Shortly after my last post from Alamo Creek and the javelina's, my camera and I hiked up Horseshoe Canyon from the bottom. I was really hoping to be able to hike up that way. Bob Douat had previously shown me the canyon from the top and there was too much water for us to go all the way through, but I do love a challenge!
After successfully getting to the mouth of the canyon I quickly realized that it was prime javelina territory so I was extremely cautious as I hiked. The canyon is pretty small and I definitely did not want to get trapped with them defending their terrain.
Well, I came to the first pool of water and figured I could probably navigate it okay. Wrong! I threw a couple of extra rocks to walk on to make the crossing and was balanced on a very slick side wall when I quickly splashed chest deep into the water. So happy it was not witnessed by friends! My poor camera took a quick dunk but the damage was done as I watched it die right before my very eyes. It was not quite as colorful a display as a dunked cell phone makes, but the end result was the same.
I've felt so lost without my camera these past few weeks. I shipped it off to Excellent Camera Repair in Lincolnwood, IL but it is not quite done yet and I called the owner, Saul Fox, to keep it until I get back home in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I got a fancy phone and have been taking photos with it. Only trouble is I couldn't get them off the dang phone to my laptop until today. Whew!
I only have 4 more work days before I leave Big Bend - after 7.5 months!! Holy Cow! It has begun to feel like "home" and now I am having some anxiety about leaving and facing the little challenges of life on the road again. The kitties and I have developed a pretty cozy routine.
Last night I went to a going away party for a coworker up at Panther Junction and today one of my friends had her baby! Another boy! Someone else said the full moon probably helped mother nature along. Strange to think that I won't see everyone here for another 9 months. I'm sure that during those 9 months new friendships and memories will gestate. Ha!
Before I forget, I want to tell everyone at home and those that I plan to visit that I love you all, too, and can't wait to see you!
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| Joan GPSing a threshing circle. From previous postings you may remember this is where women would gather to prepare grains. |
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| The remains of an old Ford. It always tickles me to see that some important parts were wood such as the support for the upholstered seat. |
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| One of my favorites (besides pieces of chert below) are the colorful bits of ceramics left over from the early settlers. |
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| This snake (not sure what kind - Texas Long Nose??) was dead on the road up at PJ but it was not squished. Oddly, there was a squished scorpion near its tail. |
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| We haven't any rain, but got pretty close a couple of times. Raymond was able to capture the lower portion of this double rainbow over Castolon a couple of weeks ago. |
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| This is a photo of the fall group and the winter group! Yay us! From left to right, me, Paul & Judy Tarr, Bonnie Winslow, Bob Douat and his dog Nudge, Ted and Heather Griffith, Lewis and Susan McCool, Steve & Tina Ehrman, and Jim Scanlon. |
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| Everyone knows I want to paint my RV some day and this is close to what I want to do. Anyone feeling artsy?? |
This may be all I post unless I see cool stuff along my way home to Illinois. Here are a couple of parting shots of the majestic Big Bend:
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| The Mule Ears in shadow as some storm clouds threaten last evening. |
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| Goat Mountain while threatening storm clouds move in. Sigh . . . see you again in a few months! |
