Wow! I have really neglected the blog lately. School has been busy, but I have also been lazy about writing. Hopefully, I will become better about balancing everything.

A couple weekends ago, we ventured out of town and down to the border to cruise along FM 170, also called, The River Road. Although we weren’t afforded the clearest view, even under overcast skies, the scenery was astonishing. I imagine it’s that much more spectacular under the gaze of a glowing sun.

Rio Grande River

We drove down Hwy. 67 to Presidio, an hour south of Marfa, and connected there to FM 170. There were few cars on the road, as the majority of tourists come in the spring and summer, so we had the road mostly to ourselves. It’s a truly grand feeling: miles from a sizable town, unreliable cell signal, and the Rio Grande dividing two countries with a shared landscape.

There were stretches of road where we abutted the river and others that took us through stunning vistas of Big Bend Ranch State Park. For most of our time on The River Road, the State Park was on our left encompassing an impressive expanse of 300,000 acres, and Mexico was just across the river on the right.

Our first sighting of the Rio Grande

See how close we are to the river?!

Hola, Mexico

The River Road cutting through the terrain

Overcast skies

The River Road

Looking toward Mexico

The River Road eventually left the State Park behind and we entered the town of Lajitas. It’s mostly a resort town these days with a luxury golf course and international air strip.

Old cemetery, newer gate