...AND WE'RE ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas...we're heading East.  We left Salome on Tuesday to miss the Easter Monday traffic.  We got to Deming, NM around noon on Wednesday.  Ellen suggested that we drive down to Pancho Villa State Park in Columbus near the Mexican border.  The park visitor center has the interesting history of the town and Pancho Villa's raid on it. 

Pancho Villa State Park

Rod and Ellen had been to the area several years ago and had eaten at a little Mexican restaurant that the park ranger recommended to them.  It's on a side street and if you drove by, you probably wouldn't stop but the food was delicious.  La Casita Restaurant...if you're ever in Columbus NM...stop in for good authentic Mexican grub.

La Casita Restaurant

On our way to Terlingua and Big Bend National Park on Friday, we headed southwest to the town of Presidio and from there took the 'Texas Mountain Trail,' a 50-mile scenic drive that follows the Rio Grande River.  The river remains one of the most disappointing sights we've encountered on our travels, but we learned that Mexico has been diverting the water for their use which has left it almost dry in many areas.  The mountains, however, more than made up for it here.  Our guys did a fantastic job of navigating the hills and curves, even pulling off to picnic along the Trail while enjoying the majestic view.

Texas Mountain Trail

Following Rod & Ellen...down and around the next curve

The Rio Grande...not so grand

Teepees cover picnic tables at rest stop

Big Bend National Park encompasses over 800,000 acres and is the last great wilderness area of Texas.  It offers both mountain and desert scenery and a variety of unusual geological structures.  Elevations within the park range from 1,840 ft. along the Rio Grande to 7,825 ft. on Emory Peak.  We spent Saturday exploring the park stopping at several visitor centers to learn about the history and habitat of the area. 

Looking down toward Chisos Basin in Big Bend



Dagger Yucca at Panther Junction, Park Hdqrs.

 

 

Beware of the BEARS!

 

 

At Boquillas, we found handmade items for sale, left by Mexicans from the little town on the hill on the other side of the river.  We could see some people sitting along the river's edge and riding horses down from the little town on the hill above.

Handmade items for sale.  Mexican standing by tree on other side.

Boquillas del Carmen, MX sits on hilltop across the Rio Grande

  

Next stop...Bandera, TX to meet up with Joe and Sue who've been there for two weeks and, hopefully, have scoped out some cool new places to explore.