Last year it was decided for me that we (by we I mean me) needed a vacation for sanity reason. So harkening back to days before the Kid, dogs, marriage, the Planner took me camping. An even though last year was cold in the mornings with frost on the tent, the days were beautiful and the hiking was great. With such pleasant memories, Boxes in Fields decided we would take another camping trip over the Thanksgiving holidays. Last year it was a state park in central Texas taking about six hours travel time to arrive and ended down in a river valley with no, NO, cell service. This year we decided with a bigger vehicle to travel and hold more gear, we headed out were there was more rugged camping and hiking to be done.

Leaving bright and early and only taking back roads and small farm to market roads, we headed to Seminole Canyon on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The Kid has never been in this portion of Texas and we saw some crazy things along the way. The most memorable was being so close to the Mexican border that our cell provider declared us out of range and a local burger joint from Big City #1 had opened up a location in a tiny border town not too far from the campground. Needing food we detoured to eat at the burger joint and was not disappointed. The burgers were just as messy, just as tasty, and just as reasonable in priced as they were when living in Big City #1.

Upon our arrival at the campground it was wet and cold so instead of being able to hike around we took the museum tour where the heat was blasting and the large windows allowed the beauty of the rocky terrain filled with fossils to be viewed in dry comfort. Deciding against two wet tents, we let the Kid camp in the truck and the Planner and I gritted our teeth against the cold. Luckily the campground had very hot water!

Day 1: traveled 330 miles taking 7.5hrs with only three stops

Needing to get out of the cold wet tent, we loaded up and gone from the campground just before day light headed towards New Mexico. Finally as we turned north the rain started to lessen even if the clouds were ominous making road side stops more enjoyable. Even if the stops themselves left me wondering about the state of humanity. We visited the Judge Roy Bean travel center where I left with the reaffirmation that power and greed walk hand in hand and then somewhere between Marfa and Van Horn we saw this crazy weather blimp. And by saw it, I mean you could see if for miles and miles before arriving at the gate entrance. Arriving at a campground just outside Carlsbad, NM we once again opted to pitch one tent as the weather had turned and it was calling for frost. It was cold outside but at least it was dry and not windy.

Day two: traveled 328 miles taking just over 7hrs with five stops

Monday we awoke to find ourselves not covered in a terrible layer of frost but temperatures were lower than predicted. It was so cold and with the sun trying to break over the mountains it only got colder. The poor Kid, he had on everything he brought. A t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt with hoodie, a beanie, a hooded light weight jacket, and two pairs of socks. Nobody packed for this kinda cold. Luckily for us the day was spent at Carlsbad Caverns and while it was cold under ground it was warmer than the temperatures outside. Sadly, today was the first day in over two weeks any of have seen the sun and it was spent underground. Go figure.

Carlsbad was breathless and if you are luckily enough to find yourself between tour groups the cavern is so quite you can hear your own heartbeat. It was a one of a kind experience that can never be replicated and I feel honored to have experienced it. And before you ask, I am not a true picture taker and outside the bat hole, I took not one single picture as I preferred to just be in the moment. Three hours in the moment to be exact.

After lunch at a local New Mexico style Mexican restaurant we arrived back at the same campground with enough time to wander the roads and warm our bones before the cold set back in. Standing there at this campground a few miles south of Carlsbad, NM, I could see all the way back to Texas. Just visible on the far horizon was Guadalupe Peak. It was impressive as we drove below it, it was impressive as I cooked a late dinner, and it was equally as wonderous in the late setting sun.

Day three: traveled 44 miles taking just over 2hrs with three stops

Having spent enough time in campgrounds with people and their barking dogs and stupid generators, we back tracked into Carlsbad to get more food supplies, water, and warmer clothes and then headed off to drive the back roads of Lincoln National Forest. After driving this road and that road, up this tiny mountain pass and back down, across washed out ravines and over rocky ledges to tight for my comfort, stopping to hike here and there to see various overlooks and natures wonders, the Planner found the spot.

Open campfires are not allowed in Texas except in vary rare situations and the Kid wanted to build a fire, roast marshmallows, and see the stars. Mission accomplished. All were happy until the rustling in the woods at dark and the ever presence knowledge of bears came into mind. Then the Kid was your best friend, your buddy, your third leg and arm. He did great! Or so I was told. I was so blasted cold, I was in the tent trying to get warm not long after dark arrived, waiting for morning to come so I could promptly return to the warmth of the truck. I was not having any fun.

Day four: traveled 46 miles taking just over 7hrs with too many stops to keep track

Warmth would not come and having read the forecast for the rest of the week, our camping trip was cut short. Snow was predicted by the end of the day. We left Lincoln National forest at 630am, drove 625 miles on the fastest route possible, and arrived back home at 914pm after three stops for fuel and two for food. It was a very long day.

To celebrate thanksgiving, we ate at our local Whataburger with the other local regulars wishing us a Happy Turkey Day. It was great. See the sweat shirt? It’s a lie. The Kid is wearing shorts, t-shirt, and flipflops underneath as home was experiencing a typical warm fall day. Knowing this Kid, he will wear his new favorite hoodie until it falls apart on his head. Sleeves will be shredded, hoodie tags will be tattered, and the poor thing will have lot all its warmth due to weekly washings.

The Planner worked on the Dwelling, I cooked yummy meals and piddled around in the yard, and the Kid was super energetic and built a new ramp for the chickens as the original one broke wearing one of his beloved shirts he can’t wear to school but represents the Kid through and through: “Ya’ll *** need science!”