We’re In The Desert Now
Big Bend National Park, on the Rio Grande River
Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park
Arrived at Big Bend National Park yesterday (Sunday) morning after a grueling drive across Texas in high wind and rain.
I figured the best way to get out of all the rain and cold we were hit with along the Blue Ridge mountains was to head south and west – man were we wrong! We ran into even more extreme weather: tornadoes, flash floods and golf ball size hail in Little Rock (more on that and our visit to Hot Springs in a future post).
After that far too long drive across the oil patch of Texas – “Don’t Mess With Texas” – it’a already messed up! – we camped Saturday night in record cold at a State of Texas picnic pull-off about 100 miles north of Big Bend NP.
Nothing to fear, a man’s best friend looks out for him:
I decided to come this far south to begin the western flank of our adventure because the Park is located on the Mexican border, and was founded in a spirit of cooperation and friendly relations. A good time to restore that concept in the deplorable age of Trump.
The tremendously old geology and river canyons illustrate that national borders are minor artificial and temporary creations of man.
I am writing this brief note from the inn at Chisos Basin, where we stopped to get some shade and food.
Here’s some sights we’ve seen so far of the Chisos Mountains – later today we are touring the Rio Grande:
Bouy gets his first smell of the desert – Rangers warn that Javelina prey on pets!