Big Bend National Park

This week we are in the big country of Texas according to Dad. This is a big place and I know we have been here before. We are next to a really big lake of water (Lake Bridgeport) and it has been filling up all week with the rain we are having. So.. Dad has not been able to go out much for photography here. He has seen some Red Cardinal birds and Mockingbirds, but the weather has been very gray and not good for photographing birds.

Lupines at Big Bend National Park.

Dad reminded me of a place in Texas we went a few years ago. I really liked it so I would like to tell you about it now. The place is full of desert (called the Chihuahuan) and bare mountains again (like Arizona) but even more so. The mountains are taller and the desert was full of flowers that Dad likes to photograph, and there was a great big green river called the Rio Grande running through this place. It was called Big Bend National Park. Yep, one of those parks where I have to stay on leash, but Dad went out a lot in the car and took me with him, so I did get to see a lot of the park.

It is as far away from the big cities and traffic as you can get in the United States according to Dad. Lots of Jack Rabbits and Roadrunners though. Those are animals that like to run fast and who I like to chase. It’s my kinda of place (if I could chase them, that is). It is at the very bottom of Texas and is next to the country known as Mexico.

Our RV was in Terlingua, Texas not far from the West entrance to the Big Bend National Park.

We stayed in an RV park in a place called Terlingua, Texas, that had a lot of places to walk for me. It was a very big RV park too. There was a big hill nearby that Dad and I hiked every morning (without my leash) and you could see forever from there. I really like being at the top of a hill. I can run up and down the gullys while Dad walks carefully along the ridge. (remember.. he only has two legs, or what Dad calls two-wheel drive). My “4-wheel drive” allows me to be more sure of myself on rocky mountains slopes.

Dad and I took a hike every day and I got to run up and down the hills without a leash! Hurray!

We saw a Roadrunner bird. I wanted to chase him, but NO, I was on a leash again.

The first day we went for a drive and a walk towards the West to see the river. We saw a Roadrunner bird. Normally I ignore birds because they are so common and I can’t seem to catch them before they fly away. But this guy runs like I do (except he has 2 legs) and I still can’t catch him. I know I run fast, so, he must run a lot faster. He is a pretty bird though. Dad was able to get one photo, but not as many as he would like.

We visited this movie set. I didn't find Rin-Tin-Tin or Lassie's scent, but I'm sure that was Clint Eastwood I smelled!

We stopped at this place along the road that was used as a movie set in many movies about the wild west. There were a lot of small buildings next to the Rio Grande River. I could go on a leash and smell where other dogs had been. I didn’t smell Rin-Tin-Tin or Lassie, but there were some interesting smells there.

Mom and Me and the Rio Grande river below.

The next day, Dad and I took a long trip on a bumpy and dirty road called River Road. Dad likes the excitement of going on these backcountry roads where he sees no people or very few at least. I enjoy it too because usually I can get out without my leash. I would prefer to see more dogs, but I could smell and hear the coyotes in the distance. We can climb the mountains near us or walk down to the river’s edge and get wet (well, I get wet, but Dad watches).

We climbed to the top of a hill to look over the desert along River Road.

Dad was all excited because there were so many Prickly Pear cactus and other cactus in bloom. Remember, the cactus? Those plants you have to stay away from because they have little armies with spears that stick you if you get too close. Now they are using pretty flowers to attract humans so they can spear them. Sneaky little guys for a plant!

The prickly pear cactus was in full bloom along River Road.

There were also white and red and yellow and pink and blue flowers. Dad especially liked the Rose Prickly Poppy. It was the month of March and Dad said it was time for all the flowers to bloom. We didn’t see any animals, except a vulture and an eagle and a lot of Jack Rabbits, but it was a fun trip to take. Dad says some of the larger mammals you can find here if you wait long enough include whitetail and mule deer, coyote, mountain lion, black bear, and gray fox or javelina. We saw some javelina on the way into the park. They are small black pigs with long noses. They are also smelly! Dad says there are a lot of bats here. Those are NOT birds but fly like birds. They also fly with lots of friends so duck if you see them coming towards you!

I was able to find some shade behind this bush while I was waiting for Dad to catch up with me.

It was hot along the River road and when we occasionally walked and I saw a bush with a little shade, I liked to lie down and wait for Dad and cool off. Dad says it gets between 110 and 120 degrees F in June and July here. I’m not sure what F means, but the way he said it, I wouldn’t want to be here then.

I couldn't go, but Mom said Santa Elena canyon was awesome. Here's mom in front of it at Big Bend Nat'l Park.

Next day we all went to a place in the park that Mom called Santa Elena Canyon. It was a very narrow place where the Rio Grande river was able to sneak through the mountains. Dogs were not allowed to go into the canyon so I got to stay in the car in the parking lot under a shade tree protecting Dads camera gear, while they went to the canyon and took some pictures. (Dad did show me the pictures.) I guess it was really awesome. There were even humans on little rubber boats that were floating through the canyon. Mom said she wished I could have come with her but the National Park rules….

Here's me and Mom with one of the pointy mountains of Big Bend National Park

We went on several short drives and one was especially nice up to Chisos Basin. At the end there are places to hike and I smelled a lot of other dogs (finally). There are a lot of places to see in Big Bend National Park and Big Bend is a very big park to see. Dad wants to go back, especially in the spring time. So I suspect I’ll see you there if you want to go too! Let me know when and we can lift legs together!

Arf

Reggie