I decided after Mother Nature declined to allow me to kayak, that walking to Balanced Rock would be a good second choice.  I expected to have the rugged trail to myself, but as I got to the trail head after being jostled for miles on the washboard-like road, I found several cars were in the parking area.  As I was gathering my camera gear, another car pulled in, so I gave the people time to get well ahead of me.  I rarely see much wildlife when other people are around.  They’re just too noisy and never stop talking!  I took my time looking for anything unusual or something to move, but about all I saw were many little lizards scampering around.  It was after nine o’clock. There may be more foxes and other critters earlier in the morning, but I find that something really spectacular doesn’t play by the rules, just all of a sudden OMG there it is!  I didn’t see much, maybe there were just too many people, so I followed the trail... » Click here for the full story.

       I know I’m burning out, but I still have some spectacular places to go on my meandering route through the warm places of our country before I get back to Ocean City and SpringFest, Fager’s Island Deck Parties, the beach, steamed crabs, all that stuff I love there and I’ll be headed that way soon.  I did find a couple bartenders who could mix a comparable Margarita to what Suzie at Mother’s mixes, so I satisfied that fix!   I know I’m ready for some Ocean City, though.  Today it’s time to stop and putter, organize my nest (slide-in camper on a pickup truck) regroup, reconnoiter, and rest.  I know it’s time. I drove from Ft. Stockton, Tx. to my camp site here in Big Bend National Park (http://www.nps.gov/bibe/) without stopping to take any photographs!  That’s not me.  Yeah, it was high sun (10am-4pm, which produces drab colors in photos) and hazy, and I’ve been here... » Click here for the full story.

Monday I left Port Isabel/South Padre Island, Tx.  My maroon by a monsoon in Louisiana was behind me.  South Padre Island worked. I got to watch the crazies at the college kids Spring Break, plus a spoonbill flyover!  I headed for Big Bend, but found out the school kids of Texas were swarming there, so postponed that in route and turned northwest to Deming, N.M.  After driving 500+ miles I found my two favorite restaurants there were closed.  Then I enjoyed “Wonder Rocks” a campground in Coronado National Forest on the Az. N.M. boarder amidst towering rocky peaks, “kind of like camping in a high-walled soup bowl.”  An absolutely gorgeous place, I stayed two days, regrouped, and got my game plan together.  I headed for Arivaca, Az., enjoyed birding east of there, ate chili breakfast, found a new (for me) camping spot just outside Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge with more birds and few people, then headed towards Californ... » Click here for the full story.