We have been to Big Bend National Park a few years ago but when Jerry and Holly mentioned to us that they would be in El Paso and would like to get together, we chose Alpine, TX and Big Bend as the location to meet.  As it turned out, Alpine was hosting the Cowboy Poetry Gathering while we visited so we got a three-fer: A visit with Holly and Jerry, a tour of Big Bend (with plenty of hiking), and a little bit of the "old West".