Big Bend National Park, Texas -- Sat., Apr. 14

Ft. Davis to Alpine to Marathon, Texas to Big Bend National Park, Texas:

This morning we got up relatively early to do a 75-mile scenic drive to the west of Ft. Davis. Here's what we saw: 

McDonald Observatory

 

Our drive today from Ft. Davis to Marathon was very short...about 50 miles. I only slept about three hours last night so it's good we didn't go far. 

We checked into Marathon Hotel and RV Park. The RV park is very exposed to the wind, not much of a windbreak. Not a bad site, though. We are here for two nights and have free wi-fi and cable TV. At the front of the RV park is a motel with a beautiful adobe courtyard, landscaped with bird and butterfly friendly plants. In the evenings, if it isn't too windy, they make a fire in the courtyard fireplace. Very peaceful place to hang out.

After lunch, we decided to spend the afternoon at Big Bend National Park; hiked 2 mi. roundtrip on Lost Mine Trail; 1/2 mile to the Windows Overlook and 1/2 mile to Fossil Bones. We drove the Dagger Flats Auto Trail to see all kinds of desert fauna. The most dramatic are the Giant Dagger Yuccas which are in bloom now.

Lost Mine Trail

View at top of Lost Mine Trail

Window Overlook--good place to see the sunset in Chisos Basin section.

Prickly pear cactus

Agave -- Century Plant

Ocotillo

Strawberry cactus

Giant dagger yucca "forest" on Dagger Flats Auto Trail

Giant dagger yucca and me.

On the way out of the park, we saw four javelinas standing in a group at the side of the road.

Once we got back to Marathon, Texas, we drove out to Pena Colorado Spring's Post Park. On the way to the park, we saw two deer. There is a natural spring at the park which creates a pond. Some birdwatchers were there so I grabbed the binoculars and joined them. We spotted bank swallows, grackle, brown cowbirds, vultures, bats and a Western Kingbird. Bob walked over to read a history marker.

On the way out from the spring we saw a jackrabbit. 

Photos of very eclectic Eve's Garden B&B in Marathon. It's a jumbled together mishmash of buildings/rooms in different shapes. If you read the TripAdvisor link you will get all kinds of opinions and photos of the inside. We stumbled upon it by accident. Did not stay there, just drove by because we wondered what it was.

Good afternoon...jam packed. Tomorrow morning we will be up early and will spend all day hiking and sightseeing at Big Bend Nat'l Park.