Round the Bend

Yesterday we were here in such good time - 10 hours not from speeding only a miss calculation on google maps. We pitched the tent in an RV park just to the west of the BB (Big Bend) in Terlingua. We said hello to one of our camping neighbours, who on hearing us said that "Ur no frum aroon ere" in a Scots accent. He was from Aberdeen. What a small world!

We went into the park and I said to Stuart that I wanted to see Santa Elena canyon. He was moaning about the distance - some 35 miles however on the map the was a short cut! Well we have 4x4 so off we went down the gravel road. It wasn't too bad and it meant I could get my car dirty!

The canyon is where the Rio Grande flows through and on the other side is Mexico. Well let me tell you there is nothing grand about the Rio Grande! It was a nice walk along the rivers edge, just enough to get the blood flowing after being in the car for so many hours..

We had Thanksgiving g dinner at the local pub (La Kiva) - housed in a cave! It filled us both to the brim so we slept off our turkey dinner well last night only waking when the sun came up - actually that is not true it was when the rain started to pitter patter on the roof of our tent.

Stuart prepared us a hearty breakfast of breakfast Burritos to get us ready for our walk up to Emory Peak. The rain was drizzling on and off but skins waterproof!

I nearly got done for speeding in the park. With my heavy foot I accelerated a little too hard away from the visitor centre. There was the park police coming towards us. She put her flashers on as she saw me - my immediate reaction was to slow down (to the 30 mile limit). She let me pass! Stuart was relishing in it and it is safe to say I stayed within the speed limit for the rest of the day :)

We walked up to Emory Peak (7825 ft), the highest mountain in the Chisco Mountains. It was overcast in the morning and we briefly saw the top of the peak as we climbed however at the top we had to contend with the cloud! We didn't see any bears or lions, although I did see a bear footprint and poo poo! At the top of the peak you have to rock climb the last little bit to get the views, which I can imagine on a clear day are even more impressive. There is steep drops off the wee rocky peak you cling on to. It took us 5.5 hours and was well worth it. The funny thing was we saw most of the wildlife around the car park on our return - three deer and two javelinas (they look like little pigs but are actually Peccarys in the same family as hippos!)

We went back to the cave bar for dinner this evening and enjoyed the live country and western singer. Now back at camp with a glass of vino under the starry sky.