Leslie and David's Wanderings: 6 March 2019 BBNP Finally!

We got up early this morning, packed some snacks, Etta and water and headed south out of Alpine on TX118. We could not get a RV site close to the park due to spring break. Everyplace we checked was full which is why we are in Alpine. The drive down was beautiful and as we rolled into the park, we could feel the stress fall from our shoulders. The ranger at the entrance gate gave us a suggestion for viewing the blooming Blue Bonnets on Ross Maxwell Scenic drive just past Mule Ears pull off. The Blue Bonnets were everywhere! Niether one of us had ever been in the park when the Blue Bonnets were blooming and were stunned by how wide spread they were. We took plenty of pictures and even got one of Etta in the Blue Bonnets. We continued on down to Castalon to check out the Ranger Visitor Center we had tried to volunteer to staff. Unfortunately it was closed for lunch. Then we drove back up to TX118 and then to the Basin. We had lunch at the Chiso Mountain Lodge resteraunt while enjoying a wonderful view of the Window. The air was clearer than either of us could remember so we could see a long ways. Of course we also had to stock up on Big Bend tee shirts, wine glasses, cups and David got a new Big Bend hat (although he keeps wearing the od sweaty dirty one for some reason). Following Lunch we drove back down to Panther Junction Headquarters. We collected our 20^thPark Stamp and introduced ourselves to the Park Volunteer Coordinator so she could put faces to our names on the volunteer applications and discussed possible future opportunities. We really had hoped to be able to hike, but the park does not allow dogs on the hiking trails. So we left Panther junction and headed out on US385 torward Marathon. We stopped at the new fossil exhibit before leaving the park and spent several minutes enjoying the new displays. At Marathon, we stopped at the Gage Hotel for a refreshment and a delicous dinner. Fortunately the tempuratures were cool enough for us to leave Etta in the truck while we ate dinner. When we finished up, the sun was setting quickly. This area is over run with deer which like to stroll out into the road just as it gets dark. So we raced from Marathon on US90 hoping to take advantage of the fading light to avoid the critters. Unfortunately David attracted the attention of another type of west Texas critter, Officer Easter and his trainee of the Texas State Highway patrol. We were pulled over for 87MPH in a 75 ($160 ticket) and despite our most friendliest conversation, David was given a citation. Drats! By the time we finished with the officers, or they were finished with us, it was dark and the deer were all around. Fortunately we were only a couple miles out of town so we just took our time the rest of the way.