MAY 18, 2013  BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK – DAY 1

We awoke to a staggering view this morning.  We are at the Maverick RV Park in Lahitas, Texas and there are mountains all around us.  They are not as high as some we have seen, but beautiful just the same.

 

 

 



After we had breakfast we headed towards Big Bend National Park.  This was the real reason we are in this area as we have been trying to get here for 12 years.  In order to get to the park entrance we had to backtrack along Hwy 170 to Study Butte where we met the 118 and turned south for a few miles until we came to the park entrance.

Finally, we are here!!!!!!

Our first stop was going to be the Visitors Centre which was approximately 20 miles inside the park.  The posted speed limit was 45 mph which made it nice for stopping and taking pictures.  The drive to the Visitors Centre gave a very good look at the Chisos Mountains with its many different looks.
 

There are many things to see and do in the park and today we decided to make the drive North through the Tornillo Flats.  This low lying area with its sparse plant life and mountains on all sides of us gave a real feeling of being in The Chihuahuan Desert.

 

We stopped for late lunch at a Fossil Bone Exhibit and observed the artifacts that were stored in a glass viewing case.  At a time like this it is hard to fathom that the earth is 4.5 billion years old and extinct animals roamed where were standing 50 – 70 million years ago. 

 

 

We carried on with our drive after lunch and just enjoyed the day.  Hiking is not very comfortable at this time of year as it hit 101 degrees.  We will be doing some hiking but are going to be very selective.  The drive took us towards the North Exit and the Santiago Mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We learned at the visitors Centre that Big Bend Park came to be as a result of Volcanic Activity.  During our drive we saw quite a few cones of various sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We decided that the Volcanic Activity mainly happened when the park was still a sea.  Of course, when we decide on anything, it must be fact.

We reached the north entrance, turned around and retraced our steps back to Lahitas.  It gave us a different view and of course we stopped to take a few more pictures.

 

 

 



Upon arriving at Lahitas we stopped at the Lahitas Resort to have a look at the General Store, Restaurants and Bakery.  Especially the bakery, however it was closed.  Dog Gone it.  Kathy felt sorry for me and made brownies.  It was a great way to end a great day.