Terlingua Ranch, Big Bend Texas
Terlingua Ranch, Big Bend Texas….. For the last hour we have flown over the convoluted landscape west of the Pecos, viewing the terrain carved by wind and water over eons of time. This is a harsh country with almost no surface water, little rain and sparse vegetation that consists mainly of cactus and creosote brush. But it has a desolate beauty reminiscent of southern Utah’s Monument Valley with fantastic carved outcroppings, dry washes and rocky ridges in rusty shades and tones of brown and orange. We fly over scattered small ranch buildings, often with a dirt runway nearby, a few catch pens and old trucks seemingly abandoned. Here and there, we spot wild goats and cattle gathered near the few water tanks. We stop in Terrell County for fuel, calling ahead to be sure the pump was working. The airport featured a concrete block building left unlocked for pilots who might need sudden shelter. Soon, the manager arrives, an old cowboy in jeans and a pearl snap shirt, who drove out ...