Day 2 and we were up before 6 a.m. and on the road by 6:30.
That gave us an hour or more to be at our destination by sunrise.
But, it was not to be. We took Old Maverick Road, a back road that is recommended for 4 wheel drive.
After successfully getting through several tough spots of water crossing the road we came to one that was very wide. Walt got out to see if he could tell how deep it was but it was still totally dark and after a few steps he decided to go no further. Checked our phones and there was no service. We had not seen another car since well before we entered the park. We thought if we got stuck it could be awhile before anyone came along and heaven only knows how long before someone got us out so we turned around..................only 3 miles from our destination.
I wanted to see the sunrise glinting off the walls of Santa Elena Canyon. The change of plans made us too late for that. But the sky was beautiful as we backtracked to the paved road to the canyon.
And the still life art work was spectacular.
Once the sun was up we could see all the bluebonnets.
Doesn't this rock with a hole in it look like a camel kneeling down to drink? Yes, my imagination does run wild.
Here a giant cement truck came through the canyon and lost it's load. I love this "tuff" stuff. It is the same type of formation that is in Tent Rocks in New Mexico.
It is bright and sunny as we see the split in the wall ahead that is Santa Elena Canyon.
The majestic 1500 foot cliffs rise straight up above the river. It was hard to get a good picture of the canyon because the opening is so narrow and high.
I kept taking pictures because I was so impressed by the colors on the canyon walls.
I settled down into the warm sand and Walt found a grassy spot on a ridge and we enjoyed the sunshine with the sound of the river running by and the birds calling. Very few people came while we were there so we spent a relaxing morning. But, we did talk to a couple who had come through Old Maverick Road and they told us we would have been just fine if we would have kept on going. Oh well, better safe than sorry.
The cactus are just coming into bloom.
After leaving the river we took a short hike to Tuff Canyon. It is the deepest dry canyon in Big Bend and I imagine it would be quite a sight when the rains come and the water pours off onto the wide rocks and deep crevices.
Three guesses as to what they have named this formation. 1..................2.......................3....................
Mule Ears. Yes, I can see that.
By now it was getting to be lunch time. Big Bend is so huge and it does not have many picnic spots so we found a rock wall at Burro Mesa and had our picnic in the warm sunshine.
A few miles further down the road we stopped and took a hike to see the remains of the Sam Nail Ranch. This windmill had seen better days.
But this windmill is still working today and pumps water to keep the non-native plants that the Nails had planted in their desert oasis alive. There are still pecan and fig trees alive that were planted around 1919.
Amazingly there is even asparagus growing that Nena Nail would probably have first planted in the early 1920's.
This is the remains of their home. Even though life on their ranch was at times difficult they loved the place and it was with much regret that they gave it up for the establishment of the Park.
Yesterday we were high up in the Chisos Basin looking down through The Window. Today we are on the desert floor looking up through The Window.
Back to Lajitas and a tasty dinner at the Thirsty Goat Saloon (named after their mayor) and to watch some of the March Madness games.
Such a stunning view from their patio. I love these long evenings.............the sun doesn't go down until 8 or after. Another great day in Texas.