Exotic animals!

 We visited our friends new property which is located in a subdivision which has exotic animals in it.  Saw Oryx, Axis deer and another one that has twisted horns.  The axis deer kinda hop which was fun to watch. 

The Oryx are below.

At Spring, Texas

 After two days of sub freezing weather in Kerrville, we made it to Spring Texas to visit some friends.  

Friends and God

 A high school friend of Liz’s and her husband met us in Kerrville.  So much fun catching up.  We checked out the bass again!  All sorts of interesting small tiles hidden in the larger structure!

Then we went to the coming king’s prayer garden.  Super interesting.  

Kerrville

 We skipped day 5 at Big Bend and arrived in Kerrville where it was cloudy.  We spent Valentine’s in a decent grocery store.( arguing like an old couple- oh yeah- we are). 😂

Today we biked.  Liz explored the bike path by the river. 

She spotted a Guadalupe Bass-Texas state fish

Big Bend Day 4

 Ross went biking today , riding to Panther Junction from the Rio Grande Village where we are camped.

Liz went on a hike from the campground to the hot Springs, hiking over six miles round trip so she could put her feet into the hot springs.  

Big bend Day 3

 Woke up to donkeys in the campground.  A few were like siblings teasing each other relentlessly.  

Went on the Lost Mine hike.  No mine but some nice views!

Big Bend day 2

 Santa Elena Canyon on the west side of the park was our destination today.   A fun hike that drops us off into a canyon with walls that may be 1400 feet tall.  Awe inspiring.

Ate lunch at the river access point where a few cardinals joined us. 

We tried the hike at Mule Est Springs but some flying insect got Zross so we had to turn around.  

Went into Terlingua.  Disappointed with that town.   Not our cup of tea. 

Big Bend

Arrived in Big Bend today.   Real close to Mexico.  Went on a trail in Boquillos Canyon.  Cliffs are amazing and we had a few donkeys walk with us.  

McDonald observatory

 We woke up this morning to javelinas in our fire pit licking the grill.  Luckily we use our own hibachi! 

Went to a star party at the observatory.  We got a demo of all the constellations.  God thru in a few shooting stars for us.  Five telescopes were available for us to view the Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Mars, Jupiter and four of its moons, and the moon.  So cool to see craters on the moon.  God’s universe is amazing!

Fort Davis Historic Site

 Today we hiked from our campsite over to Fort Davis, a fort from the mid to late 1880s.  Great hike and lots of views. We are pretty high elevation still, about 5230 feet in elevation.  

Davis Mountain State park

 We woke up this morning to Fog!  First time that has happened while camping!  It lifted by 9:15 and we were on our way.  The park called us to let us know the water was going to be off in the park when we got here.  They arranged for us to stop at Balmorhea SP to get water on the way.  Such kindness!  

Now we are trying to figure out what activities we can cram into the 4 days we are here!

Carlsbad

 We hit the caverns today.  Oddly, you don’t need to be on a tour to visit.  You can just do the timed entrance and walk down into the cavern.  Immense.  A long path , 8702 steps and 750 feet of descent.  

Been doing lots of cycling.  Landscape is fairly flat and seems endless.