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