Pairing Up

Canadian geese are spotted in the creek.

Time to start a family.

Apple Blossoms

Muskrat Love

Saw a young muskrat in the creek today.

Can you see mom on the bank above him?

When he saw me, he headed toward mom.

She groomed him, never noticing me.

So we left them in peace.

Misty Morning

 Cobweb in the mist.

Emerging Mayapples

Kodak Moment

I spotted this doe & last year's fawn while on a walk.

Back in the Saddle

One of my favorite rites of Spring is getting back in the saddle.

I think Rocky & Bo are looking forward to it too!

Wildflower Walk

Just an example of the wildflowers blooming.

Virginia Bluebells.

Trillium

 Trout LIly

 Violets

 Bloodroot

 Wood Poppy

Bleeding Heart

 Spring Cress

 Dutchman's Breeches

Jack in the Pulpit

Back Home Again

We are back in Indiana.

And the wildflowers are blooming in our woods!

Yea! Spring has sprung.

Big Bend National Park

Continuing south all the way to the Rio Grande River, 

we finally arrive at Big Bend National Park.

I was expecting a vast desert and was surprised to see lots of craggy mountains.
These are the Chisos Mountains in the center of the park.

We spent time in the southwest part of the park.
Off in the distance, we approach the Santa Elena Canyon
where the Rio Grande breaks through the mountain range.

The entrance to the Santa Elena Canyon.

 Overlooking the Rio Grande River from the Santa Elena Trail.

By hiring an outfitter,
we were able to canoe the Rio Grande.

It was fun floating through the canyons.

  We spotted some wildlife, like this Big Bend lizard.

And a vermillion flycatcher in the Cottonwood campground.

And the roadsides were filled with lots of bluebonnets and other wildflowers.
Spring is a wonderful time to visit the park.

Davis Mountains State Park

We camped at nearby Davis Mountains State Park.

We took a short hike up to the Indian Lodge.

It was too hot to do a long hike up the mountains.

The park is great for bird watching.

We spotted this White-winged Dove & Montezuma Quail at the bird blind.

That night we watched the full moon rise over the Davis Mountains.

HIstoric Fort Davis

We left the Guadalupe Mountains heading south.

Next stop, historic Fort Davis where the cavalry was stationed to protect the trails west from Indians.

 Some of the barracks still stand.

 

 Its very scenic with a trail walking around the fort and its ruins.

 Looking at the fort hospital at the base of the Davis Mountains.

Its a wonderful example of a frontier fort.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Just a mere 42 miles down the road from Carlsbad Caverns

is the little known Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

 The park includes Texas' highest peak and is significant for its geology.

  This is El Capitan Peak in the park.

 Our campsite

We hiked the Devil's Hall trail which follows a rocky wash.

Rock cairns & arrows kept us on the trail.

 The hike culminated in the devil's staircase & a tenaja, a natural cistern.

It was a fun hike.