Big Bend National Park

On our way to Big Bend we passed one of the "eye's in the sky's" we see in the southwest that search for warm bodies crossing the desert as the Mexican's come illegally into our country. We planned to overnight at the Marfa Mystery Light's viewing area. Pulled in, had lunch, met a nice fellow Phil traveling on a mission. Rollerblading Coast-to-Coast Across America. Check their site. http://www.inmotionforamillion.org/Had a nice visit. Set up the internet and checked the local weather. It was to be 19 in the morning. Hey, our plans are in jello so we left and arrived at Big Bend. We checked out a primitive camping site 3 miles from the visitor's center at Panther Junction right in the center of the southern section. A non-hookup site would have cost us $14 a night 1/2 price ( for 2 sites) but in the back country it was $5 for the entire week. Quiet with million dollar views.

Monday morning we took a hike to Balance Rock. It was 2.2 miles round trip. The yucca's are in bloom and they are so pretty. Starting with easy hikes as we haven't hiked since Thanksgiving.

After lunch we took a drive to Rio Grande Village campground area. So glad we aren't there. A side trip to Boquillas Canyon where we saw Mexican's crossing the river in a canoe to sell Sotil hiking sticks (it is illegal to buy from them).

We then did a long drive up Old Ore Road. 26 miles of high clearance road that took us 3 hours. Hairy but pretty. See the road in the middle of the picture? There was ruins of a homestead. Can't imagine the hardships these people went thru. Lots of history out here also.

This is just day one here so much to post will do it over several postings.