#burromesa

[onmyown22]

An early moon over the Burro Mesa mountains. . . . #burromesapouroff #burromesa #burromesapourofftrail #biglonesome #bigbendnationalpark #bigbend #landscapephotography #naturephotography #photography #daymoon #moon #mountains #bluesky #solorcollective https://www.instagram.com/p/B79Ta_bJUyk/?igshid=1ltj6z433g2hk

[billpichette]

Leaving Big Bend, Calmer and Quiet

5/3/2014 – I woke up about three and decided to use the bathroom before abandoning my hot weather sheets for my cool morning sleeping bag. As I settled back in, I heard pig-like noises of what could only be the javelina. They had been seen in the camp earlier and I was sorry I missed them. I thought about getting up, but they sounded close and being charged in the dark by a pissed off animal with tusks and teeth is not my idea of fun. Funny thing about patience-as I finished packing up, a group of three javelinas showed up just down the road. With the telephoto still on, I walked down there and snapped some quick pics. They really didn’t care if I was there or gone as they were busy feeding on yesterday’s mown grass. I expect things may go bad for a camper and a beautiful animal someday, though, as they showed absolutely no fear of human presence.

Before I left the park, I did one last quick walk-about a mile-to what in wetter weather is a pouroff, or small cascade. It was dry but a nice hike and for the first time I saw no one on the trail. I was hoping for another wildlife sighting, one of the big cats or a bear to complete my Big Bend discoveries, but for better or worse, I had an uneventful stroll.

I made the scenic drive to Alpine-complete with another Border Patrol stop-to check into a hotel, eat someone else’s food, and scrub three days of sunblock, bug spray, dust, and sweat off of me. Tomorrow I head for the Guadaloupe Mountains to start accumulating all over again.