We had intended to post a few more photos from Big Bend right after we got back home. It's been a busy week, but we've finally gotten back to the task. We were in Big Bend for 5 days. It was cold at night but beautiful every day. (Our only regret being that we left before they had 8 inches of snow this week.)



The most surprising sighting of the trip: A Lotus Evora in the desert.

 Mike trying to estimate how many bites he would have been for a T-Rex.

 White Winged Dove

 Our camper in campsite #15 - Chisos Basin Campgrounds

 Mules Ears.

 The most irredescent clouds we had ever seen.

 The last phone booth in America.

 Sunset view from our campsite.

 Us at the Mule Ears trail.

One of the benefits of retirement is that we can plan major trips or travel on impulse. Since the broken bone in Mike's foot has continued to heal, we decided to spend a few days camping in Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park, in west Texas. The park is about a 9 hour drive from Austin. Several weeks out of the year the park gets terribly crowded, but the rest of the year we get to share it with only Mountain Lions and Javelina.

Hope you enjoy our photos.



Road Runner in a tree

 Dennis in Chisos Basin

 Dennis in Ocotillo stalks

 Mike at the Window

 Our Little 6 ft Pop-Up Trailer in Chisos Basin Campground

 Rainbow Cactus

 The mouth of Santa Elena Canyon from the Castalon Customs Station

 Casa Grande and moon

 Cactus Wren Nest in Cholla Cactus

 Hermit Thrush

 CactusWren

 Mexican Jay

 Robin

Mike in the desert

 Vermillion Flycatcher

 Mike in the Tuff and Basalt hills

 Cactus Wren

 Dennis in the cold winter morning (which lasted less than an hour)

Mike's broken foot appears to be improving steadily. The Orthopedist has set up another appointment in early December and says that he may still have to do surgery on it, but, in the meantime, he gave us permission to be more active - including camping. We've been walking more to test how that works: So far so good. And this week we made a 2 day trip to South Llano River state Park in Junction, TX.

We expect to make another short trip to Big Bend National Park soon too. But a few pictures from these last few days: 



Water Lilly Bloom

Agarita Leaves in the sunlight

Mike in the cactus patch

 Dennis in the cactus patch

 A White Winged Dove

 Hermit Thrush

 Field Sparrow

 Scrub Jay

 Armadillo watching us from the opening of his burrow - we were of no danger

 Our Alarm Clock in Junction

 Life in the tall grasses south of town

Once we realized that Mike had broken his right foot, we had to cut our camping trip short and return to Austin. Now, back home, we have followed up with our doctor and learned that the foot will not be needing surgery or a cast. But Mike has been put in a walking brace to keep him from flexing his foot - and therefore the bone - until it has healed. We will be following up with the doctor every two weeks to monitor progress.

Meantime, Mike gets to do as little as possible: including no driving, no trips to the grocery store, and only brief outings. Always while wearing the brace (even in his sleep, 24 hours a day) and walking with a cane even for the short jaunts - like to the bathroom.

Nevertheless, we have a few photos to share from a visit to the Ozarks, the Mississippi, and our drive back home.


Driving Thru The Ozarks

 

 

Meeman-Shelby State Forest State Park, just north of Memphis, TN on the Mississippi River

 

The Harvest Moon setting at Sunrise at the Fairfield Lake State Park, Fairfield TX

We have been busy and out of wifi range for the past few days so we are past due to post an update on our current trip.

To begin, we are spending the night in a rest area on I-30 just west of Malvern, AR: Social Hill Rest Area. It's nice and new and easy off the highway and back on in the morning. Second, we are headed home early because Mike has broken a metatarsal on the outside of his right foot. IT does not appear to be a serious injury or likely to need surgery, but we need to get back home and let an Orthopedist care for it. It is painful and no fun, but he should be fine in a month or two. So our plans get to change once again. And Third:  

An Eastern Bluebird, at Hickory Creek Campground outside of Fayetteville, AR

 

 Sewer Drain Cover in downtown Fayetteville

 Mike pushing a bear on a swing - before we knew he had broken his foot and simply thought it was sprained.

Flowers - at the city square of Fayetteville 

 We had no idea what this was about. But it was on a balcony across from the square.

Concrete park bench on the square. 

 A cluster of Scissor Tailed Fly Catchers in the treetops at Hickory Creek Campground.

 Sunset at Hickory Creek

 Several photos of Throncown Chapel in Eureka Springs. It is a beautiful place in a beautiful setting of flagstone and hardwood trees in the Ozarks. It was designed by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright named E. Fay Jones and is one of the most lovely places Ever!

 And Dennis with one of his buddies.