Pay Attention Thorns

Adventure Location: Big Bend NP, Texas
Plans: Meander the park

There were five meanders today that resulted in over 150 pictures taken.  There is only room for one per blog entry.  Be assured that if you come here and walk or ride a bike you will not run out of adventures in one year of every day having a new adventure.  None of the adventures will be a repeat of a previous one.  However you may have several mega size camera cards full to the brim to organize.

The next concern is the heat.  Here in the low desert this afternoon at 1700 the Truck was registering 95 degrees F, not in the sun, out where we were meandering. My water toting capacity HAS to increase to more than the one liter grabbed for the first meander today.  It was refilled for each different adventure and was barely enough each time.  So far there have been no serious hiking/walking efforts.  My lungs are still acclimating to the altitude which is only in the 2000 foot level.

Next spring it will be time to be here by Feb. 1.  The Chisos mountains area is a lot cooler and may get a visit when the Teams go closer to there.  Today we found that the main Visitor Center at Panther Junction was almost a 60 mile round trip.  There is a lot of distance around here.

 Now on with the story.   This place was visited years ago in another lifetime of mine.  My interest was a lot different at that time and like close to thirty seconds was spent here.  Today it was closer to an hour and a half.  The nature trail proved to be good and informative.  Just watch for the pay attention thorns when you walk the trail.

The area is well marked with a sign on the main road.  However the area scenery can distract you so watch for the sign.

 The road into it is passable by most any vehicle.  There may be a wet spot of two on the gravel but it is no bother.

 At the parking area just past the clean one holer is a narrative sign to explain the significance of the well.  The picnic area is right in front of you when you park.  The picnic area first table is accessible by wheelchair.  The second area has steps down to it but walkers and crutches would do fine.  The nature trail is not wheelchair accessible but crutches should do ok.

 A picnic table took this picture of an OFM holding up the cottonwood tree.  Man O Man would you look at the glare from that bald head!

 The house foundation was not found but the thorns did find my legs.  The well was pumping this small stream of water.  Apparently that is enough to really make a lot of difference in the area.  Lots of animal tracks decorated the general area also.

By the time this adventure was over, it was number three today, my tummy was hungry and my calves were SCREAMING UNCLE.  Back at the Castle lunch was prepared, instantly devoured and rest time arranged.  Little did the Teams know that hotter excitement was waiting for us later in the afternoon. 

We need to be more careful on the adventures or my body may never recover enough in one night to keep on trying to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM.