2022 - West - April 29 thru May 1

 We are finally back on the road. We sold our home in Georgia - the time (and market for homes) was right.  It was a very trying time - selling and donating 41 years of accumulated stuff.  I had to keep telling myself that it is just "stuff" - unnecessary & unneeded. During COVID we spent more time in our old RV than we spent at home anyway. Time to move on and travel again.

So here we are in Big Bend, TX. 

In the last 2 days we have seen where the Rio Grande should be flowing (almost completely dry), helped a tarantula cross a road, hiked Lost Mine Trail (5 miles with 1000 ft elevation change), videoed a bear climbing a tree, crossed path with roadrunners, and sat out on a moonless night under an amazing sky full of stars.

Below in Santa Elena Canyon. Normally there is a big, beautiful river, Rio Grande, flowing here.

Here is Vaughan crossing the Rio Grande - seriously!

Here is the tarantula that Vaughan helped cross the road - it reared up on him a few times but I think was grateful once in the bushes.

The Lost Mine Trail is about a 5 mile hike up and back. Beautiful views all along the way.

The road is way down there - yes, it was a long, hard hike.

All along the way these beautiful blue birds were everywhere.

At the ranger's station we watched this very young bear walk up the sidewalk and proceed to climb a tree next to the store. 

Here is a video of him trying to get out of the tree - 

2022-05-01-Big Bend TX-Bear in tree - YouTube

Then came the roadrunner - 

After a long hike you would think a soak in a hot spring would feel good but not at 105 degrees when it's in the 90s.