Yesterday afternoon we got back from a 4 day vacation at our family’s cabin in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. We finally got my in-laws out there with us this time and I think they really enjoyed it. Once Bobby got over his frustration at the bad washboard roads he had a great time. At one point in the drive up the mountain (in my Dad’s truck) he looked over at me and said (with wide eyes) “now I understand why you need 4 wheel drive out here”. If you haven’t been to our cabin before, the drive up Remington Ridge is pretty rough. The 4 wheel drive in my Blazer wouldn’t engage for some reason and I barely made it up the mountain, probably only because I have driven it before and I know the rough patches and how to navigate them. Loretta had the same reaction as Amy, not wanting to look over the edge. There are a couple of very rough and steep switchbacks and a couple of patches of badly washed-out road.

Our cabin has no electricity, telephone or traditional sewer/water. We haul our own drinking water and a rain collection system provides for cooking, and bathing water. A propane system powers a small RV sized fridge, stove, water heater and lights. There is a toilet and a nice big fireplace. Most cell phones work but the signal is pretty weak.

This trip marked the first time in almost 2 years that I had been out there, easily the longest stretch in my life. Before I went to college we made the trip at least twice a year. We couldn’t go last year because the water tank in the cabin was busted and we had to wait on a replacement (thank you Uncle Lenny).

I think Bobby’s interest in wildlife was satisfied with all the Whitetail and Desert Mule Deer. There were also a number of different types of birds to identify. He never saw the coyote or mountain lion he was hoping to and amazingly enough we encountered no snakes.

We celebrated both my birthday (big 31) and Easter while up there. We had an easter-egg hunt, went on a few hikes, gave the in-laws a tour of the area, ate quite a bit, repaired the wind damaged roof of a shed and relaxed a whole lot. I made it almost completely through the new 37signals book: Getting Real. Holy cow, if you develop, design or are in any way, shape or form involved in software development especially web application development, you need to read this book. More on that topic later.

If you are reading this and thinking that you might have a hard time dealing with no phone or internet for 4 days, you really need to try it. There is no better way to clear your head and really relax. Take lots of reading materials, turn off your cell phone, find a comfortable place to sit outside and take a deep breath.

I’m glad to be home but I really do love that place.  It’s a 6 hour drive from Boerne and 4 wheel drive is almost a requirement but it’s the one main place I can go to relax and unwind.