Byron and Anne's Snow Bird Trip

[Byron Kinnaman]

We're back home now after 97 days of traveling. The Scamp after a couple initial problems performed great. Here's some stats.
Average cost per night -- $7.30
Number of nights with electricity -- about 10
Coldest 5 degrees in Big Bend National Park. (Two nights)
Hottest 97 degrees in Cotton Wood Cove in Lake Mead National Recreational Area.
Most interesting place -- Many. French Quarter, New Orleans, LA ..Rio Grand Village, Big Bend National Park, TX .. Padre Island National Sea Shore, TX ..A car museum in Las Vegas, NV .. An old plantation near New Orleans.... The list is pretty big.
Sometime in the next few days I'll have my web site with daily logs brought up to date including a map of our travels.
http://trips.kinnamans.net

[Donna D.]

I was following your travel postings Byron and Anne... living vicariously! Welcome back to the Pacific NorthWET. Now that you're home, hopefully the sun will start shining for all of us!

[theresa p]

congratulations on the completion of such an interesting trip! i've read your blog and marvelled at all the species of cacti!
glad you are back safe and sound.

[Mike Magee]

I'm sorry you had to go back, instead of staying out longer!

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by Mike Magee

I'm sorry you had to go back, instead of staying out longer!

It was this way. We didn't find a place that wasn't either cold or close to 100 to stay and play. It was easier earlier in the year and will be again in another month or so. Things to do is also a part of the equation. There's only so much you can do in the north end of Death Valley with winds blowing the sand around.
But we're learning. Every year we learn a bit more.

[james kent]

I enjoyed your pictures. The flowers [cactus] look great. Thanks for posting.

[Byron Kinnaman]

I finally got the last of the trip posted including a map of our travels.

[melissab]

Were you ever uncomfortable being so close to the Mexico border with e'thing going on there now? We were wondering if Big Bend NP has had any troubles there. We'd like to go next time we visit the In-laws.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by melissab

Were you ever uncomfortable being so close to the Mexico border with e'thing going on there now? We were wondering if Big Bend NP has had any troubles there. We'd like to go next time we visit the In-laws.

As I understand it the closest town in Mexico, other than the small village just across the river, is over 100 miles away and it's a nasty dirt road to get there. The closest town to Rio Grand Village campground on the US side is about 130 miles I believe. As far as I can tell there's no water or shelter for almost 200 miles. That seems to be a enough of a deterrent to keep things quite. My understanding that the short stretch of the river will become an open border next year the beginning of April.
My understanding is that 9/11 created a real hardship for the village. Before they would come across to sell their trinkets and Americans would go across to enjoy a lunch at the Cantina.
We really enjoyed our 2 weeks there and had no concerns about anything other than the freak cold weather we had for a couple days.

[BigLew]

I really enjoyed your Blog. Someday soon we hope to also be doing the "Sat thing".
Thank you for all the great info.