Southwest Texas Casita 🌵🏠

A tiny remote cabin for a long weekend getaway is always my idea of a good time. Can we be friends?!?!

Embrace the quiet….. but this was next level.

After an extra long day exploring the vastness of Big Bend, my 51st National Park, I was more than ready to find my own little casita somewhere between the only two towns (I use that word loosely) on this baron highway. And without cell reception, I had to go “old school” and rely on my hand written directions of between mile marker 55 and the big green building.

Being that southwest Texas is a celebrated dark sky area (minimal light pollution & perfect for stargazing), I took a gamble that the one, barely visible, small gravel driveway was for me. Jackpot! A small Piedra Poco sign on the metal fence was dummy locked, so I pulled up to my 10×10 hut. OMG!

I’m sooooo glad that this was a solo trip because I could already hear my friends bitching my ears off. BUT for me, it was exactly what I needed to refresh and be inspired completely off the grid. With only a bunk bed, microwave, desk, chair, coffee maker, fire pit and Wi-Fi, it was 100% my idea of an adventure.

The outhouse was literally a “poo” bucket, but I absolutely loved the rugged outdoor shower. How can it get better than bathing under millions of stars? And I swear the water was actually quite warm for about 10 mins before the heater would crank off. I’m super fortunate that the temps only dipped into the 40s so it was bearable (compared to below freezing the week prior to my arrival).

And for four glorious nights, I would hike all day to exhaustion, witness unparalleled sunsets silhouetted by the mountains and pull into my haven late evening with a big smile. And I should mention I never saw an actual grocery store for the entire extended weekend, so I lived on my stash of granola bars, oatmeal and ramen noodles. Plus one lunch at the lone gas station within 60 miles, that also just happened to make delicious personal pizzas!

And I have to admit, my mind started racing at the thought of me being alone in literally the middle of nowhere. Every slight sound made my heart palpitate a little faster…. crazy mind games going on!

After freezing night #1 and not having enough room in my only bookbag to pack a blanket, I figured out how to fire up the space heater and set it on 90 degrees the rest of the way. (Again, I couldn’t have gotten away with the overly toasty vibe with anyone else).

Plus, I’m notorious for loving to sleep in but I jumped up at every chance to take in the epic sunrises from my own fire pit. That glow was mesmerizing!

Overall, this was an unforgettable adventure even out of my extra wide comfort zone and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything! Minimalism at its best.