Big Bend, Part 2

From the Rio Grande Overlook on March 8th:


Wildflowers at the Rio Grande Overlook:

This is puncture vine, so named because its spines can puncture a bicycle tire!


The white and lavender flowers are called Velvety Nerisyrenia and are in the mustard family. The yellow is probably threadleaf coreopsis and is definitely some type of aster.


A prickly pear:



Boquillas Canyon, March 8th:


Mexicans cross the river by canoe and on horseback to bring painted walking sticks and beaded items to sell on the Boquillas Canyon Trail. They leave the items with a jar for money and a piece of cardboard with prices written on it. Unfortunately, there was an official sign stating that buying items from individuals illegally entering the country was illegal and any such items would be conviscated if found.


Torrey yucca just beginning to bloom, and one in full bloom:



We couldn't find the name of this pretty little flower. The orchid color was beautiful.


Desert marigold:


Chisos Basin and Mountains, where black bears and mountain lions live. Mountain lions were seen about 20 times from February 1st through March 8th. The basin is at the highest elevation in the park and tracking the change in vegetation was interesting. The desert plants started thinning and trees started appearing. First pines, then oaks. It got much cooler also. We would spend more time in this area if we were ever to come back.


Cholla, possibly whipple cholla, with a few blooms and a nest in the center:


Leaving the Chisos Basin:


We left Terlingua and Big Bend behind on the morning of March 9th. About 60 miles north of Terlingua on TX-118, the terrain had taken an obvious change, and we were stopped by the US Border Patrol to ask if we were US citizens and if we had any illegals hidden in our truck or trailer. There were three officers, and they were very polite. One did the talking and looked in the truck, while the other two went back and checked out the trailer.