Big Bend Area

We hiked in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. The late afternoon lingered but then the sun seemed to plunge into darkness through a beautiful sunset so we didn’t summit our Lost Mines trail but we did get to race down the trail to get to the truck just as the last light had faded.
We put in about one mile below the Santa Elena Canyon, half in the Big Bend National Park, it sister half in Mexico. We lined, limped and portaged the canoe up the shallow Rio into this amazing sheer canyon and paddled upstream to last light then had an easy rapid paddle downstream.
The Big Bend Ranch State Park is very understated, except for its visitor centers. There was no mention that the .7 mile Closed Canyon slot canyon required climbing gear and good footware. Sasha didn’t know either when she slid down a steep section ahead of us and couldn’t get out. Michael was able to climb down and pass her up but it was a good lesson about how tricky things can get when you aren’t prepared. Some folks heading in wearing flip flops took our picture as we exited the mouth of the canyon. To celebrate our half year anniversary we walked from Presidio, Texas across the international bridge to Ojinaga, Chihuahua for a fantastic lunch. The border patrol must drag tires so they can see footprints better? We hope you will go to the website of www.borderambassadors.com to find out how you can help prevent an environmental and cultural disaster along the Rio Grand/Bravo.
We are at our 6 month anniversary of our veggie voyage, six months of living in a cab over camper and running the 1987 Ford truck on straight veggie oil throughout Canada and the U.S. Where we are and where we have been is like hallowed ground, part of a continuum of variety that still amazes us. Best Planet Ever!