TRAVELS & MORE

Day 5

Well, Jacob is another year older today. He turned 61! We had plans already for his bday. But, we did not realize how the day would turn out. Stay reading…

We woke to our usual campground visitors…the bobcat and coyote. Our first plan today was to go do the popular Boquillas Crossing into Mexico. We packed up The Shack and hitched on the trailer. Today, was our last day at this campground.

The Boquillas Crossing is only open from 9am-4pm. If you are not back across the border to US side, you will be sleeping with the donkeys. Once passing through the border crossing we had about 100 yard walk to the Rio Grande. There was a gentleman ready to take you on the most unbelievable boat ride for just $5 per person round trip. Ha ha! He took simple took about 10 big steps through the shallow water. Just like that we were on the other side in Mexico. We could have actually walked across. Then there is a group of men ready to offer donkey rides, horse rides or truck rides to town. We opted to walk. As we walked, we were greeted by children selling little braided bracelets. Children selling things is a typical thing done in Mexico. Once we arrived into the town, we forgot to go the entry fee trailer. We had tunnel vision on Jose Falcon restaurant. It was recommended by a friend “Jersey Mark”. We met him in Baja. Plus, we were hungry. We did go to the entry fee station after eating. Then, walked the town. Everyone was selling the same things. There is not much to see there in this town. But, it’s just the experience. Finally it we were ready to leave. We went back to the same boat, loaded up and the man walked us back across.

Leaving the crossing we noticed two border patrol vehicles. They had detained about 30 individuals that made it to the US side. We did see a white bus and another border patrol about 1.5 hrs later heading to pick up this people.

Our next stop was going to be the hot springs. We took a very winding road. It was narrow and most places only one vehicle could be on it. We made it not problem. We took a short walk to the spring. It as small but warm. Per the signs we read, temperatures remained about 105 degrees year round. Unfortunately, we could not soak in it. We did not bring bathing suits with us on this trip. Of course, yes we could have skinny dipped. But, the man across the rio selling tamale and taco plates would have gotten an interesting sight. Yes, the border was another shallow walk across a rocky rio. Plus, there were many people hiking along the trail.

The Balancing Rock was next on our agenda. So, we thought. The road to the parking lot of the rock was 6 miles long. The road there was horrible. It was full of washboards, huge dips, ruts, rocks and more huge dips. We could barely drive 5-10 mph. It was at this point we should have just turned around. The road was just enough to make Jacob in a bad mood. But, he was just ready for lunch. After a quick snack and a FaceTime with his parents we headed out for another hike.

The initial path to the balance rock was not bad. It was very sandy. There was another couple following behind us. We were trekking down a steep area. Jacob lost his balance. He tried to hold on the rock-face but his hand went on a cactus. He pulled out the cactus needle and we continue on. A few steps later there I go! I slipped and busted my butt so hard. My thigh and tailbone hurt so bad. I am sure, I have a bruise on my tailbone nothing is more bruised than my pride. After the fall, we told the people behind us to go ahead of us. We continued to follow foot steps left by other hikers. When the couple says “I think we went too far or took a wrong turn?” We all turned around to head back. There we saw a small 4×6 rusted metal sign with an arrow pointing up what looked like a slippery climb. Yes, we’re so close but I was hurting. I looked at Jacob and said “I am just ready to leave!” He was too. So, we made our way back to TJ. BUT, we still had to go back down that horrible road.

We headed to our next campground called Cottonwood 40 miles away but still in the Big Bend National Park. Once arriving you would have thought a bomb went off in The Shack. Our table was slid out, blankets on the floor, cherry tomatoes were everywhere, the coffee spilt, paper towels had fallen and our pillows were on top of it all. To top it off the door to the camps is messed up. It a wonder The Shack is still attached and the dogs did not go airborne. I wish, I would have gotten a picture of all this. I am sure some of you are laughing imagining this “fall included”. And maybe tomorrow we will laugh about it too. But, right now Advil Dual Action is calling me and rest. We are tired!

I did manage to talk a few picture of the area before my Humpty Dumpty moment.