From E Paso we followed the I-10 eastwards (still having -14°C) to Sierra Blanca (20 inhabitants) were we stood overnight. Than we continued to Van Horn and took Hwy 90 southeast to Marfa and here Hwy 67 to Presidio (border town to Mexico). Here we paused 2 days to rest from the winter escape and Rita to cure the flu. And here the temperature rose again.

Presidio offer nothing special but the tour from Presidio to Big Bend is very nice.

Climate: sunshine; day temperature + 8°C and nights ´5°C

This 324 154 ha large Nationalpark southwest of Texas directly on the border to Mexico is one of the remote and unspoiled areas of the USA. And not many visitors - it is far away from the common tourist paths.

As per an Indian legend: „when Manitou created the world at the end he collected all the left overs and dumped it in Big Bend“.

And like this it appears: rugged, desert like, canyons, step mountains. And the river „Rio Grande“ has milled a deep bed into the rocks creating canyons 500 m deep - spectacular.

In the Chisos Mountains (up to 2.300 m high) you find trees and many wild animals - black bears, puma, coyote, deer, javelina, etc. And plants which grow only here and nowhere else.

Mostly impressed us the expanse of this region and the quitness - a great area and worth the visit.

Beautiful campgrounds are in Cottonwood, Chisos Basin and Rio Grande Village.

Climate: sunshine; day temperature +10°C and nights -3 °C 

                one day day temperature + 22°C and nights + 5°C

Form Big Bend we took Hwy 385 northwards through the park (a very interesting route) and in Marathon via Hwy 90 eastwards. We passed through Langtry - here the Visitor Center and the „Judge Roy Bean Museum“ is a must. This judge was more a business man and an „original persona“ than a „custodian of the law“.

Near Del Rio on the beautiful „Amistad Lake“ we stood overnight. We continued via Hwy 377 / 41 to Kerrville and further to Fredericksburg.

A very pretty town, amidst the Hill Region. Founded by German settlers in 1846 and even today a lot of the German heritage can be felt and seen. Streets and shops with German names, German food and beer and we couldn´t resist and tried it - and were very postively surprised!! A place we can recommend to be visited.

Climate: sunshine; daytime +16 °C and nights -2 °C.

This is the second largest city in Texas (> 1 mio. people) and the most popular one. In older times the Comanches lived here on the banks of the river San Antonio. Than the Spaniards and the Missionaries came, founded a missionary (1718) which was used later as a military fort and called „Alamo“. Here was the famous battle of the Texan Indipendents War against the Mexicans.

San Antonio today has a wonderful Center with the world famous „river walk“ along the river San Antonio - little Venice. Along this walk plenty of cafes, restaurants. Everywhere you see the Mexican influence

Claudias and Uwes tip to park and stay overnight directly near the River Walk was excellent. 

We can only recommend this:

Overnight Place: „King William Historic District“; from the „King William Road“ towards the „San Antonio River“ there are few „dead end“ roads which are ideal to park for overnight stay.

Climate: sunshine; daytime + 20 °C and nights + 3 °C.

The route from San Antonio to Corpus Christi (I-37) is just boring.

Padre Island stretches from Corpus Christi 177 km long nearly to the Mexican border. It is the largest „Barrier Island“ of the world. Wonderful white sand beaches - the sand is like „powder sugar“. The „Padre Island National Seashore“ itself is 105 km long. No paved roads - driving and camping directly on the beach is the motto.

The Island has plenty of birds (380 species has been counted) including Pelican and Sandhill Cranes, coyotes, deer, rattlesnakes and the nearly distingued „Kemp´s Ridley Sea Turtles“. We had beautiful climate - we could walk barefoot on the beach - we enoyed the waves, the wind and the see breeze.

The sand and the dunes are constantly on the move (strong wind, strong currents and the very fine powder sand leads to this). 

We really enjoyed the days here - we took few days off (holiday) from travelling.

Overnight Place: directly on the South Beach at Padre Island

Climate: sunshine; windy; day temperature + 21 °C and nights + 10 °C.

This park is famous for the near-extinct „Whooping Cranes“ which migrant from Canada every winter. Unfortunately we didn´t see this largest bird of North America. Besidesthis park hosts around 400 species of birds: Canada geese, sandhill cranes and many more.

Than animals like: alligators, snakes, white-tailed deers, javelinas and many more. The visitor center is well equipped and very informativ. 

We made hiking tours and have - the first time in life - seen alligators in natur quite near (in fact eye to eye). A special feeling - we survived because..... we are too slim and foreigners - they only eat Americans.

From Aransas Nat. Wildlife Refuge we took Hwy 35 northeast. We stood overnight in Palacios (at the „Matagorda Bay“). Unfortunately Palacios was a disaster - extremly poluted coast and the town just boring.

Next morning we were surprised by thick fog. We took the small Hwy 521 along the coast to Freeport along a penninsula („West Bay“) to Galveston. Here we wanted to see the „Moody Center“ but couldn´t find a reasonable place to stay overnight. With the ferry we sailed in the thickest fog to Port Bolivar (sometimes we had the impression that the captain was also lost). In Prot Bolivar we looked for a place to stay (at the beach). And the next day we crossed the border at Cameron to Louisiana.

Climate: foggy; day temp. +24°C and night +12°C

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