The other day something I read (don’t ask me what) made me
think of Terlingua, Texas. Generally, thoughts
bounce around in my head like tennis balls and now and then I manage to catch
one. When I started thinking about Terlingua, eventually I simply had to go back to the photos I took when Greg and I were down there in
January. We didn’t spend a lot of time
there. In truth, we just passed through. But the time we spent there made me curious
about it.
Terlingua was once a thriving mining town with a population
of around 2,000. These days the population is
more like 60 and it has the real feel of a ghost town. But, in spite of that, it is now the home of
the original chili cook-off and every year around 10,000 people stop by for
that. This year it is scheduled for October
30 through November 1. I wish I could be
there, but where visitors to this grand tradition will stay is somewhat of a
mystery to me. And I’m not one who would
be comfortable sleeping in a car…or even a tent. Even so, I imagine it will be a fun and tasty
time.
Here are a few photos of Terlingua and environs.
Now, maybe I can get another thought in
edgewise and get on with my life.
These photos were taken in the Terlingua Cemetery, which is listed on the National Registry for Historic Sites and is still in use today.
On further inspection, it looks like there are
places to stay around there. I think it
would be best to get the reservations in early, especially if you want to stay
in a nice, “quite” campground with free water and a tent with a shower.
You know, I can't help it. I absolutely love places like Terlingua!