We stayed three nights in Big Bend - two nights in Rio Grande Village campground on the east side of the park and then a third night at Cottonwood Campground on the southwest side.
Driving to our first campground we spotted a small flock (herd?) of mountain goats resting on an upper canyon ledge. A couple of young ones cavorted from rock to rock. The watchman-big guy standing at attention alerted us to their all but camouflaged presence.
Heading off from the campground is a Nature Trail that winds over a backed up pond area that's part of a stream running to the Rio. We were greeted by a great blue heron. We watched it high stepping- it slowly through the water, then fly off in front of us. Later on it sat at the very top of a tree near the pond. The trail continues either down to the river or up a rocky hill to an overlook and a great view of the whole area. From the top,
you see the campground on one side and the river and the little town of Boquillas on the other side. BTW there are a few enterprising neighbors from that town who keep a display of beaded items - ocotillo cacti, road runners, peacocks along with painted walking sticks - on the trail where it divides. A donation jar sits there, too.
The Honda Dream lives!! It passed its first 2-person transport to Boquillas Canyon about 6 miles from the campground. That included a pretty good short but steep incline and a few twists and turns. We then walked and climbed down (and back up) a mile to view the narrow entrance to the canyon with its majestic walls and the peaceful Rio Grande
meandering through. Another neighbor serenaded us from the other side of the water. The river is narrow there. A donation jar sat in the middle of the trail. It was HOT in the canyon at mid afternoon. Michael found a little shade under a mesquite tree at river's edge. We watch a black phoebe and a Says phoebe darting for insects. A couple of snapping turtles sunned themselves on nearby rocks.
Glad to see the old bike is earning it's keep, must be easier than towing the car.
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