Big Bend National Park

22nd Jan
 

We set off on the I-10 (Again) - West and then South.  The terrain becomes more like we have seen in the movies, except were you might have seen the Indians coming over the horizon …… there were wind turbines! 

 

 

 

Big Bend refers to the U-turn that the Rio Grande makes in southwest Texas.  The Park is 800,000 acres and from the northern entrance to the south east area where we are camping was approx. 46 miles.   A cloud formation made it look like the Indians were sending up smoke signals.  We dry camp at Rio Grande village and the first evening we attended a presentation by the Park Rangers on the Stars as there is little light pollution here so you can see a sky-full of stars. 

 23rd Jan

Rio Grande Village
We walked the Nature Trail next to our campsite which goes down to the Rio Grande.  The River marks the boundary between USA and Mexico and 118 miles of the river borders the NP.  The river starts in Colorado but due to the various cities, industries and farms that draw from the river, little of that water gets this far south.  The water we see is from the Rio Conchos in Mexico and hence this is no longer a ‘wild’ river.

 

We meet a Mexican riding his horse across the river.  It is barely up to the horses knees.  There are signs stating that crossing the river to Mexico is illegal.  There are a number of ‘trinkets’ for sale placed on the trail by ‘locals’ from across the river but again notices state it is illegal to buy these goods.

 

 

 

Paul went fishing in the afternoon near the Hot Springs Canyon but only caught a turtle (by accident).  In the evening we attended another Ranger presentation on the biodiversity of this area and why it so special.

 

 

 

24th Jan

Hot Springs

We visited the Hot Springs.  The Spring fed water there is 105F.  It is right beside the river which is so shallow - and somewhat cooler! 
There are buildings here were there used to be a Trading Post.

We walked down to the Boquillas Canyon where we saw a couple of Mexicans on their horses crossing the river.




The backdrop to the campsite is the Sierra Del Carmen Mountains and the setting sun makes them glow.  Later that evening we sat by the river when a couple of Beavers swam past.  Coyote also come through the campsite when it was dark.

 




There were also some Road Runner bird around - not at all afraid of people.  They have been known to run at up to 20 mpg