I’m in a hurry to get out and take in some of the excellent and varied hiking in this area, so this post will be mostly photos – with descriptions!
As I mentioned in the last post, we are right on the Mexican border here, which is the Rio Grande River. There is no fence, no signs, no wall, and no Border Patrol. Just a shallow river.
The start of the ‘Nature Trail’ leading from the Rio Grande Village campground.
Crafted ‘scorpions’ for sale and a jar for your money!
The left, or far side of the river is Mexico.
This is a Mexican army patrol on the far bank.
A Mexican cowboy and his dog.
A boat launch on the US side – leading directly into Mexico!
Santa Elena canyon; far wall Mexico, near wall US.
I tossed a rock across the river into Mexico here – underhand!
Luna’s Jacal, on the Old Maverick Road.
A view on the Maverick road near sunset.
Fuel stop just outside the west end of the park at Study Butte.
PS: While this post was still uploading, the border patrol proved me wrong! They just arrived at the campground and landed in two helicopters! I guess they do show up here on occasion - or maybe they caught wind of the people in the riverside hot springs last nite, swimming across the river and coming back with a Mexican rocks as souvenirs!
Oh your photos make me long to revisit the Big Bend! Such great memories from a wonderful winter vacation!
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting hike to say the least. Glad to know the BP does show up.
ReplyDeleteThose views are in May's Itinary... where will you be in May? Did you get Hailey a metal scorpion to play with?
ReplyDeleteNo freezing temps here in Rockport, Tx.
ReplyDeleteRecognized some of the stuff in your pics. We walked across that wooden bridge Christmas Eve of 04 to climb a rocky ridge close by & watch the sun go down. Study Butte brought back memories as well. And of couse the hot spring along the river where the kids come across from Mexico to sell walking sticks etc.
ReplyDeleteLife long Texan, been there many times, still beautiful. Do watch out for the "Panthers" they really are in the park!
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying your blog. We hope to be in Big Bend for Christmas 2011, so it's nice to get a preview. Keep up the great photos, we love them
ReplyDeleteNancy & Joe
Buddytravels
I am enjoying your blog. We hope to be in Big Bend for Christmas 2011, so it's nice to get a preview. Keep up the great photos, we love them
ReplyDeleteNancy & Joe
Buddytravels
Patrolling an international border within a state or national park is a bit on the difficult side. Standard seismographic methods do not distinguish between friend and foe. Too much river bank to patrol on foot or boat. Guess that means we have to deploy multi-million dollar flying machines and highly skilled personnel to do the job. And so it goes... Makes me kind of glad we are friendly with Canada, though. (grin)
ReplyDelete