The Wandering Ravens

Monday, December 9, 2013

Day 20 Big Bend National Park 12-8-13

Our second day in the bend and thankfully it was clear and warmer.

Trails: lost mine- a steep hike with about an 1100 elevation gain but with beautiful view of the Chisos Mountains.

Riding in the back with Gordo

Look at my two teeth!

Vermillion fly catcher

She is all over the trailer now. And she has learned to wave HI!

The Chisos Mountains in the middle of the Chihuahua desert.

A hike in the mountains. We didn't run into any black bears or mountain lions.

Group shot half way up

She is ready to go!

She gets a good nap in while riding along

A tasty morsel for a roadrunner

She is a goof ball!

She enjoyed listening to the Texans while at the hot spring.

Hot spring with the Rio Grande

It was a nice way to end the evening

Highlights

Hiking in the mountains, being out of the car all day and seeing the sun again!

Ella now waves Hi! But only when she wants too...

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Day 19 Big Bend National Park 12-7-13

Destination: Big Bend

Depart 8 am from an icy Fort Davis

Arrived 12:30

Visited- Alpine for groceries and a hose

It was a very cute town. Milk is really expensive for some reason. More than Alaska! And there are diary cows every where.

Highways- 118 south

Animals- cows and birds

Trail- hotspring trail along the Rio grande.

Weather- thick fog, cold 18-35

Highlights

Arlene- the hotspring right next to the Rio Grande was awesome. Ella fell asleep on the trail so we left her in the stroller while we soaked. The water does not smell and it comes out at 105 degrees. The river is much colder. I sat there looking for Mexicans that come over to sell their trinkets and was able to have conversations with other adults. (Which is nice after 19 days with Jason!!) We even met someone who flew with Don Sheldon. The fog began to left while we were there and we had a nice sunset.

Jason-

Ella- going for a ride in the stroller

Gordo- getting to sleep in the trailer instead of the car

Lowlights

Arlene- gordo expressed his anal glands and I got them on me while we were driving. Our water was still frozen so I could not wash my hands. Hand sanitizer does not help with the smell. Blah

Jason

Ella- bit her fingers with her new teeth when she was trying to massage her gums.

Gordo- being yelled at by an impatient person....

Fort Davis TX.

A Mesa!

Next to a dinosaur bone found here

The rio grande and Mexico

Swallow nests

Trail to hotspring

Mexican trinkets (I left some change)

Hotsprings with two naked dudes.

It is literally right next to the rio. A thin stone wall separated us

The walk back

More paintings

The old resort

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Day 18 Fort Davis 12-5-13

We are now on the other side of the Continental Divid! Now it's downhill to the Atlantic!

Tonight we visited the McDonald observatory for one of their Star Parties. Unfortunately, we are sitting in a thick cloud so instead of viewing stars through a telescope we listened to talks. We learned quite a but but between listening we were taking turns entertaining Ella and making sure she was being too loud.

Depart: 8

Arrived: 3

States- New Mexico to Texas

Animals- cows and birds

Highways- 10-90-505-117-118

Weather- cold 25-48 😊

sunny around El Paso and thick fog in the Davis Mountains where we are camping

Highlights-

Arlene- seeing Mexico again, although it was a stark contrast to our side of the river. El Paso had nice new stores, roads and homes but just on the other side was a clear image of poverty. The Texas scenery along 90 and 117 was beautiful. I also enjoyed learning a few things tonight at the observatory. Like m42 is a nebula where stars are born!

Jason- spending time with us

Ella- seeing the lights at the observatory

Gordo- finding a yummy morsal of something to eat at the campground

Early morning riser!