Wait a minute, is that Mexico?

You'll hear many Big Benders say, that ironically, some of the best views in the park are not of the actual park. They're of the towering cliffs and mountains that lie just on the other side of the Rio Grande in Mexico. I'm not sure if that's irony exactly. But I am sure that if a big fence goes up in the middle of it all, it would really crap things up.


On the way to Santa Elena Canyon.


A "beach" on the Rio Grande.


Santa Elena Canyon is a popular spot for canoing and kayaking. We saw a group of boats pass by. The water was very shallow this time of year, so they actually did more wading and pulling than rowing.

Just on the outside of Big Bend National Park lies Big Bend Ranch State Park. This area is equally as beautiful, but less accessible. Before we went, I asked a Ranger if the temperature would be in the 100's down near the river. He said it would be in the millions. Fortunately for us, it was a bit overcast that day.

It was so tempting to cross the border here. It would have been so easy! And I would have done it too if Krista hadn't threatened to not make my bail if I got caught.


On "the Hill" in BBRSP.


Is Mexico? Is not Mexico. Along the drive through BBRSP there is a movie set called the Comanchero Movie Set. It was used for several TV movies made from Larry McMurtry books.


We took a short hike in Closed Canyon. We would have gone all the way to the banks of the Rio Grande, but had to turn back because of a run-in with an uncharacteristically aggressive pack of starved Javelinas...just kidding, they were actually just Texans dressed as Javelinas. Very convincing costumes, though!