Many
a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? ~ Proverbs 20:6
Today found us on a different trail – the Ross Maxwell Auto Tour. Mr. Maxwell has a driving tour named after him because he served as the first superintendent of Big Bend National Park, from the establishment of the Park in 1944 through 1952. This drive’s paved so everyone – even those without 4-wheel drive – can enjoy it. It took us all around yet another section of the Park and it was filled with stunning views, history (really ancient history at times), and hiking! Once again, remember that everything you see is much larger and grander than the measly pictures our phone cameras could possibly capture!
Today you’ll want to follow the pink line. : ) Blaine did the orange highlights to help us find where we were going.
As with yesterday, I don’t have much commentary to add, except any descriptions I included on certain pctures.
We stopped by the Visitor Center before we headed out. This picture cracked me up! : )Off we go, to another area of the Park.This is the drive’s namesake, Ross Maxwell.The “trail” area wasn’t nearly as big as this map would have you believe. : )This is what’s left of the ranch house.Oooh!! Wouldn’t it be lovely to see such a spectacular creature up close?!? Gotta love the Lord’s joy in providing us beauty everywhere!Still walking the ranch . . . Hey! It’s a fish! Out here in the middle of the desert! : )This windmill was still working here at Mr. Nail’s place, but we don’t know where the water was going – or even if there was any water there to pump. . . Moving on to Homer’s place.His house is way down there. We chose to bypass this one. We had too many other things to do today. Besides, we already looked at the pictures.Back on the road again.A scenic overlook – the Sotol VistaBlaine discovered he had some phone service here at Sotol Vista, so he took the time to touch base with our son, Kyle.Moving on . . .This stop included a short hike to the Lower Burro Mesa Pouroff.Love that rock!I still haven’t found out what kind of cactus that is, but I will eventually!This formation reminded us of Bryce Canyon in Utah. : )Purple cactus and whatever that other one is. : )Did you notice Blaine standing there? : )This is the picture of me (and the view) from where he was standing.These empty pods just made for a nice picture, don’t you think?There were rock ‘outcropings’ here that looked like someone just dumped an enormous load of cement.Still walking . . . That’s the pouroff! Look at the height! There’s a trail that left from the road quite a ways back that comes over here on top somewhere, and we could hear people talking, but never saw anyone above our heads. Wonder if they could see us? 🙂Ha!! He didn’t actually climb up there – for once. : )We returned to the Jeep and moved on. This is a stop to look at Goat Mountain and learn some geology.That point is Goat Mountain.Down the road is the Mule Ears Spring Trail.We only walked as far as a viewing point. There weren’t enough hours in the day to do the entire trail.Back at the parking lot. “Here! Let me take your picture!” Very funny, Blaine! hahaha!We drove for a while after Mule Ears. . . . That’s Park employee housing.. . . . until we arrived at the Castolon Visitor Center.Oh my! They had a fire here!
A fire that burned for more than a week at Big Bend National Park, destroying two historic structures, has been contained.
Park officials said Tuesday that the blaze had been 100% contained over the weekend after burning nearly 800 acres in the United States, as well as about 150 acres in Mexico.
The fast-moving fire started in Mexico on May 21, then jumped the Rio Grande the following day. Strong winds pushed it toward the park’s Castolon Historic District, and high temperatures — near 110 degrees — encouraged its spread.
The historic barracks building, which contained a visitors center and store, and latrine were destroyed. Other buildings in the area caught fire but were saved from major damage, park officials said. – The Dallas Chronicle
They have a fence up around the whole area where the historic buildings burned.An old gas pump.Wow. This was really recent. Read below if you want more information.
Before the fire . . .
After. We tried to capture the same view.
In spite of the fire, there were still quite a few things to look at here, and after we ate lunch in the Jeep, we took the time to learn some history. (a big bus group showed up and stole all the picnic tables! They were older than us though, so it was okay.) : )The Magdalina House We liked the iron critters in the front yard. : )It’s his former store that burned.This is a topographical map of yesterday’s South Rim hike.So, here we are, walking around, and my phone starts ringing! It was our other son! But I had to stand completely still in this exact spot for the entire conversation, or I lost him. Too funny! I had to cover the phone to keep the wind noise out. : )Blaine walked down there and looked around whilst I was on the phone. : ) Good job taking pictures, hon! The gap in the canyon wall is our next stop!Continuing on . . . Well, this isn’t on the map!
Guess we’ll be making another stop before the Canyon!Now THAT’s a fish!
Takes a strong woman to hold that thing up!We passed some other ruins on the way to the farmhouses ruins.This construction brought to mind the Israelites making bricks for Egypt. . . Nice view!Continuing on the trail.Still hiking, but we passed another partially restored place along the way.We visited the Sublett’s first.James L. and Melissa Belle Sublett, seen on the porch of this hilltop home.The view from the porch over the Sublett farm.These trees have green on them, but the trunks are still black from the fire.Standing inside the Sublett house. The ‘hole’ in the canyon walls, is our next stop.It’s quite a view they had!Heading over to visit the Dorgan’s.You can tell this part is new. They still have a long way to go to restore it.Not much left of the Dorgan house either.Right over there’s the Santa Elena Canyon. Can’t wait to get there! It’s our next stop! For real this time. : )We’ve moved on to bigger and better things . . . . MUCH bigger!How fun!!!Somehow, this family got really muddy and had to wash off in the Rio Grande River. The kids were whining because they were cold. I would imagine there are plenty of times you can’t walk this trail! You have to walk on packed down mud – between the pink flags. Sooo glad we had our boots!Can you even imagine what it looks like to stand between two 1,500′ walls of stone? Incredible!We didn’t get to walk beside the river the whole time, once we crossed the mud, we had to climb – – quite a ways.I don’t know . . . I look at this and don’t see oyster shells. What about you?This is that stuff they used to make candle wax from! I forget the name – – Candelilla? Or something like that?It was not a easy path to walk. In fact, some young guys decided to go ‘off trail’ and got their shoes stuck deep in the mud. Back on the road, a dirt road for a bit, as we head to see a ghost town!! It’s called Terlingua.Back on the asphalt, but still heading to the town.Along the way, we passed these houses you can rent. Not sure what you’d do way out here, but I guess it’s not too far from the National Park.Tee-pee or wig-wam? : )Someone’s house.Annnnnd . . . we’re here.Certainly NOT what we think of when we think ghost town.There was an old car . . . . . and an old jail. . . . . . . but new bottles . . . . . . . and an old church that’s being renovated.. . . . and some old ruins, but certainly not a ghost town.A beautiful, flowering bush!A small hotelA private home. One of the cool things they do here, is create new homes or businesses using the stone ruins.They have a town cemetary, and an information board.The graves are marked with piles of rocks – – like you see in the movies sometimes.Driving to dinner at the Park Lodge.My view!
Blaine had a great one, too, but there was too much glass glare to take the picture. : (My dinner! Yum!Blaine’s! Yummy too!Tonight’s moon rise.Good night, Moon!
Another beyond blessed day that lasted about 9 hours!
