Big Bend Pt. 2

April 30, 2018

big bend, fulltime family, mexico, national park, texas, travel

Big Bend Pt. 2

A quick rundown of our 2 weeks in Big Bend:

We hiked, met up with old friends, made new friends, hiked, soaked in hot springs inside a ruined spa alongside the Rio Grande, hiked, spotted lots of wildlife including a tarantula, swam in the Rio Grande, and explored an old abandoned settlement.

The kids also went on an long summit hike with Randy to reach the top of Emory Peak! They did amazing and hiked all the way to the top for a round trip total of 8.5 miles. They both earned a special Jr. Ranger badge for this accomplishment, and Randy dolled out lollypops at the summit.

One of the more interesting moments of the trip was visiting the tiny remote village of Boquillas del Carmen. There’s an official border crossing to the town right within the national park! There were small boats you could pay to ferry you across the river, but we were happy to walk across since the water was only shin high. On the other side we were greeted by the locals who offered us burro rides into town. We’d told the kids beforehand that they could each ride one while my Randy and I walked.

We chatted with our guide Vincente as we walked and learned a little about the town and his family. One inside town he took us to a small customs trailer where we presented our passports and had them stamped. We walked around the town with him briefly and he showed us his home and we met his children. Ben and Lucy bought handmade bracelets from Vincente’s family and gave the kids some candy they brought with them. I think it was a very eye opening experience for our children.

We sat down at one of the two restaurants in town to have a bite to eat. It was the nicest building in town with indoor and outdoor seating and a gift shop. We were a bit surprised at the prices of the food, but it was all delicious and we were happy to support the owner and the village in a small way. In the corner of the restaurant some gentlemen were interviewing the owner about current border policies in the USA. As we leaving Mexico, we again crossed the river by foot. Me with my pants rolled up and Lucy riding on my back. We noticed the photographer from the interview snapping photos of us, a white family crossing the Rio Grande into the USA. I’m sure it was an interesting sight.

Now, #sorrynotsorry for all the photos….