Big Bend National Park

I guess it's mama's turn to contribute to the blog. I think I get to write about the best day yet!

We traveled from Alpine, Tx south on 118 to Terlingua and pulled into an RV park, got settled and headed straight into Big Bend National Park.

We drove through the main gate and purchased a week pass for $20 and got some maps and decided to drive the 25 miles to the main visitors site to get our bearings. Big Bend is one of the largest parks (over 800,000 acres) and the least visited park in the system. We agree: This is a Best Kept Secret and everyone should come here once!!

Having made the "upper west" trip three years ago (New Mex, Arizona, Colorado, Utah) we noticed that geologically, you find much of the same rock types, formations, colors, etc here in Big Bend as you get in many of the parks farther north. Of course, those parks (Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, etc) are NOT to be missed but you do get a taste of them all in one park.

It is simply GORGEOUS, MAGNIFICENT, GLORIOUS. Those are the words I would use, just to start. We haven't even begun to see what is here but already we are blown away. Today we took a hike through the Chisos Mountains to the "Window" (pictured). We saw deer and birds. Both boys are "birders" and chased the birds around quietly trying to get their picture to identify in our book later. It turned out the one we loved the most is a Silver Cardinal. The view was not to be believed and cannot be captured on our simple 4 megapixel camera.

On our way in we saw a pack of javelinas or piccary (wild pigs pictured). They are rumored to be able to tear up a man if they feel threatened. We sure saw a lot of them along the roadside. We hope we don't encounter too many while out on the trails!
In the literature it said that no matter where you are in Big Bend you are in the territory of at least one mountain lion. That is a little wild! Also, black bear roam freely here.

We capped the day by having dinner at the Chisos Mountain Lodge overlooking the canyon. This was recommended as a splendid place to have dinner and watch the sun set. Beautiful! We understand why the park is said to be "God's country and the devil's playground". What a wild and wooly place!

We drove back to camp and the stars began to come out. By the time we got back and stepped out of the truck we were all awestruck at the sight! We had purchased a star chart so we got it out, along with our red tinted flashlight (so it won't "ruin" your eyes to looking at the stars) & we did an impromptu astronomy class.

:-) "School" happens everywhere!

As we were preparing for bed we heard a noise -- coyotes! We rushed to the door and the dogs were barking and howling and carrying on. We could see around the park that lots of people were peeking out to get a glimpse of them but we never did see them. They were very close, though.

We were all awakened at 4am by a wind storm that literally rocked the RV for about an hour. (At breakfast our waitress said there were gusts over 50 mph). It reminded me of when I was a girl and we took boating trips to the Bahamas each summer and sometimes summer storms would pop up in the night and my dad would creep around making sure the anchor was holding and that all was well. I imagined that all the men in the park were awake and wondering if their rigs were going to topple in the wind! It was exciting!

We are LOVING this trip! Living simply in the RV, having our "home" everywhere we go, and being able to experience God's creation so up close & intimately has been such a gift to our family!!!