The Good Old Days Revisited

 

Camping here in the Rio Grande Village down in Big Bend National Park is a glorious thing.  You can look out at any point and see mountains, some of which are in Mexico.  We are right next to the Rio Grande River which due to the lack of rain is so shallow you could walk across it easily…and many do.

 

Everywhere you camp there are warnings as to what happens if you purchase any of the Mexican artwork left along the trails.  They come over and deposit the goods with a note having the prices and a small glass jar for you to leave your payment in.  It’s a good system except for it being illegal trade.  Often you can spot someone sitting in the shade of the tree on the other side of the river watching.

 

The other crossings from Mexico to the American side of the Rio Grande are of the four legged variety.  On our first day in the “expensive” RV part of the campground we had a beautiful brown horse running through the park.  When I asked about this at the office he explained that the livestock often comes over for better grazing in the park and that one morning he was greeted to the sight of 15 head of cattle in the parking lot. 

 

We had started in that campground with full hookups for $33 a night and after one day switched to this other one, which is within walking distance.  With the Senior Pass for National Parks the rate is $7 a night.  There are no hookups however.

our campground is to the right of the foot bridge - that's Mexico on the left side of the river
 

So this means we are living off the grid with no electricity or water hookups.  But, with the generator we still can generate electricity from 8am to 8pm then it’s quiet hours and they must be off.  Our water tanks are full and I learned how to conserve water when living on the Indian Reservation in Canada (long story) so this is no big deal to me.  It’s harder on those wanting to watch football games at night.

we weren't sure at first, but yes...See-More did fit through the tunnel

 

We tend to go to bed when it becomes dark and hope for a breeze since there’s no way to run the fans.  But it’s only 91 degrees as I write this, so it’s bearable.  As they say, it’s not the heat it’s the humidity.  I say nay nay…it’s hot.  Hot is hot. 

Then we get up when it’s daylight.  I feel like such a pioneer woman, shutting down my computer at 8pm when the electricity goes off.  We take them with us on our daily excursions as the park offices have Wi-Fi hotspots that we can tap into.  Okay, I guess we’re not all that rustic out here.

Long Live the Queen of the Pioneers