Big Bend National Park, Day 2

Mama here again :-)

Today we got a late start because of the wind storm last night. Things settled down around 6 am so we all went back to sleep until 8am. By the time we were up and around, got down to the cafe for breakfast, back to the RV again, and out the door, it was nearly noon.

We headed to the Terlingua Ghost Town about 5 miles west on 170. We stopped at the Trading Post to get a self guided walking tour. Terlingua was a mining town around the turn of the century. The town has capped off 70 mines for safety reasons right around this region. They had one for us to peer down into by putting a 8 x 8 metal grate over the mine entrance so you could still clearly see the shaft. The boys dropped small stones down the shaft and we all listened and listened and listened and then finally heard a slight "clack" as it hit bottom. Pretty creepy to be standing over a hole that deep!

We also saw the one room jail and the iron spikes they chained the "over flow" prisoners to when it became full. We were able to walk through the ruins freely and Daniel even found some home made soap someone had made in times past in a natural "bowl" in the rock. It smelled just like old lye soap.

After we were done there, Big Bend National Park was once again calling our name. We drove back inside and this time decided to take the scenic drive down into Santa Elena Canyon. Breathtaking scenery for all of the 18 miles to the canyon.

We parked at the trail head and forded a branch of the Rio Grande to get to the trail that led out into the canyon. The sheer walls of the canyon rose 1500 ft on either side of us. The Rio Grande, a bit muddy, snaked its way through the canyon.

Maybe this satellite picture will show you enough details to see what I mean.

We met up with a neat couple from near our home when we lived in Germany some 16 years ago. This couple home-built this unbelievable rig and are on a year long trip through Canada, the States and Mexico before heading home. In years past they have taken a year here and there to go to Africa and all kinds of neat places. See the size of those tires? They can easily go through three feet of water. They never need to "hook up" because they generate their own power and have large battery banks.

What was particularly neat for me was that I have read about them on the internet over the past couple of years, so it was kind of like meeting celebrities :-). They were a super nice couple and eagerly answered all our questions and were equally curious about our American lives.

On our way out of the park we saw a coyote who let us mess around and take a bunch of pictures and trail along as he hunted and "did his business" (like any other dog!). Unfortunately, the best picture was the one doing his business so that is the one I will share.

It was cool to see one of the animals that was making so much ruckus by our rig last night.

As we left the park a group of deer crossed the road which started Chaucey barking like mad. The deer bounded away up into the hills, white tails in the air...that sure is a perty sight!

Thus ends our second day in this unbelievably beautiful place!