Marathon, Texas ---- there's more!

Our visit to Marathon and the Big Bend area of Texas continued with a visit to the Big Bend Museum on the campus of Sol Ross University in Alpine, Texas, a short drive from our campground. 

Rose and Tex admire a replica of a carreta, the first wheeled vehicle to enter
what is now  the United States, in 1590.

Tex decided that he should experience the ride of a first class, beautifully made-in-Texas saddle.  He's still  trying to round up the $14,000 needed to buy such a saddle. 

Our view as our bus neared the McDonald Observatory, built in the 1930s,
to study everything from asteroids and planets n our solar system.

After a presentation about the sun, our guide took us to  view one of the huge telescopes.
The  observatory is  part of the Dept. of Astronomy at University of Texas at Austin. 

Jane is at the controls, positioning the telescope with a simple toggle .

Then we were off to the Fort Davis Drug Store for lunch…a really good lunch
and lots of interesting shopping.

But what was all the interest in the restrooms?
The decor was a one-of-a-kind and this sink was the focal point!

Viola was good natured when the broom-maker continued to hit on her. 

Fortunately, his brooms were better than his pick-up lines. 

With such a beautiful setting at our Marathon campground,
it was time for a social hour…or two!

Len and Ron give pie-iron fruit pies a try…and another try…and another! 

Tailgunner Rick helps Hollis create his pie iron pizza. 

The evening did not end with the margaritas and pie iron treats.  When the sky became dark, we learned why Marathon is one of the best sky-gazing locations in North America.  Danny, our campground owner, shared his telescopes and knowledge of the night sky with all who could stay up past dark.  Seeing the four moons of Jupiter was the highlight of our night-time adventure.  And though there was much more to see, we all knew that we would have an early wake up for the 300 mile trek to Abilene the next day.