Exploring the Big Bend

Having a friend visit is always a good reason to go exploring Big Bend. This last Summer, I traveled through a half dozen National parks, including Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Park, and I must say that Big Bend holds its own when compared to these more well known parks. Big Bend is the least visited National Park in the country, but has the highest percentage of return visitors. Those who make it all the way here, come back for more. The last few days, I did a lot of hiking, including 14 miles in the Chisos within 24 hours. The 14 miles included my first venture up Emory Peak, the highest summit in the Big Bend. Here are some photos:

a glimpse into the window

Starlight Theater Closes / River Trip

On the Starlight Theatre's last night ever, I ran into Billy, my river guide friend and he asked me to join him on a river trip the next day for the maiden voyage of his new boat through the Santa Elena Canyon. In the few years that I have been here, I had not done the full 21 mile downstream trip through the Canyon, I am almost embarrassed to say. Since I had to wake up before 7 am, I wasn't able to stay at the Starlight after midnight for the 50 cents any drink in the house deal and If I did, I don't think that I would have made the river trip.

Back on Ruby Road

I'm back in the Big Bend after an epic summer tour up to the NW and back over the span of over two months on the road. It was a fantastic journey but I'm glad to be back in the post monsoon green pastures of the Big Bend, here on Ruby Road.

Where Water Falls from the Sky

I came back home from the Kerrville Folk Festival to a full tank of pure rain water. I didn't have to haul 8 pound per gallon canisters from the water plant at 10 cents a gallon. Nor did I have to pay any municipality to pipe it to me. IT LITERALLY JUST FELL FROM THE SKY!

Now, if oil fell from the sky, which could very well happen here during the hurricane season, you'd catch it right?

Just sayin'.

The Desert in Bloom

A Bee In A Bonnet (Click to Enlarge)

Terlingua Chihuahua Races