Big Bend National Park

  Marathon, Texas, United States
Monday, December 17, 2007

Catastrophe!!!
After pulling up for the night out of Tucson, and putting Emily down to sleep, shock horror water works. No BOONGY!!! She had been left in that little plane at the air museum 60 miles back in Tucson.
For the unfamiliar, Boongy is Emily's Security blanket and best friend. In the family since Phill was a baby this gift from their Nana in WA has proved pretty resilient over the years and has survived being lost numerous times (normally just overnight) including in Vanuatu. She has come through scarred but still alive after catching fire on the wood heater. Shaken but not broken after being attacked by wild dogs, aka Muntu and Pedro, but always recovering to smell like roses after a dip in the washing tub to be held close and essentially help Emily off to sleep every night.
So we had to console her, find a substitute for the night and eventually get her to sleep.
Bev contacted the museum next morning and yes they had found her, celebrations turned to despair when Emmy was told she would have to be posted to Justin's and forwarded on to us when we were stopped for more than a couple of days. Every day the pain subsides a little but she has not forgotten her favorite friend by any means.

I need a rest.

Well back to the travels, we have another State Park in our sights, Balmoreagh, It has a the Largest spring fed swimming pool in the USA 1 million gallons of water an hour flow into it at a constant 72-76 degrees f.
Yaaay, we can have a swim at last, the water was great, heaps of fish swimming around us, warm water, Phil diving off the high board and Emily jumping too. the hardest part was getting out into the cold air.

Back in time

Heading South the next day we called into Fort Davis, a partly restored former army outpost dating back to 1864. Here we had a good look around and the kids did their Junior Ranger Badges passing the quite difficult test with flying colors.There was lots of restored buildings and interesting exhibits dating back to the Indian and civil wars.

Junior rangers studying

Fort Davis ruins

We then headed South for big bend, a huge National park on the border of Mexico where we stayed 2 nights and did a few hikes to the various attractions.

Rio Grande Mexico behind

Hot Springs alongside Rio Grande

One hike through a canyon had us standing on the US side next to a collection plate while on the Mexican side Victor the Mexican high up on a rock serenaded us with some Spanish songs Amplified by the canyon walls. It was a great experience and he earned 50 cents for his 2 songs, cheap I know but it was all I had.

Lets go rafting

On the last day we put the rubber duck into the Rio Grande and paddled and pulled the boat upstream for about a mile, taking us about 2 hours through some shallow fast running rapids.

Nice echo

It was worth the effort once we reached the mouth of the canyon and it became deeper and slower flowing. we paddled up into the canyon with its 1500 foot high sheer walls. Thinking we were the only ones in the canyon Mummy tried out her singing voice inside the resonating walls to find out shortly afterwards that a couple of hiking groups were also subjected to her not so operatic voice.

Look at that !!

After our picnic lunch, vegimite sandwiches, we strapped ouselves in for some not quite white water rafting. Much more fun than struggling upstream the current whisked us back to the launching site with a couple of unrehearsed 360's along the way.

Time to Pack up

Junior Rangers displaying badges

With Great memories, quite a few photos and some very sore feet from pulling the boat upstream we left big bend to stay at Marathon, the gateway town for a couple of nights R&R with a full hookup. We have slowed down a bit knowing we won't get to Mexico for Christmas, instead we will make sure we have some fun and see everything properly along the way.
Until next time,
Adios Muchachos,