Rio Grande Overlook and tunnel

Limestone weathers reluctantly in dry climates, and leaves soils rough and stony with few deep pockets to hold water and nutrients. Certain plants seem to like these dubious qualities.

Below: Before eating lunch, the two RV Gypsies took a quick walk around the area and got another view of the Rio Grande River.

Below: Then, just around the corner, the two RV Gypsies came to a pond full of ducks.

Below: Karen Duquette saw a big bird at the other end of the pond. Look carefully to see it. Then, zooming in on flowers, Karen managed to photograph a blue dragonfly in flight (seen at the very top of the photo below on the right). Dragonflies never stop flying, so they are really hard to photograph. But this is not her first, nor her best photograph of a dragonfly.

Below: More dragonflies

Below: After lunch, the two RV Gypsies continued driving through Big Bend National Park and saw a wildfire on the other side of the Rio Grande River in Mexico.

Rio Grande Village Nature Trail (The Bridge Trail) was an easy trial with a 0.75 mile loop. Although short and easy, the trail was very scenic. The first 100 yards was wheelchair accessible and crossed a boardwalk through a spring-fed wetland. Then the trail gradually climbed a limestone hill with panoramic vistas of the Rio Grande, and the Chisos and Del Carmen Mountains.

Below: Turtles in the water

Below: Across the last bridge

Below: The two RV Gypsies made their way up a small hill and took panorama looks back at the wildfire.

Below: Remember the warning sign at the beginning of this trail about purchasing or possessing items from Mexican Nationals? Well, here is the reason why. On many of the trails in Big Bend National Park, lots of unattended items were on display for sale, with a jar to put money in. It is important that you do NOT do it!

Below: The two RV Gypsies looked at and photographed some of the interesting items, but of course they did NOT buy nor take any of the items. They admired the handiwork then put the stuff right back where it was.

Below: More dramatic views of the Rio Grande River and the wildfire.

Below: Looking across the Rio Grande into Mexico, the two RV Gypsies noticed the dramatic sandstone and limestone layers of the Sierra Del Carmen Mountain Range. These cliff walls tower above the small community of Buckyballs (Bo-key-us) and are interrupted only by the narrow slice of river entering Buckyballs Canyon. Farther south, the Mad eras Del Carmen Mountains reach 9,000 feet in elevation, and the rich evergreen forests found there.

Below: Buckyballs Canyon overlook

Below: More of the Mexican wares that are illegal to purchase or possess. The two RV Gypsies wondered how they put them here and how they collect the money (if any) without being caught? Also, why doesn't the park just confiscate the goods?

Below: A U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey plaque

Below: The two RV Gypsies stayed just outside of Big Bend National Park at Big Bend Resort and Adventures RV Park. The office worker was very nice, and showed the two RV Gypsies the sitting area with free coffee. The park had free Wi-Fi, but it was unsecured. There was no cable, but the two RV Gypsies had 12 basic TV stations that worked OK via antenna. Strong wind guests are common in this area, so they kept their awning in when they were not at home. (Remember, this is their only home). There was a gas station (that was super expensive and definitely over-priced), a convenience store and small restaurant nearby. The two RV Gypsies did not use any of those amenities, nor the laundry room, showers that cost, nor the restrooms in the campground. That is because they live in a very well equipped RV.

Continue on in order of travel: The two RV Gypsies went to Fort Hood, Texas and learned about army tanks and more on a tour of the base with Karen Duquette's nephew Chris Rasmussen.

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