We woke this morning to pink sky outside our bedroom window. It faces East and what I saw was the sunrise reflecting off of clouds above the cliffs. It was really beautiful. We got up, got cleaned up, had breakfast and (after cleaning the filthy windows on the Vibe), headed out to Panther Junction visitor center. The drive back to the center looked entirely different than the drive in last night. It is another beautiful morning, some clouds but lots of blue sky and sunshine. We stopped along the road to take a picture of a pretty blue lupine right along the road.
When I asked a ranger later in the day, what the flower was, she replied that it was a Big Bend Blue Bonnet. How about that! We drove up to the Panther Junction welcome center and went thru their exhibits learning about the geography of the park. They had a very informative outside walk with plants along the way and an interpretive guide to describe them all. It has been very dry here so some varieties were no longer there. After a quick trip to the restroom, you use them wherever you find them since they are far and few between, we headed up the road to Chisos mountains. The drive was beautiful as we drove up and up now heading into forests? How is that possible? Due to the elevation and more frequent water, on the north sides of these mountains are fir and spruce forests. Beautiful. The drive up was beautiful and breathtaking. Many pictures were taken. We drove around exploring the “Basin” as it is called and then settled on a space in the primitive campground to have our lunch of PB&J, Pringles, bananas, and DS oreos all the while enjoying the majestic scenery around us. Watched a little bird flitting around, scanned the mountains with binoculars, and just enjoyed the quietitude.
We were there for over an hour. Time to move on. Andy would like to have me drive him up to Panther Pass and let him ride all the way back home (about 35 miles) which is mostly downhill some day. Sounds like the ride of a lifetime. We’ll have to arrange that. The weather turned a lot colder and blustery on the way home. We had beautiful 70’s for most of the day. By 4 pm, clouds and windy. Stopped at a lookout just on the campground side of the tunnel and hiked out to the lookout. Almost got blown away. Saw the mountain ranges on the Mexican side of the river, Boquillas, Mexico, and just a beautiful panorama. Hiked back to the car and back home. Unloaded in the fierce wind, took down the satellite and settled in for the night. Made a great dinner of chimichangas, broccoli and chocolate/raspberry deserts. What a wonderful day. Have watched a video on Big Bend and will soon start wrapping up and heading for bed. We hope to go to a bird watching walk tomorrow morning at 8:30 am if it’s not too windy, etc. A great first day in BBNP.
When I asked a ranger later in the day, what the flower was, she replied that it was a Big Bend Blue Bonnet. How about that! We drove up to the Panther Junction welcome center and went thru their exhibits learning about the geography of the park. They had a very informative outside walk with plants along the way and an interpretive guide to describe them all. It has been very dry here so some varieties were no longer there. After a quick trip to the restroom, you use them wherever you find them since they are far and few between, we headed up the road to Chisos mountains. The drive was beautiful as we drove up and up now heading into forests? How is that possible? Due to the elevation and more frequent water, on the north sides of these mountains are fir and spruce forests. Beautiful. The drive up was beautiful and breathtaking. Many pictures were taken. We drove around exploring the “Basin” as it is called and then settled on a space in the primitive campground to have our lunch of PB&J, Pringles, bananas, and DS oreos all the while enjoying the majestic scenery around us. Watched a little bird flitting around, scanned the mountains with binoculars, and just enjoyed the quietitude. 
We were there for over an hour. Time to move on. Andy would like to have me drive him up to Panther Pass and let him ride all the way back home (about 35 miles) which is mostly downhill some day. Sounds like the ride of a lifetime. We’ll have to arrange that. The weather turned a lot colder and blustery on the way home. We had beautiful 70’s for most of the day. By 4 pm, clouds and windy. Stopped at a lookout just on the campground side of the tunnel and hiked out to the lookout. Almost got blown away. Saw the mountain ranges on the Mexican side of the river, Boquillas, Mexico, and just a beautiful panorama. Hiked back to the car and back home. Unloaded in the fierce wind, took down the satellite and settled in for the night. Made a great dinner of chimichangas, broccoli and chocolate/raspberry deserts. What a wonderful day. Have watched a video on Big Bend and will soon start wrapping up and heading for bed. We hope to go to a bird watching walk tomorrow morning at 8:30 am if it’s not too windy, etc. A great first day in BBNP.
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