.
The first day was by far the hardest, Bradwell drove about 150 miles at 45 MPH. There was no music or talking and he didn't want me sleeping. I looked out the side mirror the whole time making sure he wasn't swaying to much or going over the white line. While he was having the most stressful drive ever.That night when we got to the hotel we couldn't back up the RV for the life of us, As we were out in the parking lot yelling at each other trying everything we could think of to back this thing up a couple of truck drivers came out and helped us out! If it wasn't for them we may still be there trying to back up our 35' trailer.
The second day his confidence and mine was much better in driving this beast not so much in parking yet. And were able to drive about 60 MPH and went about 250 miles that day. I was also allowed to listen to music and talk. I still had to watch the side mirror and couldn't sleep but that's OK.
By the third day I was willing to give the wheel a shot and drove for an hour or so, but only on  freeways and straightaways.{No back winding roads for this girl}
Reina puppy is a great travel dog. She laid in the back seat the whole time. Every time we stopped before she got back in the truck she would have to sniff the trailer and make sure her home was still there. Silly puppy. 
We could only drive 60 MPH  for 5-6 hours a day and on a good day that would be 300 miles. It was a long slow trip but we made it. It only took 6 days to go 1000 miles.