Badlands Terlingua

... back across, Michelle<br>started way up stream and started to walk across, it it was not too<br>long before Jonathan had to grab her and start dragging her across,<br>Michelle was told to lean forward as it help get you balance, she was<br>not chest deep and her denim shorts and baggy top had now filled with<br>water and was dragging her down. Everyone laughing, it was Katie our<br>other bus driver who then had to help with the final haul out of the ...

... at some of the local eateries. We ate great Tex-Mex food at Chuy&#8217;s, which had an updated vintage diner feel, and burgers that were almost as good as Blimpie Burger in AA.<br><br> When Friday rolled around, we called Kate who had expressed interest in visiting Austin and she decided to join us for the weekend. Friday night we visited 6th street, which is legendary for it&#8217;s bar scene. The city closes off ...

It's starting to feel like the west! Mountains, desert, and cacti. After leaving San Antonio, we spent one night at Amistad National Recreation Area (just outside border town, Del Rio). While we were closer to the road than we liked, we got to sleep under the stars (first time without the tent fly), and met a daring young, Czech from British Columbia, Lucas, who was on his way back to Canada after a 5-month car trip through Mexico and Central America. After stocking up on ...

... walls 1500 feet high and (normally) a few exciting rapids. But with such massive water flows, we didn't see a single rapid. The largest rapid is usually a section called 'Rock Slide', which is a rocky section that the river guide has to maneuver the raft through. We didn't see a single rock! Instead, we had to make our way through giant waves that swamped the boat, and got so tall that they broke ...

... on the river for a few days, so we had some time to kill in one of America's largest but least visited national parks. Our first stop was our campground, in the Chisos Mountains, which made it surprisingly cool compared to the surrounding desert in the rest of the park. When we arrived, we picked a site with a view of a waterfall cascading down one of the mountainsides, which we later learned was a very rare occurrence. Mike rigged up a clever ...

A saying I'm not too sure what it means! Somebody I met today said that to me after I told them I was travelling, taking pictures and writing as a new career. It could be interpreted so many ways. Day 1, or is that 2, of touring Big Bend National Park. I'm not sure if last night's Baja 500 X 10 &#8315; ¹ counted as a day of touring. The day started off real early. I mean....really, really early. Awake by 5 am. Not by choice. Out of bed by 5h45. On the road by 6h30 ...

The Baja 500 X 10&#8315;¹ I drove a lot further today then I had originally planned. But I'm where I wanted to be today even though I stayed an extra day in Brackettville. Life is good! The drive to Marathon was very windy and uphill all the way. Then from Marathon to the Big Bend National Park Headquarters it was a lot of downhill. The final leg to Terlingua was very snaky. I made it here by 3h30 which was a little earlier then the GPS had ...

... cold-outsidex.jpg &a mp;n bsp; We slept until 8:30 the next morning, giving the sun plenty of time to rise over the canyon wall and warm up our meadow to the low 30's. We emerged from the tent to find ourselves surrounded by birds and deer. PHOTO_ID_R=mama-and-baby-in-our-campsit e.jpgA doe and fawn stayed in our campsite all morning, watched over by a 6 point buck who made his presence known but didn't come so close as mama and baby. After we ...

... That's what their prey do. *laughs* Me: Okay... Ranger Bob: I'm going to need you to fill out this form, and get a boot print from you. Once you return, turn in your backcountry permit so we know you're back. If you don't come back in a few days, we'll start to think about rescuing you. Usually, we wait a few weeks, that way all the flesh is off the bones. (he actually said that) *laughs heartily* So, how are you feeling about this trip? Me: Uhhhh... Who the hell cares what ...