March 9
Big Bend National Park; Boquillas del Carmen, Mexico!
Big Bend has never even risen to a "wish we could go there" list level, but we realized we could at least spend 1/2 day in the park, so we did! Scored a campsite so off we went through the Chihuahuan Desert to the incredible -- truly incredible-- scenery of the Chisos Mountains.
As campsites go, we love the ones run by state and national parks. We were greeted by a squadron (yep -- I looked it up -- that's the right term) of Javalinas, and a coyote. Bear food lockers are at each campsite but no bear sightings here. We didn't have time for any hiking (and probably wouldn't have done much if we'd had it), but we took advantage of a chance to cross the Rio Grande in a row boat into Boquillos Del Carmen, Mexico. Its the only legal crossing in the park.
We had our required chat with CBP, presented our passports and were instructed to be careful about what we brought back. The River was a bit of a disappointment as rivers, go. It was maybe 30' wide and the water was so low that we could have walked, if allowed, and indeed, when we came back into the US, the row boat driver did just wade across pulling the boat. I don't know if we can say it gave us a sense about what its like to enter the US by wading or swimming across the river -- I'm sure it was at its lowest -- but it did give us a hint. The river isn't really the problem. The physical environment on both sides would be hard to survive without a ready water supply, and the man made environment doesn't appear that friendly either.
A walk of about 3/4 of a mile brought us to the town, but we could have chosen to ride a horse or burro, but, you all know -- we're walkers!
As is typical of border villages in other places we've been, it was a dusty single dirt road sort of place full of souvenir stands . I bought a walking stick -- need to support the local economy, yes?
Here's the view shot of the town -- too bad about the hazy day; it would be nice to see those really high peaks in the back ground. And, of course, the lazy outdoors restaurants-- (chips and quac, and an orange Fanta!) that we love. but also a full solar farm to power the town and it's well. We found a elementary school with a separate building for kindergarten in the morning and the junior high kids in the afternoon. (no pictures of the school). High school kids have to go to another town -- supposedly about 160 miles away.
Here's Bill with our guide, Max (we don't think we would have been allowed to wander without Max or if it was a money making thing, but we didn't challenge it. Very nice fellow!
The rest of the day was a long drive to Sonora, Texas with a stop for lunch at a French grocery store, or the only grocery store, or perhaps the only store, in Marathon, Texas -
And on to Austin to dog sit for our grandpuppy, Roux.
Woyaya!
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